Question 1

A woman who is being discharged from the hospital is oriented to person, place, and time, and her memory is intact. She has occasional forgetfulness without a consistent pattern of memory loss. Which of the following housing options would be most appropriate for this woman?

Accepted Answer

Retirement community living is suited for a person who is oriented to person, place, and time and has a memory that is intact, but has occasional forgetfulness without a consistent pattern of memory loss. Independent living may be appropriate for the person if she had a consistent pattern of memory loss. Assisted living or nursing facility living may be appropriate if the woman has difficulty with orientation to person, place, or time or has difficulty with confusion that results in anxiety, social withdrawal, or depression.

Question 2

Which of the following interventions will have the greatest impact on reducing constipation in older adults? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Nurses can help reduce the incidence of constipation by encouraging older adults to exercise and increase their fluid and dietary intake. Dietary modifications, such as increasing fiber and fluid intake, can stimulate the colon and resolve constipation. Pureed foods do not contain adequate fiber. Increased fluid intake and exercise should be implemented before relying on medication to relieve constipation.

Question 3

A person is preparing to return home following a 2-week hospital stay for congestive heart failure and pneumonia. Which of the following referrals would be most beneficial for the person?

Accepted Answer

Home care nurses provide health care information and services to individuals and families. The resources available to community health nurses frequently are rich and enable the nurses to draw on a variety of sources to assist in promoting the health of community-dwelling older adults. Although all of the referrals listed may be of benefit to the person, the home health nurse will provide the most comprehensive services and be able to connect the person to necessary community resources.

Question 4

A nurse has accepted a position as director of health services in a retirement community. Which of the following statements about retirees is important for the nurse to consider as she plans programs? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Research has demonstrated that the majority of retirees are in good health and happy with their decision to leave work so as to spend more time with their families.

Question 5

An 80-year-old person is admitted to the hospital. During the health assessment process, which of the following conditions should the person be screened for by the nurse? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Alcoholism and illegal drug use are often overlooked by health care professionals because of a person's age. Many older adults take multiple over-the-counter and prescription medications and are at risk for drug interactions.

Question 6

A community health nurse is working with a diverse population of older adults within the community. Based on the data from the National Health Interview Survey, which of the following assumptions should be made by the nurse when working with this diverse population?

Accepted Answer

The National Health Interview Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010 provides interesting information about the perceptions of a variety of ethnic groups regarding their health status, their perceived need for assistance with routine needs, and the need for assistance with activities of daily living. In all groups, those who described their health as fair or poor were also more likely to be financially poor.

Question 7

The son of a 70-year-old man dying of cancer asks the nurse to tell him about the hospice program, so he can help his father decide if the program would be of benefit to him. Which of the following responses should be given by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Once the person is placed in hospice care, treatment to relieve pain and other symptoms is continued by the physician after they have decided to end all curative treatment. Hospice care can occur in the home, a hospice inpatient facility, nursing home, and acute care hospital. The focus of hospice care is to help the person remain alert but free of pain. Families are encouraged to participate in care giving. There are no restrictions to visiting hours.

Question 8

The nurse working in a retirement community for older adults is conducting a psychosocial assessment of all residents. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask during the assessment process? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Suicide ideation, loss of interest in activities, and chronic illness are signs of, or may lead to, depression. Economic difficulty is not a predictor of suicide in older adults.

Question 9

A nurse is conducting a community health education program about osteoporosis with a group of older adults. Which of the following individuals in attendance is at greatest risk for developing osteoporosis? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis is a disease of bone loss common to women age 70 and older and men age 80 and older. The disease occurs six times more frequently in women than it does in men. Risk factors include a small, thin frame; White or Asian ancestry; family history; excessive thyroid medication or high doses of cortisone-like drugs for asthma, arthritis, or cancer; a diet low in dairy products and other sources of calcium; physical inactivity; smoking cigarettes; and drinking alcohol.

Question 10

Which of the following nursing interventions implies respect for a person's spirituality? (select all that apply)

Accepted Answer

Because of the highly personal quality of spirituality, an unobtrusive and sensitive presence by the nurse is needed to allow the person in any setting to achieve spiritual health. The nurse can provide an environment that is supportive to the practice of the person's spirituality. Praying out loud does not demonstrate respect for a person's spirituality but imposes the nurse's belief system on the person. Nurses should be able to assess the person's spirituality initially and determine if it is necessary to further consult the chaplain.

Quiz 24: Older Adult