During an assessment, an older patient asks if "something is burning." What should the nurse suspect is occurring with this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. Engorged nasal passages usually result in the loss of smell, not the presence of unusual smells.
2. Focal symptoms can occur in patients with brain tumors. The nurse should question the patient about any experienced symptoms, such as muscle twitching or jerking of an arm or leg, abnormal smells or tastes, problems with speech, or numbness and tingling.
3. The sense of smell decreases as a normal age-related change. It is unlikely that this patient has a good sense of smell.
4. The initial changes associated with increased intracranial pressure are subtle changes in level of consciousness, such as alertness, changes in orientation, and motor and sensory deficits. Seizure activity is a late sign.

During an Assessment, an Older Patient Asks If "Something Is