During a health history, a patient tells the nurse that he has had trouble in starting his urine stream. Which term is used to document this symptom?

Choice A reason: A normal tympanic membrane is not white with prominent capillaries. Such an appearance may indicate inflammation or infection (e.g., otitis media), where increased vascularity or opacity occurs, making this an abnormal and incorrect characteristic.

Choice B reason: A normal tympanic membrane is pearly gray, slightly translucent, with a visible cone of light reflecting off its taut surface. This reflects healthy middle ear anatomy, with no fluid or inflammation, making this the correct description.

Choice C reason: A pulled-in tympanic membrane suggests negative middle ear pressure, often due to eustachian tube dysfunction, not a normal finding. The normal membrane is flat or slightly concave, making this an incorrect characteristic.

Choice D reason: Light pink with a slight bulge suggests inflammation or fluid (e.g., otitis media), not a normal tympanic membrane. Normal membranes are pearly gray and flat, not pink or bulging, making this an incorrect description.

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.