An older adult is brought to the emergency department by a family member,who reports a moderate change in mental status and mild cough.The client is afebrile.The health care provider orders a chest x-ray.The family member questions why this is needed since the manifestations seem so vague.What response by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is essential to obtain an early chest x-ray in older adults suspected of having pneumonia because symptoms are often vague.Waiting until definitive manifestations are present to obtain the x-ray leads to a costly delay in treatment.Stating that chest x-rays are always ordered does not give the family definitive information.The x-ray can be done while laboratory values are still pending,but this also does not provide specific information about the importance of a chest x-ray in this client.The client has manifestations of pneumonia,so the staff is not testing for any possible source of infection but rather is testing for a suspected disorder.

An Older Adult Is Brought to the Emergency Department by a Family