An 84-Year-Old Woman with Alzheimer Dementia Is Brought to the Emergency

question 344

Multiple Choice

An 84-year-old woman with Alzheimer dementia is brought to the emergency department for evaluation after refusing to get out of bed.  She has been known to wander the halls at her facility, and a nursing aide reported finding her on the floor next to her bed earlier that day.  Vital signs are within normal limits.  On examination, the patient is in pain.  Her right leg appears shorter than her left.  She is able to wiggle her toes but has significant external rotation of the right lower extremity compared with the left.  There is no evidence of head trauma and the lower leg compartments are soft.  Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

• A)Femoral neck fracture
• B)Femoral shaft fracture
• C)Posterior hip dislocation
• D)Pubic ramus fracture
• E)Trochanteric fracture

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Definitions:

Enactive Mastery

refers to gaining confidence in one's skills through successful experiences or actions, essentially learning by doing.

Self-efficacy

Refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments.

Experience Builds

The accumulation of knowledge or skill that comes from direct participation in events or activities over time.

Reinforcement Theory

A concept in psychology suggesting that behavior can be shaped or modified by its consequences, through rewards or punishments.