Question 1

A nurse is planning care for young-adult patients. Which information should the nurse consider when planning care?

Accepted Answer

Young adults are generally active and experience severe illnesses less frequently. However, their lifestyles may put them at risk for illnesses or disabilities during their middle or older-adult years. An estimated 10% to 15% of reproductive couples are infertile, and many are young adults. Substance abuse is not always diagnosable, particularly in its early stages.

Question 2

A nurse discusses the risks of repeated sun exposure with a young-adult patient. Which response will the nurse most expect from this patient?

Accepted Answer

Most typically young adults would say that their skin is fine. Young adults often ignore physical symptoms and often postpone seeking health care. Making an appointment right away with the doctor and participating in health fairs are not typical behaviors of young adults for the same reason.

Question 3

During a routine physical assessment, the nurse obtaining a health history notes that a 50-year-old female patient reports pain and redness in the right breast. Which action is best for the nurse to take in response to this finding?

Accepted Answer

A comprehensive assessment offers direction for health promotion recommendations, as well as for planning and implementing any acutely needed intervention. Redness or painful breasts are abnormal physical assessment findings in the middle-aged adult. Increased size of one breast is an abnormal physical assessment finding in the middle-aged adult.

Question 4

A nurse is teaching young adults about health risks. Which statement from a young adult indicates a correct understanding of the teaching?

Accepted Answer

Lifestyle habits that activate the stress response increase the risk of illness; so, controlling this will decrease risk. Smoking is a well-documented risk factor for pulmonary, cardiac, and vascular disease as well as cancer in smokers and in individuals who receive secondhand smoke. The presence of certain chronic illnesses (not acute illnesses-appendicitis) in the family increases the family member's risk of developing a disease. Caffeine is a naturally occurring legal stimulant that is readily available. Caffeine stimulates catecholamine release, which, in turn, stimulates the central nervous system; it also increases gastric acid secretion, heart rate, and basal metabolic rate.

Question 5

A 55-year-old female presents to the outpatient clinic describing irregular menstrual periods and hot flashes. Which information should the nurse share with the patient?

Accepted Answer

The most significant physiological changes during middle age are menopause in women and the climacteric in men. Menopause typically occurs between 45 and 60 years of age. The nurse should continue with the examination because a comprehensive assessment offers direction for health promotion recommendations, as well as for planning and implementing any acutely needed interventions. Exercise should not be stopped, especially in middle-aged adults.

Question 6

Which information from the nurse indicates a correct understanding of emerging adulthood?

Accepted Answer

This newly identified stage of development from age 18 to 25 (emerging adulthood) has been described as neither an extended adolescence, as it is much freer from parental control and is much more a period of independent exploration, nor young adulthood, as most young people in their twenties have not made the transitions historically associated with adult status, especially marriage and parenthood.

Question 7

A nurse is assessing a middle-aged patient's barriers to change in eating habits. Which areas will the nurse assess that are external barriers? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

External barriers to change include lack of facilities, materials, and social supports. Internal barriers are lack of knowledge, insufficient skills, and undefined short- and long-term goals.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a hospitalized young-adult male who works as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. He states that he would like to get a better job but has no education. How can the nurse best assist this patient psychosocially?

Accepted Answer

Support from the nurse, access to information, and appropriate referrals provide opportunities for achievement of a patient's potential. Health is not merely the absence of disease (focusing on medical diagnoses) but involves wellness in all human dimensions. Telling a patient what to do (go back to school) is inappropriate. Each person (not the nurse) needs to make these decisions based on individual factors. Insecure persons tend to be more rigid in making decisions.

Question 9

A home health nurse is providing care to a middle-aged couple with children at home. The patient has a debilitating chronic illness. Which areas will the nurse need to assess? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Along with the current health status of the chronically ill middle-aged adult, you need to assess the knowledge base of both the patient and family. In addition, you must determine the coping mechanisms of the patient and family; adherence to treatment and rehabilitation regimens; and the need for community and social services, along with appropriate referrals. A doula is a support person to be present during labor to assist women who have no other source of support.

Question 10

A nurse is providing prenatal care to a first-time mother. Which information will the nurse share with the patient? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Prenatal care includes a thorough physical assessment of the pregnant woman during regularly scheduled intervals. Information regarding STIs and other vaginal infections and urinary infections that will adversely affect the fetus and counseling about exercise patterns, diet, and child care are important for a pregnant woman. Empty nest syndrome occurs as children leave the home. Postpartum depression is rare.

