The nurse is assessing an older adult’s orientation. Which question is most appropriate?

Choice A reason: Gender, while influencing health outcomes, is not a social determinant of health, which includes modifiable environmental and societal factors like income or housing. Gender is a biological and social characteristic, not an external condition shaping health access or outcomes, making it the correct answer.

Choice B reason: Physical environment, including housing, air quality, and access to green spaces, is a social determinant of health. It directly impacts health outcomes by influencing exposure to pollutants or access to safe living conditions, making it a valid factor in health disparities.

Choice C reason: Economic stability, encompassing income, employment, and financial security, is a social determinant of health. It affects access to healthcare, nutrition, and stress levels, significantly influencing health outcomes, making it a critical factor in public health frameworks.

Choice D reason: Access to health care, including availability of services and insurance, is a social determinant of health. It determines timely medical interventions and preventive care, directly affecting health outcomes, making it a key component in health equity discussions.

Choice A reason: Vital signs are objective, measurable data, not specific to musculoskeletal assessment or subjective experience. Pain, a subjective report, better fits the question. Assuming vital signs are subjective risks misclassifying data, leading to errors in prioritizing patient-reported symptoms like pain, critical for musculoskeletal care planning and intervention.

Choice B reason: Taking NSAIDs is a factual history, not a subjective assessment. Subjective data, like pain severity, reflect patient experience. Assuming medication use is subjective misaligns with assessment principles, risking neglect of patient-reported symptoms like pain, essential for evaluating musculoskeletal conditions and guiding effective pain management strategies.

Choice C reason: Pain rated 7 to 8 is subjective, based on the patient’s personal experience, central to musculoskeletal assessment for conditions like arthritis or injury. This guides pain management, like adjusting NSAIDs. Accurate identification ensures patient-centered care, addressing discomfort and improving function, critical for musculoskeletal health outcomes.

Choice D reason: Grimacing and holding a body part are objective, observable signs, not subjective reports. Pain severity, reported by the patient, is subjective. Assuming grimacing is subjective risks misclassification, potentially overlooking patient-reported pain levels, critical for tailoring interventions like analgesics in musculoskeletal assessment and care planning.