Age Specific Populations Related

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A patient was admitted in a semistuporous catatonic state. Family states that the patient has neither left the apartment nor attended to personal hygiene for several weeks. The patient's last 48 hours have been spent lying in bed, mute and motionless. The nursing diagnosis that should be considered the priority is:

  • A. self-care deficit.
  • B. situational low self-esteem.
  • C. disturbed thought processes.
  • D. impaired verbal communication.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: self-care deficit. This nursing diagnosis should be considered the priority because the patient is unable to attend to personal hygiene and has been lying in bed motionless and mute for 48 hours, indicating a significant impairment in self-care abilities. This is a critical issue that needs immediate attention to prevent further deterioration in the patient's physical and mental health.

Choice B: situational low self-esteem is not the priority as the patient's current state is more indicative of physical neglect rather than a self-esteem issue.

Choice C: disturbed thought processes may be a contributing factor to the patient's presentation, but the priority at this moment is addressing the self-care deficit to ensure the patient's safety and well-being.

Choice D: impaired verbal communication, while important, is not the priority in this scenario as the patient's inability to communicate verbally is secondary to the urgent need for assistance with self-care.