Reference no: EM133626278

Question

An 82-year-old woman, Emma, is brought to the Emergency Department by her husband. He tells you for the past two days, Emma has had trouble staying awake and she seemed to be breathing fast. He also tells you she will barely eat or drink anything even though she says she is thirsty, and he noticed she has not been using the bathroom. During your initial assessment, you find Emma to be arousable, but lethargic and her skin is warm and dry. She is tachypneic. Emma does not have a history of diabetes mellitus and she is not an alcoholic. Emma's husband explains to you the rheumatoid arthritis in Emma's hands flared up four days ago, so she was taking four Norgesic Forte pills every four hours instead of one pill every eight hours which is what her physician prescribed.