Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Exam

What might cause a change in mental status to visual hallucinations in an elderly patient isolated due to MRSA?

1. A fluid and electrolyte imbalance

2. A stimulating environment

3. Sensory deprivation

4. Sundowning

The correct answer is: Sensory deprivation

Visual hallucinations in an elderly patient can often be linked to factors that affect sensory perception and cognitive function. In the context of an elderly individual who is isolated due to MRSA, sensory deprivation becomes a significant concern. Isolation can dramatically reduce stimulation from the environment, including limited visual and auditory input, which can lead to perceptual disturbances such as hallucinations. When individuals, particularly the elderly, experience sensory deprivation, their brains may begin to fill in gaps left by the lack of sensory information. This can lead to the development of visual or auditory hallucinations as the mind attempts to create experience where there is none. The combination of being in an unfamiliar or solitary environment due to illness further exacerbates this condition. While fluid and electrolyte imbalances can indeed lead to changes in mental status, they are more directly associated with confusion or delirium rather than specifically causing visual hallucinations. A stimulating environment would typically be counterproductive to sensory deprivation and would not lead to hallucinations as an effect. Sundowning is a phenomenon often associated with dementia where confusion and agitation worsen in the late afternoon or evening, but it does not inherently cause visual hallucinations related to isolation or sensory limitations. Recognizing the impact of sensory deprivation is crucial in evaluating changes in mental status