Mark, 82 years old, is in a rehabilitation center for therapy post-knee replacement.The nurse practitioner is visiting Mark and finds him confused, disoriented, and with speech difficulty.The staff nurse says that his condition changed quickly over the last few hours.The nurse practitioner orders which of the following? Select all that apply.

Question

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The sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and speech difficulty in an elderly patient, especially post-surgery, could indicate several potential issues. Pulse oximetry (A) is ordered to check for hypoxia, which can cause confusion. Evaluation for infections (B) is crucial as infections, such as urinary tract infections or pneumonia, are common in elderly post-operative patients and can lead to delirium. Assessing changes in medications (C) is important because new medications or changes in existing prescriptions can cause adverse reactions affecting mental status. A brain scan (D) is ordered to rule out strokes or other neurological issues, which could explain the sudden change in mental status.

Mark, 82 Years Old, Is in a Rehabilitation Center for Therapy