An elderly patient tells the nurse that he develops pneumonia easily; however, his wife of the same age rarely "gets sick." With which of the following should the nurse respond to this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It's important to acknowledge individual differences in immune system function, regardless of age. Simply telling the patient that "not everyone's immune system is the same" avoids blame or assumptions. Options B, C, and D could potentially make the patient feel defensive or unsupported, and may not address the patient's concern about his susceptibility to illness.

An Elderly Patient Tells the Nurse That He Develops Pneumonia