The nurse is assessing orientation in a 79-year-old patient.
Which of these responses would lead the nurse to conclude that this patient is oriented?
"I know that my name is John. I am at the hospital in Evergreen. I cannot tell you what date it is, but I know that it is April 2025.”.
"I know my name is John. I cannot tell you where I am. I think it is 2010.”.
"I know that my name is John, but to tell you the truth, I get kind of confused about the date.”.
"I know that my name is John; I guess I'm at the hospital in Evergreen. No, I do not know the date.”.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Orientation to person, place, and time is a fundamental component of cognitive assessment, indicating intact neurological function. Knowing one's full name demonstrates personal orientation. Recognizing the hospital and its location signifies place orientation. Providing the correct month and year, even without the exact day, suggests a reasonable grasp of temporal orientation, reflecting adequate higher cortical processing.
Choice B rationale
The inability to state one's location and an incorrect year indicate significant deficits in both place and time orientation. This suggests impaired cognitive function, potentially due to delirium, dementia, or other neurological issues affecting memory and executive functions. Such a response would warrant further comprehensive cognitive evaluation.
Choice C rationale
While knowing one's name indicates personal orientation, confusion about the date points to a deficit in time orientation. This partial disorientation suggests some level of cognitive impairment, necessitating further assessment to determine the underlying cause and extent of the confusion.
Choice D rationale
Hesitation regarding location and complete inability to state the date demonstrate significant disorientation to both place and time. This pattern of response is indicative of impaired cognitive function and necessitates a thorough neurological and cognitive workup to identify potential etiologies.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Pulling the lobe up and back is the correct technique for administering ear drops to adults and children older than three years of age. This maneuver straightens the ear canal in older individuals due to the anatomical development and orientation of the Eustachian tube and external auditory meatus.
Choice B rationale
Instructing parents to hold the child upright for 10 minutes is an appropriate post-administration instruction to facilitate medication absorption and prevent spillage. However, this action is not part of the physical technique for correctly preparing the ear canal for drop instillation.
Choice C rationale
For children under 3 years old, the external auditory canal is straighter and angled differently than in adults. Pulling the pinna down and back straightens this shorter, more upwardly curved canal, allowing the medication to flow more effectively and reach the tympanic membrane for optimal absorption.
Choice D rationale
Massaging the tragus after instillation helps to distribute the medication throughout the ear canal and facilitate its passage deeper. However, massaging the tragus before administering the drops does not contribute to straightening the ear canal and is not a preparatory step for instillation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
An absent pulse (0) indicates no palpable pulsation, often due to an occlusion or severe vasoconstriction. This signifies a complete lack of blood flow through the vessel, requiring immediate medical attention to prevent tissue ischemia and necrosis.
Choice B rationale
A bounding pulse (4+) is characterized by a strong, easily palpable pulsation that is not easily obliterated by pressure. This can indicate conditions like fluid overload, hypertension, or hyperkinetic states, reflecting increased stroke volume or decreased peripheral resistance.
Choice C rationale
A weak pulse (1+) is characterized by a faint, barely palpable pulsation that is easily obliterated by pressure. This can be indicative of decreased stroke volume, hypovolemia, or peripheral artery disease, signifying reduced blood flow and perfusion.
Choice D rationale
A normal pulse (2+) is characterized by a readily palpable pulsation that is easily discernible and not easily obliterated by pressure. This finding indicates adequate cardiac output and peripheral perfusion, signifying healthy cardiovascular function within normal physiological parameters.
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