What Should the Nurse Do?

While the nurse is checking in a 67-year-old male for his wellness exam, the patient becomes emotional about the death of his wife. He states that he thinks about her death much of the day and says, “I still can’t believe she’s gone.” He tells the nurse that his wife died five years ago in a car accident. What should the nurse do?

Dan is a 70-year-old with severe dementia who lives in a memory care facility. Dan is generally calm and follows a routine in his day. However, over the past several months, he has become more agitated with staff, especially at night and during mealtimes. In understanding sundowning and other safety issues for people with dementia, what are some restraint-free nursing interventions that may help Dan?

While performing an initial assessment on a 75-year-old female admitted to the emergency room after a fall, the nurse notices that the patient has dry lips and a thin appearance. The nurse notes that the patient has lost significant weight since she was last seen for a UTI three months ago. The patient says she has a hard time staying hydrated—that her room does not have a sink and that the bathroom is a distance from her room. She also explains that it is hard for her family to help her to the bathroom frequently, so she tries to avoid drinking too much fluid. The nurse has some concerns about neglect. What should the nurse do?

The nurse is caring for a 65-year-old patient who had bilateral knee replacements. The patient states that his pain is terrible and that he needs more medication. The nurse checks the medication administration records and determines that it is too early to administer additional pain medication. What should the nurse do to help this patient?