Deck 32: Care of Elderly Patients

Question 1

The nurse teaches a client about the availability of systems that can activate flashing lights for smoke detectors, ringing telephones, and doorbells.The nurse is addressing which functioning deficit?

A)Decreased sensation
B)Confusion
C)Poor vision
D)Impaired hearing

Answer 1

Impaired hearing

Question 2

An older-adult client expresses concern to a home health-care nurse about the ability to afford groceries along with all of the new medications prescribed after discharge from the hospital.Which action will the nurse add to the client's plan of care?

A)Making contact with the client's church
B)Setting an appointment with a financial planner
C)Initiating a referral with a social worker
D)Suggesting an appointment with a pharmacist

Answer 2

Initiating a referral with a social worker

Question 3

The nurse is providing discharge teaching to an older adult client.The nurse is concerned about the client being able to safely manage multiple prescriptions.Which comment by the client indicates that the nurse's concern requires follow-up?

A)"I know that I take one pink, one blue, and two white pills every morning."
B)"My son comes every week and sets up all my pills for the right time of the day."
C)"The pharmacy prints labels with large print so I can read the name of the medicine."
D)"I take a medicine list to the doctor's appointment so I don't forget what I take."

Answer 3

"I know that I take one pink, one blue, and two white pills every morning."

Question 4

The nurse at a long-term care facility takes care of multiple residents.Which action by the nurse is aimed at helping the resident feel comfortable in the environment?

A)Ask the residents if they want to eat in the dining room or in their room.
B)Allow freedom of movement by residents into other resident's rooms.
C)Take new residents to scheduled social functions in order to meet others.
D)Consider the residents' right to privacy and always knock on the door.

Question 5

The nurse notices that a client experiences dizziness, blurred vision, weakness, numbness in the left arm, and difficulty swallowing that lasts for about 10 minutes.The nurse suspects an interruption of oxygen supply to the client's brain.Which conclusion will the nurse draw regarding the client's experience?

A)Fits the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack
B)Can be classified as an ischemic stroke due to duration
C)A hemorrhagic stroke of minor proportions has occurred
D)Left arm numbness indicates a myocardial infarction

Question 6

The nurse recruiter at a large hospital researched the projected need for nurses by the year 2020.Which finding best supports the nurse recruiter's need to recruit and retain more nurses?

A)The birth rates are likely to continue to drop due to the aging of society.
B)Eight and one-half percent of people worldwide are age 65 and older.
C)The number of centurions increases steadily due to better health care.
D)The supply of nurses will fall more than one million below the need.

Question 7

The nurse is assessing an 82-year-old client who has diabetes mellitus.Based on the individual's age, which assessment is considered essential?

A)Skin elasticity
B)Fingernails
C)Teeth
D)Feet

Question 8

The nurse is offering support to a family member who is caring for a client diagnosed with Alzheimer disease.Which comment by the family member does the nurse recognize as a possible contributor for client abuse?

A)"It is just a turnabout.First she cared for me, and now I care for her."
B)"What makes me crazy is the wandering at night.I try to keep her safe."
C)"Poor mother, she doesn't know who we are and can't even talk to us."
D)"I feel like I am caring for a stranger; I don't relate to this person at all."

Question 9

An older adult client is going through drug and alcohol withdrawal and experiencing hallucinations followed by loud emotional outbursts.Which condition does the nurse recognize?

A)Dementia
B)Delirium
C)Depression
D)Confusion

Question 10

The nurse is friendly with an older neighbor.The neighbor tells the nurse, "I am so afraid of getting sick.My spouse died after getting a cold." Which suggestion will the nurse make to help the neighbor maintain good respiratory health?

A)Seek medical attention for symptoms that are serious or last more than a few days.
B)Share that older adults have lung changes that make them prone to serious illness.
C)Consider taking over-the-counter preparations that boost aging immune systems.
D)Stay away from people as much as possible to prevent catching an illness.

Question 11

The LPN/LVN is a recent hire in a long-term care facility.The RN explains that long-term care is very different from acute care.The RN explains that unless a client is symptomatic or injured, head-to-toe assessments are not usually performed.Which timeline is the LPN/LVN given for performing routine head-to-toe assessments?

A)As ordered
B)Once a week
C)Once a month
D)Once every 6 months

Question 12

A nurse is notified that a new admission is expected to the unit.The nurse is told that the client is 101 years old and is being admitted from a nearby extended care facility.Which assumption about the client's need is appropriate?

A)The client will be blind.
B)The client's risk for falls will be high.
C)The client will be confused.
D)The client will need complete care.

Question 13

The nurse's coworker states, "All old people are the same-cranky and needy." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

A)"They can be hard for me to handle sometimes too."
B)"Tell me about your relationship with your grandmother."
C)"It is important that we treat all clients as individuals."
D)"I think most old people are kind and nurturing."