Question 11

Upon assessment of a middle-aged adult, the nurse observes uneven weight bearing and decreased range of joint motion. Which area is priority?

Accepted Answer

With uneven weight bearing and decreased range of joint motion, falling is a priority. Abuse potential would indicate other findings such as bruising or unkept appearance. While stroke prevention is important in a middle-aged adult, these are not the signs of stroke. While self-esteem issues may arise from physical changes, safety is a priority over self-esteem issues.

Question 12

A nurse is caring for a young adult. Which goal is priority?

Accepted Answer

Family is important during young adulthood. Challenges may include the demands of working and raising families. Peer is more important in the adolescent years. Young adults are much freer from parental control. While recreation is important, the family and work are the priorities in young adults.

Question 13

A nurse determines that a middle-aged patient is a typical example of the "sandwich generation." What did the nurse discover the patient is caught between?

Accepted Answer

Middle-aged adults also begin to help aging parents while being responsible for their own children, placing them in the sandwich generation. It does not include job and family responsibilities; old habits and new ones; or career and retiring.

Question 14

The nurse is teaching a class to pregnant women about common physiological changes during pregnancy. Which information should the nurse include in the teaching session?

Accepted Answer

During the third trimester (late pregnancy), increases in Braxton Hicks contractions (irregular, short contractions), fatigue, and urinary frequency (not early) occur. Normally, women commonly have morning sickness, breast enlargement and tenderness, and fatigue. Women need to be reassured that sexual activity will not harm the fetus.

Question 15

A young-adult patient is brought to the hospital by police after crashing the car in a high-speed chase when trying to avoid arrest for spousal abuse. Which action should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Reports of arrests because of driving while intoxicated, wife or child abuse, or disorderly conduct are reasons for the nurse to investigate the possibility of drug abuse more carefully. Caffeine is a naturally occurring legal stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system and is not the choice for calming nerves. Although sexually transmitted infections occur in the young adult, this is not an action a nurse should take in this situation. The nurse may obtain important information by making specific inquiries about past medical problems, changes in food intake or sleep patterns, and problems of emotional lability.

Question 16

A nurse is choosing an appropriate topic for a young-adult health fair. Which topic should the nurse include?

Accepted Answer

Unplanned pregnancies are a continued source of stress that can result in adverse health outcomes for the mother (young adult), infant, and family. Retirement is an issue for middle-aged, not young adults. The onset of menopause and the climacteric affect the sexual health of the middle-aged adult, not the young adult.

Question 17

Which goal is priority when the nurse is caring for a middle-aged adult?

Accepted Answer

Many middle-aged adults find particular joy in helping their children and other young people become productive and responsible adults. While immediate family is important, this goal is priority in young adults, not as important in middle-aged adults. During this period, personal and career achievements have often already been experienced; therefore, these goals are not priority.

Question 18

A nurse is planning care for a 30 year old. Which goal is priority?

Accepted Answer

From 29 to 34, the person directs enormous energy toward achievement and mastery of the surrounding world. The years from 35 to 43 are a time of vigorous examination of life goals and relationships. Between the ages of 23 and 28, the person refines self-perception and ability for intimacy.

Question 19

A patient states that she is pregnant and concerned because she does not know what to expect, and she wants her husband to play an active part in the birthing process. Which information should the nurse share with the patient?

Accepted Answer

Childbirth education classes (like Lamaze) can prepare pregnant women, their partners, and other support persons to participate in the birthing process. The psychodynamic aspect of sexual activity is as important as the type or frequency of sexual intercourse to young adults; however, this does not relate to the issue the patient reports (lack of knowledge and participation). The stress that many women experience after childbirth has a significant impact on the health of postpartum women. Ideally partners should share all responsibilities; however, this does not relate to the patient's concerns.

Question 20

A nurse is assessing the risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) for patients. Which population should the nurse focus on most for IVP?

Accepted Answer

The greatest risk of violence occurs during the reproductive years. A pregnant woman has a 35.6% greater risk of being a victim of IPV than a nonpregnant woman. White males, middle-aged adults, and nonsubstance abusers are not as high risk as pregnant women.

Quiz 13: Young and Middle Adults