A 75-year-old patient comes to the clinic reporting frequent headaches. After an introduction at the beginning of the interview, the nurse should:

A) initiate a neurologic assessment.
B) ask if the patient can hear clearly as the nurse speaks.
C) suggest that the patient lie down in a darkened room for a few minutes.
D) administer medication to relieve the patient's pain before performing the assessment.

Question

Danny Nelson · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : B, Explanation :  Before proceeding, the nurse should assess the patient's ability to hear questions. Hearing ability often declines with age. Impaired hearing could lead to inaccurate answers. The nurse should not administer medication (an intervention) until after the assessment is complete.

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