Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 85%
Simulated
An 84year old client is brought to the emergency department with reports that his mental status has slowly been declining. He fell 2 weeks ago but did not seek medical attention. Based on this information, what does the nurse suspect the client's diagnosis will be?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
Subacute subdural hematoma: This is correct because subacute subdural hematomas occur within 2 to 14 days of head trauma and cause gradual and fluctuating changes in mental status, which may be mistaken for dementia or delirium.