,Gerontological Nursing, 4e
Chapter 1 - Principles of Gerontology
1) The nurse is preparing to discharge an older client with instructions on smoking
cessation. The nurse states to a colleague, "This client has been smoking for years
and isn't going to stop now." Which negative stereotype of aging does the nurse's
statement most reflect?
1. Old people are expected to be sick.
2. Old people are set in their ways.
3. Old people do not value health promotion education.
4. Old people are a drain on societal
resources. Answer: 3
Explanation: 1. Many older adults have chronic disease but function well.
2. Often people characterize the elderly in a negative way, believing that after a
certain age, things cannot be changed. Older people can learn new things and
take up new hobbies they can enjoy and give life meaning and pleasure.
3. Although it may not be possible to reverse all the damage, it is never too late to
stop smoking cigarettes. People who quit smoking at an older age enjoy better
health outcomes.
4. Older people contribute greatly to society by volunteering, helping with
grandchildren, mentoring others, and continue working.
Page Ref: 4
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: High-Risk
Behaviors Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing
Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 3. Identify common myths of aging and their contribution to
ageism.
2) The nurse is planning to conduct education for older adult clients regarding
preventative health screenings. Which type of screening does the nurse
anticipate educating this population on?
1. Glaucoma
2. Nutrition
3. An annual mammogram
4. Prostate-specific antigen
Answer: 3
Explanation: 1. A glaucoma screening is recommended annually for those at risk for
glaucoma.
2. Nutritional assessment and counseling are encouraged for those with diabetes or
renal disease.
3. The nurse will discuss the importance of annual mammograms. Older women
are the fastest growing population in the United States.
4. A prostate-specific antigen is recommended yearly for men under
the age of 70. Page Ref: 7
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: Health
Screening
Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing Process: Planning
Page 2
,Learning Outcome: 1. Interpret demographic data according to race, gender, and
age.
3) While completing an admission assessment, the nurse learns that a female
adult patient has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years and works at a
chemical plant. From this information, what is this patient most at risk for?
1. Decline in muscle mass
2. Nutritional deficiencies
3. Depression and social isolation
4. Occupational hazard shortening life
expectancy Answer: 4
Explanation: 1. While muscle mass does naturally decline in older adults, there is no
indication that she is not physically active.
2. In older adults, adequate nutrition can be a concern, yet there is no indication
that she is not adequately nourished.
3. In older adults, depression and social isolation are a risk, yet there is no
indication that she is not socially active.
4. Exposure to occupational risk factors has been known to affect life expectancy in
men and will have the same effect on women given similar circumstances.
Page Ref: 8-17
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: High-Risk
Behaviors Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing
Process: Diagnosis
Learning Outcome: 2. Relate leading causes of morbidity and mortality among older
adults.
4) The nurse is caring for an older adult with a chronic disease. Which is reflective
of a tertiary intervention to help slow down the progression of the client's illness?
1. Assess the client's mobility
2. Integrate physical therapy
3. Discuss injury-prevention measures within the home
4. Obtain a referral for occupational
therapy Answer: 2
Explanation: 1. Assessment of the client's mobility is reflective of secondary
prevention.
2. The integration of physical therapy for a client with chronic disease
reflects a tertiary intervention to promote restoration and prevent or slow
down further debilitation.
3. Discussing injury prevention is health promotion or primary prevention.
4. Obtaining a referral for an occupational therapist reflects a secondary measure of
prevention in which there is an early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Page Ref: 9
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Physiological Integrity
Client Need Sub: Reduction of Risk
Potential Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing
Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: 4. Describe the effects of chronic disease.
Page 3
, 5) The nurse is caring for an older client with heart disease that is experiencing
fatigue. Which will the nurse initially implement to enhance the overall quality of
life and functional ability of the client?
1. Assess the need for assistive devices
2. Provide education on health screenings
3. Reinforce the importance of rehabilitation
4. Instruct the client on techniques for self-
management Answer: 3
Explanation: 1. Assistive devices may be necessary to increase the independence
of the client. The assessment for an assistive device occurs during the
rehabilitation time.
2. Education regarding health screenings focuses on prevention of disease.
3. Rehabilitation after a chronic illness can enhance the quality of life and
functional ability of the client. Managing chronic fatigue that occurs with heart
disease can require rehabilitation.
4. Techniques of self-management can reduce pain and cost of chronic disease by
teaching the client to manage their own chronic condition.
Page Ref: 8-13
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Client Need Sub: Support Systems
Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 4. Describe the effects of chronic disease.
6) The nurse is assessing an older female patient admitted to the hospital for
generalized weakness and a cough. Which assessment findings indicate normal
changes of aging? Select all that apply.
1. Blood pressure of 160/90
2. Needing to urinate every 3 hours
3. Needing to wear eye glasses for reading
4. Pulse rate 110 bpm
5. Respiratory rate 22 per minute after walking a short
distance Answer: 2, 3, 5
Explanation: 1. Even though the arteries stiffen with age, an elevation in blood
pressure needs to be investigated and not assumed that it is a normal change
related to aging.
2. With aging, bladder capacity declines. Needing to urinate every 3 hours would be
evidence of reduced bladder capacity.
