Question

Frank Brown is a 72-year-old retired accountant. An accomplished musician and composer, Mr. Brown also worked as an organist in various churches during all of his adult life. Over the past several years, Mr. Brown has had increasing difficulty with his memory, finding that he is now unable to play familiar pieces of music that he had memorized years before. His increasing difficulty with memory and with cognitive ability has recently forced him to retire from his organist positions. Mr. Brown, accompanied by his wife, is seen at the medical clinic today. The Browns are informed that Frank is exhibiting symptoms of early Alzheimer’s disease.

1. Mr. Brown is given a prescription for rivastigmine. Mrs. Brown asks if this medication will cure the Alzheimer’s disease. How should the nurse respond?

2. Mr. Brown states that a friend of his was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and is on donepezil. He asks why he has not been given this drug. How should the nurse answer this question?

3. Discuss the major points that the nurse should include in a teaching plan for the Browns regarding rivastigmine.

Answer 1