An Older Client Reports Having a White Patch Inside the Mouth

question 12

Multiple Choice

An older client reports having a white patch inside the mouth. The nurse assesses a 2 cm by 2 cm lesion on the inner aspect of the left jaw. How should the nurse respond to the client?

• A) "Rinse with a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide and water."
• B) "The white patch is the result of aging and no cause for concern."
• C) "You should contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation of the area."
• D) "I think the patch looks like a bacterial infection and you will most likely need an antibiotic."

---

Definitions:

Social Frameworks

Structured patterns and systems within which society organizes, interprets, and interacts, encompassing institutions and cultural norms.

Power Distance

A cultural dimension that reflects the extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.

Formality

The condition or quality of being done in accordance with established conventions or protocols, often marked by seriousness or ceremoniousness.

Individualism

A social and cultural ethos that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual, encouraging self-reliance and personal achievement.