Deck 4: Health Promotion, Health Maintenance, and Home Health Considerations

Question 1

The 60-year-old Asian man tells the home health nurse that he has stopped taking his antihypertensive medication because it causes him to be impotent. He reports that he is using acupuncture to control his hypertension. What would be the most effective response by the nurse?

A) "Uncontrolled hypertension is a real health problem."
B) "Does your acupuncturist check your blood pressure?"
C) "Let me check your blood pressure to see how acupuncture is working."
D) "You need to talk to your real doctor about stopping this drug."

Answer 1

"Let me check your blood pressure to see how acupuncture is working."

Question 2

What does the presence of a caregiver provide for the older adult living at home?

A) Assurance of safety
B) Service for deep housecleaning
C) Source of motivation
D) Source of care that is free of charge

Answer 2

Source of motivation

Question 3

What would be the most important suggestion for the nurse to give her 75-year-old patient in an attempt to prevent a potential drug interaction?

A) Seek medical care from only one physician.
B) Read up on all drugs that are prescribed.
C) Keep a list of drugs that he is currently taking.
D) Use only one pharmacy to fill prescriptions.

Answer 3

Keep a list of drugs that he is currently taking.

Question 4

The caregiver who provides daily meals and attends to the daily needs of the older adult is classified as the _____ caregiver.

A) basic
B) organizing
C) primary
D) designated

Question 5

What is the best predictor that a patient with hypertension will adhere to a newly prescribed low-sodium diet?

A) The amount of knowledge about the patient has of the diet.
B) The amount of distress the patient has about his illness.
C) The patient's previous ability to lose 15 lbs through following a weight reduction program.
D) The patient's desire to not suffer from hypertensive complications.

Question 6

A 70-year-old male patient taking corticosteroids for rheumatoid arthritis asks the nurse if he should take the vaccination to prevent shingles. What would be the nurse's most helpful response?

A) "No. Persons with impaired immune systems should not take that vaccine."
B) "Yes. It would be a good idea to protect yourself from shingles."
C) "No. That vaccine is only effective in about 10% of the cases."
D) "Yes. The vaccine is very inexpensive and very effective."

Question 7

When the 70-year-old female patient says, "Keeping up with when to take the flu vaccine is a big hassle. I'm not going to add trying to keep up with a pneumonia vaccine as well. It's too expensive." Which response by the nurse would be the most helpful?

A) "Both vaccines can be taken at the same time every fall."
B) "The pneumonia vaccine needs to be repeated every 10 years."
C) "It is important to begin getting annual pneumonia shots at 80 years of age."
D) "The flu vaccine must be taken every three years to remain effective."

Question 8

What would be the most effective action by the home health coordinator when interacting with an unpaid caregiver?

A) Tell him or her to call the agency if he or she needs any further assistance.
B) Leave him or her entirely on his or her own so as not to interfere with the care he or she provides.
C) Critique care to improve its effectiveness.
D) Be generous with positive feedback.

Question 9

The home health nurse suggests to the 82-year-old man that he should wear a Medic Alert bracelet. Which of the following health conditions prompted the nurse to make this suggestion?

A) Artificial leg
B) Congestive heart failure
C) Pacemaker
D) Eye prosthesis

Question 10

A 70-year-old male patient has been newly diagnosed with hypertension. What would be the most effective health practice to reduce sodium intake?

A) Avoid all salty foods.
B) Discontinue eating at restaurants.
C) Read food labels on food containers carefully.
D) Limit the amount of salt added to food.

Question 11

When doing exercises such as walking or swimming, how many minutes must the older adult perform the activity in order for it to be considered beneficial?

A) 15
B) 30
C) 45
D) 60

Question 12

An older adult states that her physician ordered her to drink a glass of wine daily. The nurse understands that alcohol is occasionally recommended for which of the following reasons?

A) Memory enchancer
B) Appetite stimulant
C) Diuretic
D) Food source

Question 13

Which task could not be performed by an unlicensed home health aide?

