A nurse is performing a mental status examination (MSE) on a client who has a new diagnosis of dementia. Which of the following components should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A.
Grooming
B.
Long-term memory
C.
Support systems
D.
Presence of pain
E.
Affect
Answer and Explanation
When performing a Mental Status Examination (MSE) on a client with a new diagnosis of dementia, the nurse should include the following components:
- A. Grooming: Assessing the client’s grooming provides insight into their self-care abilities and personal hygiene, which can be affected by dementia.
- B. Long-term memory: Evaluating long-term memory helps to determine the extent of memory impairment, which is a key feature of dementia.
- E. Affect: Assessing affect gives information about the client’s emotional state and expression, which can be altered in dementia.
C. Support systems and D. Presence of pain are important aspects of a comprehensive health assessment but are not specific components of the MSE.
Correct answers: A, B, E