You have been called to an assisted living facility for a 43-year-old male who has a history of anxiety and schizophrenia and who, according to staff, is more confused today. The staff also states that he has refused to take his medications for the past three days. Your assessment reveals him to have no life threats to the ABCs, but is slurring his speech and not making sense when he talks. As you review paperwork provided to you by staff, you note that he has a history of thyroid problems, diabetes, and hypertension. His pulse is 124, respirations 16, and blood pressure 154/70 mmHg. At this point, which one of the following actions is most important?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the patient's history of diabetes and confusion, checking his blood glucose level is essential in this scenario. Hypoglycemia can present with confusion and slurred speech, and it is important to rule out this potential cause before considering other interventions. Restraint and transport should only be considered as a last resort and after attempts to calm and reason with the patient have been unsuccessful. Determining the reason for medication refusal is important but not the most pressing concern in this scenario. Rechecking the blood pressure may be necessary but is not as urgent as checking the blood glucose level.

You Have Been Called to an Assisted Living Facility for a 43-Year-Old