Deck 41: Home Care Safety

Question 1

While performing a home visit with an elderly patient,the nurse notices that the patient's dress is less tidy than in previous visits,and she finds an open orange juice container in the pantry cabinet instead of the refrigerator and a roll of paper towels in the refrigerator.How should the nurse respond?

A) Begin rearranging the patient's storage, and show her how it needs to be done
B) Raise her voice, and tell the patient that this is not acceptable
C) Complete a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
D) Realize that elderly patients do things differently

Answer 1

Complete a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

Question 2

Which of the following are characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease? (Select all that apply.)

A) Amnesia
B) Agnosia
C) Apraxia
D) Aphasia
E) None of above

Answer 2

Amnesia
Agnosia
Apraxia
Aphasia

Question 3

The nurse is performing a fall assessment in the patient's home.Her best chance for preventing falls would be which of the following?

A) Involve the patient in an exercise program
B) Teach the patient the proper use of assistive devices
C) Involve the patient in a strength training regimen
D) Focus on multifactorial interventions

Answer 3

Focus on multifactorial interventions

Question 4

The nurse is assessing a patient for mobility problems that could lead to falls.She has the patient perform a Timed Up and Go (TUG)test.Why does she use this test?

A) To gauge the patient's ability to perform advanced ambulation maneuvers
B) To gauge whether the patient can walk 30 feet without fatiguing
C) To gauge whether the patient can tolerate the activity for longer than 30 seconds
D) To gauge how quickly the patient can perform the test

Question 5

The patient is on neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH)insulin and regular insulin at home.How should the nurse teach the patient and the patient's caregiver to store the insulin?

A) In the refrigerator and removed only for administration
B) In a warm place such as in a cabinet above the stove
C) In the dairy bin of the refrigerator with the cheese and eggs
D) At room temperature for up to 30 days

Question 6

The patient has been brought to the emergency department by a family member who states that she just "doesn't know what to do." The patient often forgets where he is and refuses to bathe or change clothes.He will put things on the stove and forget that he has something cooking.She is obviously concerned for her loved one's safety.How is the nurse likely to interpret these symptoms?

A) As signs of depression
B) As signs of amnesia
C) As signs of aphasia
D) As signs of Alzheimer's disease

Question 7

In determining the causes of falls or other injuries within the home,the nurse should assess for which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Symptoms at time of fall and history of previous falls
B) Location of falls and activity at the time of the fall
C) Time of fall
D) Trauma post fall
E) None of above

Question 8

The nurse is assessing the home of an elderly patient for safety issues.Which of the following would cause concern for the nurse? (Select all that apply.)

A) Cleaning the stove top
B) Putting a shower chair in the bathroom
C) Installing adequate lighting in all living areas
D) Placing emergency numbers close to the telephone
E) None of above

Question 9

When communicating with a patient with a cognitive deficit,what is the best way for the nurse to respond?

A) "You managed all of your medications very well today."
B) "Your family should really take over the cooking. It's too hard for you to do."
C) "I don't see how you will be able to shop for yourself anymore. Someone will have to do it for you."
D) "This schedule will be too difficult for you to remember. I better write it all down."

Question 10

Common causes of falls in older patients include which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Gait disturbances
B) Muscle weakness
C) Visual impairments
D) Environmental hazards
E) None of above

Question 11

Which assistive device would most benefit a patient with a neuromuscular weakness?

A) Large-print labels
B) A syringe with a magnifier
C) Screw-top medication containers
D) Color-coded tops for medications

Question 12

Patients who require home care often experience physical alterations that require changes in their home environment.In the case of older adults,what is the best way to make these changes?

A) Make changes quickly to prevent problems
B) Make changes to limit the patient's need to move around
C) Make changes to complement the patient's strengths
D) Make changes regardless of the patient's previous sense of personal space

Question 13

When a caregiver is communicating with a patient,which of the following may facilitate communication? (Select all that apply.)

A) Face the patient who has a hearing impairment
B) Avoid eye contact
C) Use simple words
D) Be aware of nonverbal gestures

Question 14

When teaching about medication use in the home,what instructions should the nurse provide to the patient?

A) Always keep insulin in the refrigerator
B) Put used needles in double paper bags
C) Put all of the medication to be taken in one bottle
D) Discard unused or expired medication in the toilet

Question 15

A patient with a cognitive deficit becomes agitated and upset about not being able to remember daily activities.How should the nurse respond to this agitation?

A) Tell the patient not to worry about it
B) Provide an easy-to-follow calendar and reinforce the information
C) Explain that becoming upset is not going to help the situation
D) Remind the patient that now is the time to rest and relax

Question 16

___________ is a generalized impairment of intellectual functioning,with the most common form being Alzheimer's disease.

Question 17

Which of the following is a safety measure that the patient should implement in the home environment?

A) Using fluorescent lighting
B) Wearing extra clothing for padding
C) Obtaining a large fire extinguisher
D) Installing additional towel bars for support in the shower

Question 18

When teaching an elderly patient about safety in the bathroom,which of the following recommendations should the nurse make?

A) Use bath oils to maintain skin integrity and suppleness
B) Hang towels on grab bars for easy access
C) Make sure bathroom door can be locked from inside only for privacy
D) Shower using shower stool and handheld sprayer

Question 19

The nurse is visiting an elderly patient who lives with his wife and daughter.He has several daily medications,including antihypertensives,antiarrhythmics,diuretics,and pain medication.The patient's wife states that he takes all of the pills in the morning and some at night.The nurse should examine the pills and suggest which of the following?

A) Take the antiarrhythmics and antihypertensives together in the morning to prevent hypotension during sleep
B) Take the diuretics at bedtime
C) Increase the different types of pain medication to prevent addiction to one
D) Administer at bedtime medications that are likely to cause confusion

Question 20

Of what should the nurse remind the patient when discussing safety measures for the home environment?

A) Set the hot water heater to only 160° F
B) Turn on the cold water faucet first
C) Use small throw rugs on slippery wood floors
D) Put high-wattage bulbs into all lamps

Question 21

___________ is the concurrent prescribing of multiple medications.

Question 22

______________ disease accounts for 50% of all dementia diagnoses.

Question 23

________________ is a chronic generalized impairment of intellectual functioning that leads to a decline in the ability to perform basic and instrumental ADLs.

Question 24

________________ is the most common form of dementia.

Question 25

Activities of daily living (ADLs)include the patient's ability to bathe,dress,go to the toilet,transfer,maintain continence,and feed himself,while _______ include the ability to use a telephone,prepare meals,travel,do housework,take medication,and shop.

Question 26

_______________ is a chronic,insidious emotional disorder characterized by feelings of sadness,melancholy,dejection,and worthlessness that are inappropriate and out of proportion to reality.

Question 27

Dementia is characterized by a gradual,progressive,irreversible _______ dysfunction.