MDS Alert
Don’t Just Go Through The BIMS Motions
Try this quiz, and see if you understand the context surrounding BIMS. The Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) is an important assessment aspect of the MDS. If you or your team members have ever questioned the necessity of performing the interview, try this quiz, expanding on the rationale behind the questions. The RAI Manual offers many reasons explaining the reason and methods of the BIMS. Try these questions and see what you know. Check your answers on page XX. 1. Fill in the blank: Direct or performance-based testing of cognitive function decreases the chance of incorrect labeling of cognitive ability and improves detection of _______. 2. Complete this sentence: Cognitively intact residents may appear to be cognitively impaired because of extreme frailty, hearing impairment or a. Lack of interaction. b. Superior vision. c. Incontinence. d. History of amputation. 3. True or false: Some residents may appear to be more cognitively intact than they actually are. 4. True or false: If cognitive impairment is incorrectly diagnosed, there’s no impact on a resident receiving appropriate communication or worthwhile activities and therapies. 5. Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate conclusion if a resident fails to repeat three words (MDS item C0200)? a. The resident may have a hearing impairment. b. The resident may have a language barrier. c. The resident may be experiencing delirium. d. The resident may be having a bad day, and you should stop the BIMS entirely. 6. Which of the following best describes a “nonsensical response”? a. A response that is related to the question but is said quietly. b. A response that is spoken loudly and with anger. c. A response that is comprehensible and comprehensive. d. A response that is incoherent. 7. Which of the following is an example of a category cue for “sock”? a. A piece of furniture. b. A color. c. Something to wear. d. A day of the week. 8. What should the interviewer do first if a resident does not repeat all three words after three attempts? a. Reassess ability to hear. b. Use a hearing amplifier. c. Switch to a written BIMS. d. Check the prescription strength of their glasses. 9. In the context of the BIMS, what does temporal orientation mean? a. The slant of a resident’s head in relation to their body. b. A resident’s ability to indicate the correct date in current surroundings. c. A resident’s ability to tell time on a digital clock. d. A resident’s ability to tell time on an analog clock. 10. True or false: Reorienting those who are disoriented or at risk of disorientation will not be useful in treating symptoms of delirium. 
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