An older adult is admitted for altered cognition. The spouse indicates the client has become more forgetful over time. The nurse assesses the client's cognition using the Mini-Cog. The client is able to draw a clock correctly but is unable to recall the three words given at the beginning of the assessment. What do the results suggest to the nurse?

Dementia

Delusion

Depression

Delirium

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A.   In the Mini-Cog assessment, the inability to recall the three words (which tests short-term memory) while still being able to draw a clock (which tests visuospatial skills) could suggest early cognitive impairment or dementia. Dementia often presents with deficits in memory but may retain some other cognitive functions, like drawing. The result is consistent with a possible diagnosis of dementia, especially if memory issues are noted over time.
B.   A delusion is a false belief held despite evidence to the contrary. Delusions are more related to psychiatric disorders and are not primarily assessed by the Mini-Cog. The Mini-Cog does not assess for delusions but rather focuses on cognitive function.
C.   Depression can affect cognitive function, sometimes resulting in difficulties with concentration, memory, and other cognitive tasks. While depression can cause cognitive symptoms, it typically presents with other signs such as changes in mood, loss of interest in activities, and changes in sleep patterns.
D.   Delirium is an acute, fluctuating change in cognition and attention, often caused by an underlying medical condition, medication, or intoxication. Delirium is characterized by rapid onset and fluctuating levels of consciousness and attention, which is not consistent with the Mini-Cog results showing stable performance on the clock drawing but poor recall.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Concentration refers to the ability to focus on a specific task or thought for a period of time. While concentration is important for cognitive functioning, it is not the specific skill being assessed when interpreting the meaning of a proverb.
B. Attention is the ability to focus and direct mental resources towards a specific task or stimulus. While attention is necessary for understanding and processing information, the task of interpreting a proverb is more related to higher-level cognitive processes rather than just the ability to maintain focus.
C. Affect refers to the emotional state or mood of a person. It involves how emotions are expressed and experienced. Assessing affect involves observing the client’s emotional responses, not their ability to interpret abstract concepts. Therefore, affect is not the focus of this assessment.
D. Abstract reasoning is the ability to understand and interpret concepts and ideas that are not directly observable or tangible. It involves thinking beyond concrete facts to understand underlying meanings, patterns, and relationships. Interpreting a proverb, which involves understanding a figurative meaning rather than a literal one, is a test of abstract reasoning. The ability to grasp the deeper meaning behind “A penny saved is a penny earned” reflects the client's capacity for abstract reasoning.

A. Extinction B. Stereognosis C. Proprioception D. Two-point discrimination

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Extinction refers to the phenomenon where a person fails to recognize a stimulus on one side of the body when another stimulus is presented simultaneously on the opposite side. This is often tested in cases of neurological impairment, particularly in the context of sensory neglect or loss
B. Stereognosis is the ability to identify an object by touch and proprioception without visual input. It involves recognizing the shape, size, and texture of an object solely through tactile information. Placing a coin in the patient’s hand and asking them to identify it with their eyes closed tests their ability to use tactile information to recognize objects, making stereognosis the correct term for this assessment.
C. Proprioception is the sense of the position and movement of the body and its parts. It involves awareness of body position in space, which is crucial for coordination and balance. While important, proprioception does not specifically involve identifying objects by touch alone; it is more about the awareness of body position.
D. Two-point discrimination is the ability to distinguish between two closely spaced points of contact on the skin. It tests the sensitivity of the skin to touch and is often used to assess sensory nerve function. It does not involve identifying objects by touch but rather measuring how well one can discern between two separate points of contact.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

During an assessment, the nurse asks a client to explain what the following means: "A penny saved is a penny earned." The nurse is assessing which of the following?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse places a coin in the patient's hand, the patient is with eyes closed. The ability to identify an object by feeling it is defined as:

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Taste in the 1/3 posterior of your tongue is given by:

A patient is able to move both upper arms as follows: active movement against gravity, and some resistance. The nurse should document the muscle strength of the upper arms as:

A client is able to actively move the right arm against gravity. How should the nurse document this finding using the muscle strength grading?

Which of the following would the nurse most likely expect to find when assessing a client diagnosed with a frontal lobe contusion (in the Broca's Area) following a motor vehicle accident?

Which are the 3 areas included in the Glasgow Coma Scale to assess levels of consciousness? Select all that Apply.

When preparing to test a client for meningeal irritation, what would the nurse do first?

The nurse is admitting a client to the unit for surgery the next morning. The nurse notes that the client speaks at an accelerated pace and jumps from topic to topic no of which progresses to sensible conversation. What would the nurse document about this client?