You are responding to a nursing home for an 85-year-old patient complaining of difficulty breathing.How would you initiate contact with this patient?
A) Stand near the head of the bed and shout to make sure the patient can hear you.
B) Place yourself at eye-level, identify yourself, and ask the patient what she would like to be called.
C) Sit on the foot of the bed and ask the patient what's up.
D) Pick up the patient's wrist and begin taking her pulse.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Placing yourself at eye-level and identifying yourself is respectful and allows for better communication with the patient. Asking the patient what she would like to be called also shows respect for her wishes. Standing near the head of the bed and shouting or picking up her wrist and taking her pulse are both intrusive and may cause the patient more distress. Sitting on the foot of the bed is also not recommended as it invades the patient's personal space.

You Are Responding to a Nursing Home for an 85-Year-Old