A student nurse is caring for a 78-year-old patient with multiple sclerosis. The patient has had an indwelling Foley catheter for 3 days. Eight hours ago, the patient's temperature was 37.1° C (98.8° F). The student reports her recent assessment to the registered nurse (RN): the patient's temperature is now 37.2° C (99° F); the Foley catheter is still in place, draining dark urine; and the patient is uncertain about the time of day. Based on the RN's knowledge of symptom presentation in older adults, what should he recommend?

A) Tell the student that temporary confusion is normal and simply requires reorientation.
B) Tell the student to increase the patient's fluid intake since the urine is concentrated.
C) Tell the student that her assessment findings are normal for an older adult.
D) Tell the student that he will notify the physician of the findings.

D) Tell the student that he will notify the physician of the findings. The registered nurse (RN) should recommend notifying the physician of the patient's symptoms, which may indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Explanation:

The patient's symptoms may indicate a urinary tract infection (UTI) which can cause confusion in older adults. Therefore, the RN should recommend notifying the physician of the findings (Option D). A higher temperature, dark urine, and confusion are all potential signs of a UTI. Increasing fluid intake (Option B) may help with concentrated urine, but it does not address the other symptoms. Temporary confusion is not normal in older adults and should not be ignored (Option A). Therefore, the best course of action is to inform the physician about the findings and seek further evaluation and treatment.

Learn more about Urinary tract infection here:

https://brainly.com/question/33935545

#SPJ11