The Nurse Is Performing a Mental Status Examination When Caring

The nurse is performing a mental status examination when caring for a patient with a neurocognitive disorder (NCD) . The patient's spouse asks why a mental status examination is necessary. How will the nurse respond?

A) "The mental status exam is the only way to assess the cognitive decline of a patient with early stage Alzheimer disease."
B) "The mental status exam is used to assess depression in a patient with early stage Alzheimer disease."
C) "The mental status exam will reveal slow and progressive cognitive decline of a patient with early stage Alzheimer disease."
D) "The status exam will reveal rapid and dramatic changes in cognition of a patient with early stage Alzheimer disease."