Question 14

The nurse is caring for an older adult client who expresses displeasure by "the inability to do what I used to." The nurse understands that the changes are related to the client's neurological functioning.Which change is expected to accompany aging?

A)Hyperactive reflexes due to a lifetime of physical activity
B)Gradual inability to process information from the neurologic and sensory systems
C)Decreased ability to feel heat, but increased sensitivity to cold
D)Anticipated difficulty to speak or to understand the spoken word

Question 15

The nurse who is working in a long-term care facility recognizes that safety concerns in the elderly population are most often related to normal changes in which physiologic system?

A)Cardiovascular
B)Peripheral-vascular
C)Integumentary
D)Sensory

Question 16

A nurse finds a resident in a long-term care facility crying in her room.The nurse knows that the resident's husband recently passed away.Which is the best action for the nurse to take?

A)Gently close the resident's door to provide privacy.
B)Sit quietly with the resident to offer support.
C)Inform the resident that Bingo starts in 5 minutes.
D)Tell the resident that it is time for her shower.

Question 17

The nurse is approached by a resident in a long-term care facility.The client is considered to be middle-old, walks with a cane, has notable facial droop, and takes a long time to formulate verbal expression.Which is the best response by the nurse?

A)Face the individual and directly ask, "What can I do for you?"
B)Loudly assess for the client's need by saying, "What do you need?"
C)Use hand motions and ask, "Are you hungry, thirsty, or in pain?"
D)Make eye contact, and say, "I'll have the aide come to your room in a minute."

Question 18

The nurse works in an extend care facility and recognizes that some residents are likely experiencing frequent loss of friends, family members, and physical capabilities.Which client does the nurse identify as likely to fall within this category?

A)A 68-year-old man who is anticipating retirement this year
B)A 71-year-old woman who volunteers with her church three times a week
C)A 77-year-old woman who lives alone in her own home
D)An 89-year-old woman who lives in an assisted living facility

Question 19

The nurse is working in a long-term facility.A client complains to the nurse about the lighting in the facility.Which condition will the nurse check for related to aging?

A)Cataracts
B)Glaucoma
C)Macular degeneration
D)Diabetes mellitus

Question 20

The nurse is assessing an older adult client who was brought into the emergency department for an undetermined illness.The client lives with an adult child and grandchildren.Which assessment finding will cause the nurse to consider the possibility of elder abuse?

A)The client is wearing soiled adult incontinence underwear.
B)The client has an unscabbed skin tear across the left wrist.
C)The client has multiple bruises in various stages of healing.
D)The client is alone, and the adult child is not coming.

Question 21

The nurse observes an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)providing assistance to clients during dinner.The nurse is confident of the UAP's ability to perform this task if which behavior is included? Select all that apply.

A)Determining whether food should be cut up first.
B)Promoting that fluid is offered routinely during the day.
C)Providing supplemental nutrition as ordered.
D)Ensuring that dentures are in place before meals.
E)Recording the amount of food eaten at each meal.

Question 22

A nurse encounters a client who is depressed about getting older.The nurse explains that there are many positive aspects of aging.Which positive aspects will the nurse share with the client? Select all that apply.

A)Older people no longer need to take care of themselves; they have caretakers.
B)Older people have experienced many things that others have yet to experience.
C)Older people have so much knowledge to share with younger generations.
D)Older people no longer need to drive themselves anywhere.
E)Older people have learned from their own mistakes.

Question 23

A nurse is providing care for an elderly client who has not had a bowel movement in 3 days.Which factor related to aging is contributing to the client's problem? Select all that apply.

A)Peristalsis increases with aging.
B)Decreased activity is common in the elderly.
C)The individual takes multiple medications.
D)The body temperature decreases with aging.
E)Feces may remain in the large intestines for a longer period.

Question 24

Older adults are considered easy prey for scams and crime, as they are less skeptical about solicitors and telemarketers than younger individuals.Which information should the nurse present to protect older adults from becoming victims? Select all that apply.

A)Teach them that when a utility worker has an identification card, it is acceptable to let them into the house.
B)Teach them that meter readers need access to the basement to read their meter once every few months.
C)Teach them that they should never give out personal information over the telephone.
D)Teach them that they can verify their identity by giving a caller their social security number.
E)Teach them not to allow anyone they are not expecting into their home.

Question 25

The nurse works in a long-term care facility.The nurse notices that many clients with bowel and bladder incontinence have developed skin breakdown.Which actions will the nurse initiate to minimize skin breakdown? Select all that apply.

A)Apply a barrier ointment to the perineal area as needed.
B)Change soiled incontinence pads as quickly as possible.
C)Turn and reposition clients in beds or chairs every 1 to 2 hours.
D)Assess each client for incontinence every 1 to 2 hours.
E)Limit fluid intake to meal time and when awakening from sleep.