The nurse is caring for a 78-year-old client with a urinary tract infection (UTI). Which assessment finding would be most concerning and require immediate follow-up by the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Confusion is a common clinical manifestation of urinary tract infections in the elderly but still should be cause for concern and requires follow-up to rule out other possible causes. Confusion is not a normal finding in the elderly adult client. Some causes of confusion in the elderly include dehydration, lack of blood flow to the brain (stroke), decreased ability to metabolize medications, and concurrent infections. (Option B) Presbyopia is the decrease in ability to see objects close up. This is common in clients over age 40. (Option C) The elderly tend to have a lower body temperature, so 100.2 F (37.8 C) is considered febrile. This elevation is probably a result of the UTI and the nurse should follow up after further assessing the confusion. (Option D) An elevated WBC count would be expected in the presence of a current infection. Educational objective: Confusion is a common clinical manifestation of UTI in the elderly; however, it is still a cause for concern and should be evaluated further by the nurse.

The Nurse Is Caring for a 78-Year-Old Client with a Urinary