A nurse assesses a 70-year-old patient’s recent memory. Which would the nurse ask the patient to recall?

Choice A reason: Low parity (few pregnancies) is not a primary risk factor for cervical cancer; high parity may be. Multiple sexual partners increase HPV exposure, the main cause, so this is incorrect.

Choice B reason: Endometriosis affects the uterus, not the cervix, and isn’t linked to cervical cancer. HPV from multiple partners is the key risk, so this is incorrect for the discussion.

Choice C reason: Multiple sexual partners increase the risk of HPV infection, the primary cause of cervical cancer. This is the most significant risk factor, making it the correct focus for teaching teens.

Choice D reason: Obesity is linked to some cancers but not strongly to cervical cancer. HPV exposure via multiple partners is the dominant risk, so this is incorrect for the nurse’s discussion.

Choice A reason: Naming the past four presidents tests remote memory, as it involves recalling historical facts learned years ago. Recent memory involves events from hours or days, so this question does not assess the patient’s short-term memory capacity effectively.

Choice B reason: Recalling children’s names typically involves long-term memory, as these are familiar, well-established facts. While personal, this information is not recent and does not evaluate the patient’s ability to retain new information, making it unsuitable for recent memory assessment.

Choice C reason: A mother’s maiden name is a long-term memory fact, often memorized years ago. It does not test recent memory, which focuses on newly acquired information, making this question inappropriate for assessing short-term memory in the elderly patient.

Choice D reason: Asking about breakfast this morning tests recent memory, as it involves recalling an event from hours ago. This is ideal for assessing short-term memory function in older adults, as it evaluates the ability to retain and recall new information accurately.