Exam 2 Flashcards
Cognition
Integration of mental processes and intellectual function
Cognition is necessary for…
Reasoning, learning, memory, personality
S/S of Impaired Cognition
Loss of short/long term memory
Disorientation to person, place, time, and/or situation
Impaired reasoning/decision making
Impaired language skills
Emotionally labile
Delusions and hallucinations
Risk Factors for Impaired Cognition
Advanced age Brain trauma, disorder, or disease Toxins Substance use disorder Genetic diseases Depression Fluid/Electrolyte imbalances Opioids, steroids, psychoactive drugs, and general anesthesia
Health History for Impaired Cognition
Onset, signs/symptoms
Comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, post-op, pain, hypothyroidism, end of life
Mini-Mental Status Examination
Delirium
An acute confused state, may become fearful or anxious, often secondary to another problem
May be caused by lack of sensory stimulation, alcohol withdrawal, dehydration, lack of environmental cues
Dementia
A chronic confused state
Onset is subtle
Slowly progressive and organic
Problems with confusion and disorientation, personality changes, impaired judgment
Delayed Intellectual Functions
Have more to do with children
Amnesia
Occurs as a result of a head trauma
Primary Prevention of Impaired Cognition
Avoid substance use
Safety measures such as helmets, prevention of head injuries, monitoring for lead in the water
Stimulate intellect
Nursing Interventions for Impaired Cognition
Focus on safety
Communication aids such as eye glasses, hearing aides
Orientation on a regular basis
Identify and treat causes
Nursing Interventions for the Prevention of Delirium
Provide therapeutic activities
Early mobilization
Control pain
Minimize use of psychoactive drugs
Prevent sleep deprivation
Maintain oxygen levels and fluid/electrolyte balance
Nursing Interventions for Delirium
Identify and treat cause
Safety
Nonessential medications should be stopped (with a Doctor’s order)
Nutrition and fluid should be supervised
Environment should be quiet and calm, contain familiar environmental cues, encourage visits from family and friends
Most Common Types of Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
Vascular or Multi-Infarct Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
Chronic, progressive, irreversible disease process
Caused by the degeneration of the brain that leads to impaired intellectual function
Plaques in the cortex, neurofibril tangles
Risk Reduction for Alzheimer’s Disease
Engage in activity, change diet, exercise
Diagnostics for Alzheimer’s Disease
CT scan would show smaller brain
Acetylcholine levels
Early Stage of Alzheimer’s Disease
Mild memory lapses, difficulty in work or social activities
Able to compensate for loss and function independently
Further Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
Obvious memory lapses, confabulating
Problem to recognize familiar faces, word finding problems
May get lost in familiar places
Sundowning, wandering
Speaking skills deteriorate, ADL problems
Disorientation with delusions and hallucinations
Apraxia, Visual Agnosia, Dysgraphia
Apraxia
Inability to carry out sequential movements on command
Visual Agnosia
Inability to recognize objects by sight
Dysgraphia
Difficulty writing
Terminal Stage of Alzheimer’s Disease
Severe mental and physical deterioration
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatments
Goal is to manage cognitive and behavioral symptoms
Aricept and Namenda used to enhance acetylcholine uptake into the brain, which enables patient to maintain memory over time
Ativan to help with anxiety and stress
HALOPERIDOL–antipsychotic
Anti-depressants