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The purpose of asking the client to describe their problems during the assessment is to obtain information about their perception of the problem. By asking the client to describe their problems

in their own words, the nurse gains insight into how the client perceives and understands their current situation. This information helps the nurse to understand the client's subjective experience, their concerns, and their specific needs related to the problem. It allows for a more accurate assessment of the client's situation and helps in developing an individualized plan of care tailored to their unique needs.

● Personal needs: While understanding a client’s personal needs is important in providing care, it is not the primary purpose of this specific question. The nurse may ask other questions to gather information about the client’s personal needs.

● Communication skills: Assessing a client’s communication skills may be important in some cases, but it is not the primary purpose of this specific question. The nurse may use other methods to assess the client’s communication skills.

● Admitting diagnosis: The admitting diagnosis is typically determined by a physician and is based on medical tests and examinations. While the nurse may gather information that can contribute to determining the admitting diagnosis, it is not the primary purpose of this specific question.

The nurse should include the following components when performing a mental status examination (MSE) on a client with a new diagnosis of dementia:

● Grooming: Assessing the client's grooming and personal hygiene can provide insights into their ability to care for themselves and maintain basic activities of daily living.

● Long-term memory: Evaluating the client's long-term memory can help identify any deficits or impairments in their ability to recall past events, experiences, or personal information. This is particularly relevant in dementia, as it often affects memory function.

● Support systems: Assessing the client's support systems, such as family members, friends, or caregivers, is essential in understanding the resources available to the client and the level of assistance they may require in managing their dementia. However, this does not occur within the mental status exam.

● Affect: Evaluating the client's affect refers to observing their emotional expression and responsiveness during the assessment. In dementia, changes in affect can occur, such as a flat affect or inappropriate emotional responses.

The component that should not be included in the MSE for a client with dementia is:

● Presence of pain: While pain assessment is an important aspect of caring for individuals with various health conditions, including dementia, it is not a specific component of the mental status examination. Pain assessment is typically addressed separately and should be conducted when necessary or based on the client's specific complaints or indications of pain.