An 85-year-old male with a history of an irregular heartbeat, diabetes, renal failure, and stroke fell getting out of bed, striking his head on the nightstand. He is alert and oriented and denies complaint. Vital signs are all within normal limits. There is a minor abrasion on his forehead, but he denies any associated pain or headache. Which of the following should be your priority?

Question

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Since the patient has a history of an irregular heartbeat, it is important to determine if he is taking blood thinners. A fall and head injury could increase his risk of bleeding if he is taking these medications. Checking his blood sugar (A) is important, but not the priority in this scenario. The abrasion on his forehead is minor, so inquiring about his tetanus immunization (B) is not a high priority. Asking about dementia (D) is not relevant to the current situation.

An 85-Year-Old Male with a History of an Irregular Heartbeat