Unit Two: Cognition Flashcards
Cognition
set of mental activities through which individuals acquire, process, store, retrieve, and use information
Cognition involves
Awareness, remembering, reasoning, decision making, understanding, using language
Cognitive skills become _____________ complex advancing from child hood to adulthood.
Increasingly
Confusion
Increased difficulty thinking clearly, making good judgements, focusing attention.
Confusion is usually ________________________.
A symptom of another disorder
Delirium and dementia are both forms of:
Confusion
Delirium is _________ confusion
Acute
Demetria is ____________ confusion.
Chronic
Delirium is:
An acute cognitive disorder
Onset is severe is sudden
“Acute confusion”
Reversible
Symptoms of Delirum
Fluctuations in alertness
Inattentive, easily distracted, difficulty shifting attention focus, disoriented to time and place, inability to recall times and places
Delirium usually goes away when:
Underlying cause is found
Diagnostic tests for Delirium:
Detailed neurological exams Drug and alcohol screening Blood an Urine labs Test for infection Screening for depression and other psychological needs
How to apply the nursing process assessment:
Assess level of orientation
Confusion assessment method (CAM)
Medication History should be taken
Are there manifestations of pain, infection, impaired mobility, and dehydration.
Dx ABE Delirium
Insomnia Disturbed sleep pattern Self care deficit Acute or chronic confusion Wandering Risk for injury Impaired memory Impaired verbal communication Caregiver role strain may be considered for family or support system
Planning for Delirium
Plan your outcome on clients needs i.e. Remain free from injury Return to baseline cognition Obtain adequate sleep and rest Be able to preform ADL’s Communicate in a clear logical manner
Implementation for Delirium Dx
Provide therapeutic environment
Adequate sleep
Communicate clearly
Evaluation of a pt with Delirium Dx
Decreasing occurrences of delirium for the pt
The nurse is caring for a 10-year-old who has meningitis and is delirious. Which of the following is a priority nursing diagnosis for this client? A. Anxiety B. Risk for Injury C. Ineffective Airway clearance D. Activity intolerance
B
Dementia
Gradual, chronic, not reversible.
Progressive loss of cognitive function
Not a normal part of aging
Most common cause of Dementia
Alzheimer’s
Causes of Dementia
Huntington’s disease
HIV
Parkinson’s Disease
The spouse of a client who is experiencing confusion from dehydration is concerned about taking the client home in a confused state. The nurse would respond with which correct statement?
A. “Oh it won’t be so bad; the client is harmless.”
B. “Once the dehydration is corrected the client should no longer be confused.
C. “I’ll teach you how to make your home safe.”
D. “We’ll be ordering a home health aide to help you.”
B
An 83-year-old client is in the ED and is acting in a bizarre manner. The client is being treated for otitis media (ear infection). Which of the following will the nurse recognize as signs that the client is delirious? A. Memory impairment B. Gradual onset symptoms C. Impaired attention D. Impaired judgement
C.
