The nurse is performing a mental status examination on a male client diagnosed with subdural hematoma.
- A- Cerebellar function.
- B- Intellectual function.
- C- Cerebral function.
- D- Sensory function.
The correct answer is: C- Cerebral function.
A mental status examination (MSE) is a quick assessment of a person's cognitive abilities and mental state. It is a common tool used by healthcare professionals to assess a person's overall mental health and to identify potential problems.
The MSE assesses a variety of cognitive functions, including:
- Alertness: How aware is the person of their surroundings?
- Orientation: Does the person know who they are, where they are, and what day it is?
- Attention: Can the person focus on a task and follow directions?
- Memory: Can the person remember recent events and information?
- Language: Can the person understand and use language correctly?
- Thinking: Can the person think clearly and logically?
- Mood: What is the person's mood like?
- Affect: How does the person express their emotions?
- Behavior: Is the person's behavior appropriate for the situation?
The MSE can be used to assess a variety of conditions, including:
- Dementia: Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.
- Delirium: Delirium is a sudden change in mental function that can cause confusion, disorientation, and memory problems.
- Depression: Depression is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and fatigue.
- Anxiety: Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease that is difficult to control.
- Psychosis: Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality that can cause hallucinations and delusions.
The MSE is a valuable tool for assessing mental health and can help to identify potential problems early on. Early diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions can improve outcomes and quality of life.
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Neurologic Practice