Nokea
The nurse is to perform a complete assessment of a client in her home, using the Mini-Mental State Examination as one component. When the nurse arrives, the client is seated at the table with her husband, the TV is on, and several grandchildren are visiting. The client's husband says, 'Let's get on with this business.' The client is quiet, but her hands are gripped tightly, and she is staring at the ceiling. The best action for the nurse to take would be to:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because conducting a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in a distracting environment with the client exhibiting signs of distress would likely yield inaccurate results. By explaining the importance of the testing process and rescheduling for a quieter day, the nurse ensures a more accurate assessment. This allows for a controlled environment conducive to obtaining reliable data.
Choice A is incorrect because simply moving the husband and grandchildren to another room may not eliminate distractions or address the client's distress, potentially still impacting the accuracy of the assessment.
Choice C is incorrect as relying solely on observations and reports from the family may not provide a comprehensive assessment of the client's cognitive function, as the MMSE is a standardized tool designed for objective evaluation.
Choice D is incorrect as it does not address the immediate issue of conducting the assessment in a more suitable environment and may disrupt the client's routine by requiring a clinic visit.