A patient is admitted to the unit after an automobile accident.The nurse begins the mental status examination and finds that the patient has dysarthric speech and is lethargic.The nurse's best approach regarding this examination is to:

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In the mental status examination,the sequence of steps forms a hierarchy in which the most basic functions (consciousness,language)are assessed first.The first steps must be accurately assessed to ensure validity of the steps that follow.For example,if consciousness is clouded,then the person cannot be expected to have full attention and to cooperate with new learning.If language is impaired,then a subsequent assessment of new learning or abstract reasoning (anything that requires language functioning)can give erroneous conclusions.

A Patient Is Admitted to the Unit After an Automobile