Deck 7: Older Adults

Question 1

The nurse is admitting an older-adult client who is hospitalized with an acute illness. Which of the following interventions should the nurse do first?

A)Orientate the client to their room.
B)Administer the prescribed PRN sedative medication.
C)Ask the health care provider to order a vest restraint.
D)Place the client in a "geri chair" near the nurse's station for observation.

Answer 1

Orientate the client to their room.

Question 2

Which action will the nurse take when planning for discharge of an older-adult client who will need daily assistance with activities such as shopping and transportation?

A)Complete a referral to Medicare.
B)Apply for transfer to an assisted-living facility.
C)Arrange for home health care visits.
D)Apply for attendance at an adult day care program.

Answer 2

Arrange for home health care visits.

Question 3

Findings from a health history indicate that the client takes daily supplements of the antioxidants beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. This health practice reflects which of the following theories of biological aging?

A)Free radicals
B)Crosslinking
C)Somatic mutation
D)Telomere-telomerase depletion

Answer 3

Free radicals

Question 4

The nurse is providing care to older adults in a Northern outreach clinic. Which nursing action will be most helpful in decreasing the risk for drug-drug interactions?

A)Teach the client to have all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy.
B)Instruct the client to avoid taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
C)Make a medication schedule for the client as a reminder about when to take each medication.
D)Have the client bring all the medications, supplements, and herbs to every health care appointment.

Question 5

Which of the following actions should the nurse consider when developing the plan of care for an older adult who is hospitalized for an acute illness?

A)Use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan.
B)Minimize activity level during hospitalization.
C)Plan for transfer to a long-term care facility after the hospitalization.
D)Consider preadmission functional abilities when setting client goals.

Question 6

Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making a visit to a frail older-adult client with mild forgetfulness is of concern?

A)The client tells the nurse that a close friend recently died.
B)The client has lost 4.5 kg during the last month.
C)The client is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a son at night.
D)The client's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the client's medications weekly.

Question 7

Which nursing actions will the nurse take to assess for possible malnutrition in an older-adult client? (Select all that apply.)

A)Observe for depression.
B)Review laboratory results.
C)Assess teeth and oral mucosa.
D)Ask about transportation needs.
E)Determine food likes and dislikes.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for clients in a geriatric family practice clinic with a primary health care provider. Which of the following actions should the nurse do when caring for older adults who live in rural areas?

A)Assess the client for chronic diseases that are unique to rural areas.
B)Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider.
C)Schedule appointments for the client in an urban area for better health care.
D)Obtain adequate medications for the client to last for 4-6 months.

Question 9

The nurse suspects that elder abuse may be occurring when a frail older-adult client with a broken arm is brought to the emergency department by a family member. Which of these actions should the nurse take first?

A)Notify an elder protective services agency about the possible abuse.
B)Make a referral for a home assessment visit by the home health nurse.
C)Have the family member stay in the waiting area while the client is assessed.
D)Ask the client how the injury occurred and observe the family member's reaction.

Question 10

The nurse is admitting an older-adult client who has urinary urgency and a possible urinary tract infection (UTI). Which of the following actions should the nurse implement first?

A)Assess the client's orientation.
B)Inspect for abdominal distension.
C)Question the client about hematuria.
D)Invite the client to use the bathroom.

Question 11

The nurse is admitting an acutely ill older-adult client to the hospital. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement during the admission process?

A)Speak slowly and loudly while facing the client.
B)Obtain a detailed medical history from the client.
C)Interview the client before the physical assessment.
D)Determine whether the client uses glasses or hearing aids.

Question 12

The home health nurse is caring for an older-adult client who lives alone and is taking seven different prescribed medications for chronic health problems. Which of the following nursing interventions would be most appropriate to ensure medication regimenadherence?

A)Use a marked pillbox to set up the client's medications.
B)Discuss the option of moving to an assisted-living facility.
C)Remind the client about the importance of taking medications.
D)Visit the client daily to administer the prescribed medications.

Question 13

The nurse is planning care for an alert and active older-adult client who takes multiple medications for chronic cardiac and respiratory disease and lives with a daughter who works during the day. Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate?

A)Risk for injury as evidenced by exposure to toxic chemical (drug-drug interactions)
B)Social isolation related to social behavior incongruent with norms (weakness and fatigue)
C)Disabled family coping related to differing coping styles between support person and client
D)Caregiver role strain related to increase in care needs

Question 14

The nurse is assessing the nutritional status of an older-adult client using the SCALES acronym. Which of the following should the nurse assess when completing the "S"?

A)Serum potassium level
B)Sadness or mood change
C)Social support
D)Sexual intimacy

Question 15

The nurse is teaching an older-adult female client about her new medications and the client replies that she "just can't remember all that information anymore." Which of the following changes may interfere with the clients' ability to learn about the new medications?

A)Intellectual ability declines with age.
B)All mental abilities slow as individuals age.
C)Declining physical health can impair cognitive function.
D)Impaired vocabulary and verbal function decrease reasoning with age.

Question 16

Which of the following actions would enable the nurse to obtain the most complete information when doing an assessment with an older-adult client?

A)Interview both the client and the primary client caregiver.
B)Use a geriatric assessment instrument to evaluate the client.
C)Review the client's chart for the history of medical problems.
D)Ask the client to write down medical problems and medications.

Question 17

The nurse is visiting a homeless shelter for older adults to provide a health-promotion activity. Which of the following factors are associated with adult homelessness? (Select all that apply.)

A)Low income
B)Reduced cognitive capacity
C)Decreased health problems
D)Abundance of affordable housing
E)Living alone

Question 18

The nurse is caring for an older-adult client with multiple health problems who states that who reports having "no energy" and feeling increasingly weak. The client has had a 5 kg weight loss over the last year. Which of the following interventions should thenurse implement initially?

A)Ask the client about daily dietary intake.
B)Schedule regular range-of-motion exercise.
C)Discuss long-term care placement with the client.
D)Describe normal changes with aging to the client.

Question 19

Which information about an older-adult client who is being assessed by the home health nurse is of most concern?

A)The client organizes medications in a marked pillbox "so I don't forget them."
B)The client uses three different medications for chronic heart and joint problems.
C)The client says, "I don't go on my daily walks since I had pneumonia 3 months ago."
D)The client tells the nurse, "I prefer to manage my life without much help from others."