During the Taking of the Health History of a 78-Year-Old

question 38

Multiple Choice

During the taking of the health history of a 78-year-old man, his wife states that he occasionally has problems with short-term memory loss and confusion: "He can't even remember how to button his shirt." When assessing his sensory system, which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

• A) The nurse would perform the tests, knowing that mental status does not affect sensory ability.
• B) The nurse would proceed with an explanation of each test, making certain that the wife understands.
• C) Before testing, the nurse would assess the patient's mental status and ability to follow directions.
• D) The nurse would not test the sensory system as part of the examination because the results would not be valid.

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Definitions:

Protective Factor

Designates any attribute, characteristic, or condition that reduces a person’s risk of developing a problem or disorder.

Resilient

The ability to recover quickly from difficulties; emotional strength and toughness.

Stress

A psychological and physical response to demands or challenges, which can affect one's mental and physical health.

Behavior Therapy

Therapeutic approach using principles of learning theory to encourage desired behaviors or eliminate undesired ones; also called behavior modification.