Deck 4: Physiological Changes with Aging

Question 1

Tinnitus is defined as:

A) thick,dry cerumen in the auditory canal.
B) a buzzing,clicking,or ringing in the ear.
C) stiffening of the tympanic membrane.
D) atrophy of the organ of Corti.

Answer 1

a buzzing,clicking,or ringing in the ear.

Question 2

You have four rooms to choose from for your elderly client to be admitted this afternoon.Which room would you choose?

A) A brightly lit,blue room with cozy throw rugs
B) An orange carpeted room with soft lighting
C) A brightly lit,blue room with an EZ-Glide wax floor
D) A combination television/children's playroom with cute pastel wall hangings

Answer 2

An orange carpeted room with soft lighting

Question 3

Which statement best describes normal changes of aging?

A) All age-related changes are the result of disease.
B) When comparing functional abilities of an elderly client,it is important to not allow social or cultural influences to cloud your assessment.
C) It is always very easy to tell the difference between normal aging and the results of one's lifelong poor habits.
D) Individual variations are enormous at every age and in every part of the body.

Answer 3

Individual variations are enormous at every age and in every part of the body.

Question 4

In implementing care for an elderly bedridden client,which nursing intervention reflects appropriate action to compensate for normal changes of aging to her immunological system?

A) Turning her every 2 hours to maintain intact skin integrity
B) Administering prophylactic antibiotics
C) Inserting multiple intravenous lines in case fluid resuscitation becomes necessary rapidly
D) Drawing daily laboratory values for complete blood count with differential to analyze for "shift to the left"

Question 5

A 97-year-old patient is admitted to the medical unit with pneumonia.He was treated as an outpatient with oral antibiotics and was only admitted for intravenous antibiotics when his symptoms did not resolve.He has a productive cough and bilateral congestion and is complaining of weakness.His vital signs are 106/78,82,24,and a temperature of 97 degrees (oral).His granddaughter asks you,"Why isn't grandpa running a fever? He is so very sick." You answer her based on the knowledge that:

A) he is no longer febrile because his pneumonia is resolved.
B) in a 97-year-old,a temperature of 97 degrees is considered febrile.
C) a lack of fever cannot be used to rule out an infection in older adults.
D) oral temperatures are always inaccurate in older adults.

Question 6

You are teaching a health promotion class at a senior center.The topic is promoting healthy skin while aging.The following topics should be included in the program except:

A) the importance of using sunscreen.
B) the importance of adequate hydration.
C) the importance of using moisturizing lotions.
D) the importance of using antibacterial soaps when bathing.

Question 7

A 77-year-old woman is being treated for glaucoma.She asks the nurse what causes glaucoma.The nurses bases a response on the knowledge that:

A) glaucoma is caused by a breakdown in the absorption process of intraocular fluid leading to increased intraocular pressure.
B) glaucoma is caused by spasms of the orbicular muscle leading to increased intraocular pressure.
C) glaucoma is caused by changes to the suspensory ligaments,ciliary muscles,and parasympathetic nerves leading to an increased intraocular pressure.
D) glaucoma is caused by bits of coalesced vitreous that have broken off from the peripheral or central part of the retina.

Question 8

As you enter your patient's room,you find her sitting up in bed,reading the large print edition of Reader's Digest.She asks you if it is possible to increase the amount of lighting in the room for her while she reads.She says to you,"I don't know what it is.It just seems that I need more light for everything as I get older." In your verbal response to her,you explain what age-related changes?

A) Slower ability of the pupil to adjust to changes in lighting is age related.
B) The gray-yellow ring around her cornea,arcus senilis,interferes with visual acuity.
C) The cornea becomes flatter and thinner with aging.
D) The retina begins to degenerate with aging,and detachment is an age expected change.

Question 9

You are caring for an 89-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital for weakness and a cough.In her assessment,the client describes that she has to go to the bathroom frequently and manages this by monitoring her fluid intake,especially before going to bed.She has no pain or discomfort with voiding.The nurse knows:

A) that this is normal for a woman her age.
B) that this is indicative of a urinary tract infection.
C) that this is a sign of diabetes.
D) that the patient is drinking too many fluids.

Question 10

A 79-year-old female client lives in an assisted living facility.She consults the nurse practitioner because of complaints of vaginal itching and burning and vaginal discharge.The nurse practitioner diagnoses a yeast infection and prescribes nystatin (Mycostatin)suppositories.The client states,"This is the third infection I have had in the past 2 years.Do all older women get these infections?" The nurse practitioner bases her answer on the knowledge that:

A) older women are more susceptible to vaginal infections because of age-related vaginal changes.
B) older women are more susceptible to vaginal infections because of decreased ability to perform proper perineal hygiene.
C) older women are more susceptible to vaginal infections because of the multitude of medications taken for chronic medical conditions.
D) older women are more susceptible to vaginal infections because of decreased fluid intake.