A nurse is testing a client's immediate memory. What activity is the nurse most likely using?

A nurse is testing a client's immediate memory. What activity is the nurse most likely using?

• A. Asking the client to recall events from the past week
• B. Asking the client to name three objects after a brief distraction
• C. Having the client remember a new phone number
• D. Requesting the client describe a recent activity

Answer: (B)

Immediate memory refers to the capacity to hold a small amount of information in an active state for a short period, typically a matter of seconds. A common method to assess immediate memory is through tasks that require the individual to learn and recall information immediately after presentation, often following a brief distraction. In this situation, asking the client to name three objects after a brief distraction effectively tests their immediate memory. This activity involves presenting the objects, shifting the client's attention momentarily, and then requesting the recall of those objects, which directly assesses their ability to retain and retrieve information over a short duration. The other activities mentioned focus on different memory types or longer time frames. For instance, recalling events from the past week, remembering a new phone number, or describing a recent activity requires a longer memory storage and retrieval process, which typically engages not just immediate memory but also short-term and long-term memory mechanisms. These tasks do not specifically isolate the function of immediate memory as effectively as naming three objects after a brief distraction does.

Immediate memory refers to the capacity to hold a small amount of information in an active state for a short period, typically a matter of seconds. A common method to assess immediate memory is through tasks that require the individual to learn and recall information immediately after presentation, often following a brief distraction.

In this situation, asking the client to name three objects after a brief distraction effectively tests their immediate memory. This activity involves presenting the objects, shifting the client's attention momentarily, and then requesting the recall of those objects, which directly assesses their ability to retain and retrieve information over a short duration.

The other activities mentioned focus on different memory types or longer time frames. For instance, recalling events from the past week, remembering a new phone number, or describing a recent activity requires a longer memory storage and retrieval process, which typically engages not just immediate memory but also short-term and long-term memory mechanisms. These tasks do not specifically isolate the function of immediate memory as effectively as naming three objects after a brief distraction does.