OPPapers.com

Elder Woman

Today I interviewed an elderly woman who is a resident in the Webster County Nursing Home. As I entered her room, she was sitting up awake and alert. As we talked, I explained to her that as a nursing student, I'm required to complete a paper on any person over the age of sixty-five. I asked her if it would be okay to interview her. She enthusiastically agreed, therefore, I proceeded with the interview.
I first took her vital signs. They were as followed:
Temperature (oral): 97.8
Pulse: 92
Respirations: 22
Blood Pressure: 170/60
She stated my name, followed by hers. She said that she was at home but couldn't recall the time or the year. Therefore, she was oriented to person and place but not to time. As she spoke, her speech was clear and understandable. Her hair and scalp was clean and intact. Facial structures and ears were symmetrical. Her hand-grips were strong and equal. Her nail beds were clean with a capillary refill of < 3 seconds. Her skin was warm and dry with no signs of bruises or abrasions on upper extremities. Her breath sounds were equal bilaterally with no coughing present. Her apical heart rate was 96 beats per minute.
During the course of the interview, she stated that she was born in Tupelo, Ms on September 6, 1921. She worked as a meter maid in Clarksdale, Ms for over twenty years. She said that she was married in Roanoke, Virginia but she couldn't recall the year that it occurred. She had two sons but couldn't remember their birthdates. She said that the only surgery she has experienced was a hysterectomy, which was done some years after her second son was born. She has not been hospitalized in years and never used any type of home remedies that she could recall. She stated that for her age, she feels that her health is excellent. The most exciting historical event that she experienced was when her husband came home from the war. Her advice for bringing children up in today's society was "Leave them alone...