Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (A): Reporting the findings to the health care provider is the next best action because elevated BUN and creatinine levels indicate possible renal dysfunction, which could be causing the psychiatric symptoms. The health care provider needs this information to determine appropriate treatment and further evaluation. Summary of Incorrect Choices: B: Assessing the patient for a history of renal problems is not the next best action because the lab results already indicate potential renal issues. C: Assessing the patient’s family history for cardiac problems is irrelevant to the elevated BUN and creatinine levels and the psychiatric symptoms. D: Arranging for the patient’s hospitalization on the psychiatric unit is premature without addressing the underlying medical issue indicated by the lab results.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use of multiple drugs with anticholinergic effects. This is the highest priority as anticholinergic medications can have severe side effects in older adults, including confusion, constipation, and increased risk of falls. Nurses need to assess for potential harm caused by these medications. Choice B (Overuse of medications for erectile dysfunction) is not the highest priority as it may not pose an immediate threat to the health and safety of older adults compared to anticholinergic effects. Choice C (Missed doses of medications for arthritis) is important but not as critical as assessing for the potential harm caused by anticholinergic medications. Choice D (Trading medications with acquaintances) is concerning but not as urgent as assessing for the harmful effects of anticholinergic medications, which can lead to serious health complications.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because feeling numb and detached from emotions is a common symptom of PTSD known as emotional numbing. This symptom is often seen in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, such as the murder of a loved one. It is a defense mechanism that helps the person cope with overwhelming emotions. The other choices are incorrect: B: Being nervous and easily startled (hypervigilance) is more indicative of the hyperarousal symptom of PTSD, not emotional numbing. C: Difficulty sleeping is a common symptom of PTSD, known as insomnia, but it does not directly relate to emotional numbing. D: Reliving the traumatic event through flashbacks or intrusive memories is a symptom of PTSD, but it is not directly related to emotional numbing.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because difficulty remembering the name of a place visited 20 years ago is a specific example of explicit memory decline. Explicit memory refers to the ability to consciously recall past events, facts, or experiences. This choice directly relates to a long-term memory retrieval issue, which is a hallmark of explicit memory decline. Choices A, C, and D do not specifically address explicit memory decline but rather touch on different memory processes such as procedural memory (A), short-term memory (C), and semantic memory (D).

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because consistent inappropriate laughing is a characteristic symptom of disorganized schizophrenia. This observation aligns with the disorganized behavior and affect commonly seen in this subtype of schizophrenia. Option A is not specific to disorganized schizophrenia. Option B does not directly relate to disorganized symptoms. Option D suggests paranoia, which is more indicative of paranoid schizophrenia rather than disorganized schizophrenia.