While making a home visit, the spouse of an older client tells the nurse the client is becoming increasingly confused about past events and has started forgetting to all pain dictation for osteoarthritis in the knees. Which assessment should the nurse initially perform to evaluate the client's memory?
Ask the client to recall what was consumed for lunch and breakfast
Ask the spouse how often the pain medication is to be taken
Request for the spouse to write down the things the client forgets
Observe client ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
Asking the client to recall what was consumed for lunch and breakfast is appropriate. Asking the client to recall recent events, such as what was consumed for lunch and breakfast, helps assess their short-term memory. Difficulty recalling recent events or recent medication doses may indicate emery impairment or cognitive decline, which could be contributing to the reported confusion and forgetfulness. This assessment provides valuable information about the client's ability to retain and recall recent information, which is pertinent to understanding the extent of memory impairment.
Choice B Reason:
Asking the spouse how often the pain medication is to be taken is inappropriate. While asking the spouse about the pain medication regimen provides information about the client's medication schedule, it does not directly assess the client's memory. Additionally, relying solely on the spouse's report may not accurately reflect the client's memory abilities or recall of medication instructions.
Choice C Reason:
Request for the spouse to write down the things the client forgets is inappropriate. Asking the spouse to write down forgotten items may help track memory lapses but does not directly assess the client's memory during the home visit. It also does not provide real-time information about the client's ability to recall recent events or medication instructions.
Choice D Reason:
Observing client ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) is inappropriate. Assessing the client's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) is important for evaluating overall functional status but may not specifically target memory assessment. While memory impairment can impact ADL performance, it is not the most direct assessment for evaluating memory specifically during the home visit.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Assessing conjunctival sacs of lower lids for pallor is incorrect. Pallor of the conjunctival sacs, or inner eyelids, may indicate anemia or decreased blood flow. While it can be a sign of various health conditions, it is not specific to jaundice. Jaundice is characterized by yellowing of the skin and sclerae (the white part of the eyes) due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood, so assessing for pallor would not directly confirm jaundice.
Choice B Reason:
Observing the client's urine for dark orange color is incorrect. Dark orange urine may indicate concentrated urine or dehydration, but it is not specific to jaundice. Jaundice primarily manifests as yellowing of the skin and sclerae due to elevated bilirubin levels, rather than a change in urine color. While changes in urine color may occur in certain liver conditions, such as obstructive jaundice, it is not the most direct or reliable method to confirm jaundice.
Choice C Reason:
Examining client's sclera for icterus is correct. Icterus, or yellowing of the sclerae (the white part of the eyes), is a classic sign of jaundice. Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood lead to the yellow discoloration of the sclerae, providing a direct visual confirmation of jaundice. Examining the sclerae for icterus is a quick and reliable method to confirm jaundice during a physical assessment.
Choice D Reason:
Reviewing recent serum bilirubin levels is incorrect. Reviewing recent serum bilirubin levels can provide objective data on bilirubin levels in the blood, which may support the diagnosis of jaundice. Elevated serum bilirubin levels are characteristic of jaundice. While this option provides valuable information, it may not be immediately available during a physical assessment and does not directly confirm jaundice visually, unlike examining the sclerae for icterus.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Excoriation is incorrect. Excoriation refers to scratch marks or abrasions on the skin caused by scratching or rubbing. While excoriation can occur as a result of scratching due to itching caused by an allergic reaction, it is not a specific characteristic of an allergic reaction to an insect bite. However, it may develop secondary to the itching associated with insect bites.
Choice B Reason:
Papules are incorrect. Papules are small, raised bumps on the skin that can have various causes, including insect bites. While papules can sometimes accompany an allergic reaction to insect bites, they are not as characteristic as wheals (hives) in such reactions. Papules may also represent other skin conditions or reactions, so they are not as specific to allergic reactions as wheals.
Choice C Reason:
Wheals are correct. Wheals, also known as hives or urticaria, are raised, red, itchy areas of the skin that often occur as part of an allergic reaction to insect bites, medications, foods, or other allergens. Wheals are typically transient and can vary in size and shape. Excoriation (choice A) refers to scratch marks or abrasions on the skin caused by scratching or rubbing.
Choice D Reason:
Fissuring is incorrect. Fissuring refers to deep cracks or splits in the skin's surface. Fissures are not typically associated with allergic reactions to insect bites. Instead, they may occur in conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or severe dry skin. Therefore, while skin fissuring may occur in some skin conditions, it is not a typical finding in allergic reactions to insect bites.
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