Which of the following could the nurse use to assess indicators of pain experienced by a patient with advanced dementia? (Select all that apply)
Use the Brief Pain Inventory to assess the patient’s pain
Observe the patient’s body language for pacing and agitation
Note whether the patient is calling out, groaning, or crying
Assess the patient’s breathing independent of vocalization
Have the patient rate pain on a 1-to-10 scale
Correct Answer : B,C,D
Choice A reason: The Brief Pain Inventory relies on verbal or cognitive input, which is unreliable in advanced dementia due to impaired communication and cognition. Patients may not articulate pain, making this tool ineffective for assessing pain in this population.
Choice B reason: Observing body language, like pacing or agitation, is a valid pain indicator in advanced dementia. These nonverbal behaviors reflect discomfort processed by intact pain pathways, despite cognitive decline, making this a reliable assessment method.
Choice C reason: Noting vocalizations like groaning or crying is effective, as these are instinctive responses to pain, even in advanced dementia. These behaviors bypass cognitive deficits, reflecting pain perception in the brain’s nociceptive pathways, making this a correct choice.
Choice D reason: Assessing breathing changes, like rapid or irregular patterns, is a reliable nonverbal pain indicator in dementia. Pain can stimulate the autonomic nervous system, altering respiration independently of vocalization, making this a valid assessment technique.
Choice E reason: A 1-to-10 pain scale requires cognitive ability to quantify and communicate pain, which is impaired in advanced dementia. This method is unreliable, as patients cannot reliably report, making it an incorrect choice for this population.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Cranial Nerve VII (facial nerve) controls facial expression muscles. Asking the patient to smile tests the nerve’s motor function, specifically the zygomaticus muscles, which elevate the mouth corners, making this a correct assessment task for this nerve.
Choice B reason: Closing eyes tightly assesses Cranial Nerve VII’s motor function, specifically the orbicularis oculi muscle, which closes the eyelids. Weakness or asymmetry indicates potential facial nerve dysfunction, making this a correct task for evaluating this nerve.
Choice C reason: Shrugging shoulders tests Cranial Nerve XI (spinal accessory nerve), which innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. This action is unrelated to Cranial Nerve VII’s facial motor functions, making it an incorrect choice for this assessment.
Choice D reason: Frowning assesses Cranial Nerve VII’s control over the corrugator supercilii and procerus muscles, which wrinkle the brow and depress the mouth. This task evaluates facial nerve function, making it a correct choice for the assessment.
Choice E reason: Smelling a flower tests Cranial Nerve I (olfactory nerve), responsible for smell sensation. This is unrelated to Cranial Nerve VII’s motor functions for facial expressions, making it an incorrect task for assessing this nerve.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: The right 5th intercostal space at the sternal border is near the tricuspid valve, where murmurs from tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis are typically heard. Aortic valve stenosis murmurs, caused by turbulent flow through a narrowed aortic valve, are not prominent here, making this an incorrect assessment site.
Choice B reason: The right 2nd intercostal space at the sternal border is the aortic area, ideal for auscultating aortic valve stenosis murmurs. These murmurs are harsh, crescendo-decrescendo, and systolic, radiating to the carotid arteries due to turbulent blood flow through the stenosed aortic valve, making this the correct site.
Choice C reason: The left 5th intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line is the mitral valve area, where mitral regurgitation or stenosis murmurs are heard. Aortic valve stenosis murmurs originate from the aortic root and are not best detected here, rendering this choice incorrect.
Choice D reason: The left 2nd intercostal space at the mid-clavicular line is near the pulmonic valve, where pulmonic stenosis murmurs are auscultated. Aortic valve stenosis murmurs are not prominent in this area, as they are specific to the aortic region, making this an incorrect choice.
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