A) Transfer the patient into a bathtub.
B) Measure or dispense medication.
C) Contact family members independently.
D) Accompany the patient outside the home.

Question 14

The nurse is teaching a newly diagnosed patient with diabetes regarding the diabetic diet. Which of the following factors will have the biggest impact on compliance?

A) Clarity of the instructions
B) Severity of the disease
C) Timing of the instructions
D) Motivation of the patient

Question 15

The 84-year-old male complains of dry mouth. What would be appropriate for the nurse to suggest?

A) Keep hard candy in his mouth to stimulate salivation.
B) Drink iced cola drinks several times daily for hydration.
C) Wash his mouth with an astringent mouthwash.
D) Limit alcohol intake.

Question 16

The home health nurse is discussing oral hygiene with the older adult. Which practice would be appropriate to add to the current maintenance plan?

A) A dental appointment every 2 years
B) Using a fluoride toothpaste
C) Thorough flossing every week
D) Use of an electric toothbrush

Question 17

The 65-year-old male farmer who is overweigh and has hypertension, tells the home health nurse that he eats two fried eggs, four pieces of bacon, and biscuits with gravy every morning for breakfast because he believes that a robust breakfast keeps him healthy. What would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A) "That sort of food is not on your low-sodium diet."
B) "You won't be healthy long with a diet like that."
C) "One egg and whole wheat toast would be even healthier."
D) "You should eat whole-grain cereal with fruit instead of all that fat and sodium."

Question 18

The home health nurse observes that there is still about half a month's supply of Glucophage in the medicine bottle at the end of the month. What question would be the most appropriate for the nurse to ask?

A) "Do you know what inadequately treated diabetes can do?"
B) "Have you told your physician you are not taking your prescription?"
C) "Are you trying to make the medication stretch for 2 months?"
D) "Why are you being so noncompliant?"

Question 19

An 80-year-old woman injured her foot on a piece of rusty wire. She tells the nurse she had a tetanus booster when she was 75. The nurse's response will be based on the knowledge that tetanus boosters

A) should be repeated every 5 years.
B) are not necessary for persons older than 70.
C) do little good for the older adult.
D) should be repeated with every injury, regardless of the previous booster.

Question 20

How often should a 75-year-old have a visual screening?

A) Every 6 months
B) Every 12 months
C) Every 2 years
D) On an as needed basis

Question 21

What evaluations should be conducted during an older adult female's routine physical examination? (Select all that apply.)

A) Measurement of height and weight
B) Blood pressure
C) Electrocardiography
D) Rectal examination
E) Mammography

Question 22

When assessing for inadequate health maintenance, what should be assessed? (Select all that apply.)

A) Willingness to follow a health maintenance plan
B) Possible conflict between a health maintenance plan and culture
C) The presence of prohibited items such as sweets, alcohol, and cigarettes
D) The family's perception of effectiveness of a health maintenance plan
E) The level of cognitive impairment

Question 23

What factors might interfere with the health maintenance activities of a 76-year-old patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) A belief that diminished health is part of aging
B) Loss of a spouse 3 months ago
C) Having a physical examination every year
D) Living in an assisted living facility and not driving
E) Having no family

Question 24

The nurse is reviewing recommended health practices with an older patient. What would be included in the teaching? (Select all that apply.)

A) Compliance with dietary restrictions
B) Performance of regular exercise daily
C) Cessation of smoking
D) Arrangement for regular medical examinations
E) Annual psychological testing

Question 25

What benefits can the older adult female expect with even a small amount of daily exercise? (Select all that apply.)

A) Build muscle mass
B) Control weight
C) Retard bone loss
D) Control the blood glucose level
E) Promote a sense of well-being

Question 26

The 80-year-old woman tells the home health nurse, "I can only eat cereal because I just can't make those dentures work!" What would be the most appropriate suggestion by the nurse? (Select all that apply.)

A) Take only tiny bites of food.
B) Chew slowly.
C) Use a dental adhesive.
D) Select soft, nonsticky foods (e.g., ground meat, boiled carrots).
E) Purée all food.