Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

If a hospitalized client with dementia can’t feed themselves despite having intact motor skills, what should the nurse document?

1. Aphasia

2. Apraxia

3. Spatial neglect

4. Delirium

The correct answer is: Apraxia

When a hospitalized client with dementia can't feed themselves despite having intact motor skills, the appropriate documentation would be apraxia. Apraxia is a neurological condition characterized by the inability to perform tasks or movements when asked, even though the individual has the physical ability and motor skills to do so. This situation often occurs in individuals with cognitive impairment, such as dementia, where the brain fails to coordinate the necessary actions despite the motor pathways being functional. In this case, the client may understand what needs to be done (e.g., bringing food to their mouth) but cannot execute the action due to the cognitive disconnect. This highlights the role of cognitive processes in performing learned tasks, which is a key aspect of apraxia. Aphasia refers to a language impairment affecting speech and comprehension rather than motor functionality in tasks like feeding. Spatial neglect pertains to a condition where an individual ignores one side of their body or environment, which is not the issue in this scenario. Delirium involves an acute change in mental status and attention, which is also not relevant to the inability to initiate feeding. Thus, the proper documentation would clearly indicate apraxia, given the context of preserved motor skills combined with a cognitive barrier.