To evaluate a patient's ability to think abstractly, which question could a nurse practitioner ask?

Asking a patient to explain the meaning of a common proverb effectively assesses their ability to think abstractly. Proverb interpretation requires the individual to move beyond literal meanings and engage with underlying concepts, themes, or morals that are not explicitly stated. This kind of cognitive processing reflects higher-level thinking skills, such as reasoning and abstraction, which are critical components of cognitive function.

In contrast, asking about personal details like their name, favorite color, or age involves factual recall and does not necessitate the same level of cognitive engagement or abstraction. These types of questions primarily evaluate memory and basic cognitive function rather than the ability to interpret and analyze more complex ideas or concepts.