3. With aging, difficulty focusing up close would necessitate the need for reading
glasses. This would be considered a normal change with aging.
4. Even though the heart muscle thickens with age, a pulse rate of 110 needs to
be investigated and not assumed that it is a normal change related to aging.
5. Maximum breathing capacity may decline by about 40% between the ages of
40 and 70. A respiratory rate of 22 per minute after walking a short distance
can be considered a normal change related to aging.
Page Ref: 17
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: Aging
Process
Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing Process: Assessment
Page 4
Chapter 1 - Principles of Gerontology
1) The nurse is preparing to discharge an older client with instructions on smoking
cessation. The nurse states to a colleague, "This client has been smoking for years
and isn't going to stop now." Which negative stereotype of aging does the nurse's
statement most reflect?
1. Old people are expected to be sick.
2. Old people are set in their ways.
3. Old people do not value health promotion education.
4. Old people are a drain on societal
resources. Answer: 3
Explanation: 1. Many older adults have chronic disease but function well.
2. Often people characterize the elderly in a negative way, believing that after a
certain age, things cannot be changed. Older people can learn new things and
take up new hobbies they can enjoy and give life meaning and pleasure.
3. Although it may not be possible to reverse all the damage, it is never too late to
stop smoking cigarettes. People who quit smoking at an older age enjoy better
health outcomes.
4. Older people contribute greatly to society by volunteering, helping with
grandchildren, mentoring others, and continue working.
Page Ref: 4
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: High-Risk
Behaviors Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing
Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 3. Identify common myths of aging and their contribution to
ageism.
2) The nurse is planning to conduct education for older adult clients regarding
preventative health screenings. Which type of screening does the nurse
anticipate educating this population on?
1. Glaucoma
2. Nutrition
3. An annual mammogram
4. Prostate-specific antigen
Answer: 3
Explanation: 1. A glaucoma screening is recommended annually for those at risk for
glaucoma.
2. Nutritional assessment and counseling are encouraged for those with diabetes or
renal disease.
3. The nurse will discuss the importance of annual mammograms. Older women
are the fastest growing population in the United States.
4. A prostate-specific antigen is recommended yearly for men under
the age of 70. Page Ref: 7
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: Health
Screening
Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing Process: Planning
Page 2
,Learning Outcome: 1. Interpret demographic data according to race, gender, and
age.
3) While completing an admission assessment, the nurse learns that a female
adult patient has smoked a pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years and works at a
chemical plant. From this information, what is this patient most at risk for?
1. Decline in muscle mass
2. Nutritional deficiencies
3. Depression and social isolation
4. Occupational hazard shortening life
expectancy Answer: 4
Explanation: 1. While muscle mass does naturally decline in older adults, there is no
indication that she is not physically active.
2. In older adults, adequate nutrition can be a concern, yet there is no indication
that she is not adequately nourished.
3. In older adults, depression and social isolation are a risk, yet there is no
indication that she is not socially active.
4. Exposure to occupational risk factors has been known to affect life expectancy in
men and will have the same effect on women given similar circumstances.
Page Ref: 8-17
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: High-Risk
Behaviors Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing
Process: Diagnosis
Learning Outcome: 2. Relate leading causes of morbidity and mortality among older
adults.
4) The nurse is caring for an older adult with a chronic disease. Which is reflective
of a tertiary intervention to help slow down the progression of the client's illness?
1. Assess the client's mobility
2. Integrate physical therapy
3. Discuss injury-prevention measures within the home
4. Obtain a referral for occupational
therapy Answer: 2
Explanation: 1. Assessment of the client's mobility is reflective of secondary
prevention.
2. The integration of physical therapy for a client with chronic disease
reflects a tertiary intervention to promote restoration and prevent or slow
down further debilitation.
3. Discussing injury prevention is health promotion or primary prevention.
4. Obtaining a referral for an occupational therapist reflects a secondary measure of
prevention in which there is an early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Page Ref: 9
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Physiological Integrity
Client Need Sub: Reduction of Risk
Potential Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing
Process: Assessment
Learning Outcome: 4. Describe the effects of chronic disease.
Page 3
, 5) The nurse is caring for an older client with heart disease that is experiencing
fatigue. Which will the nurse initially implement to enhance the overall quality of
life and functional ability of the client?
1. Assess the need for assistive devices
2. Provide education on health screenings
3. Reinforce the importance of rehabilitation
4. Instruct the client on techniques for self-
management Answer: 3
Explanation: 1. Assistive devices may be necessary to increase the independence
of the client. The assessment for an assistive device occurs during the
rehabilitation time.
2. Education regarding health screenings focuses on prevention of disease.
3. Rehabilitation after a chronic illness can enhance the quality of life and
functional ability of the client. Managing chronic fatigue that occurs with heart
disease can require rehabilitation.
4. Techniques of self-management can reduce pain and cost of chronic disease by
teaching the client to manage their own chronic condition.
Page Ref: 8-13
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Client Need Sub: Support Systems
Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: 4. Describe the effects of chronic disease.
6) The nurse is assessing an older female patient admitted to the hospital for
generalized weakness and a cough. Which assessment findings indicate normal
changes of aging? Select all that apply.
1. Blood pressure of 160/90
2. Needing to urinate every 3 hours
3. Needing to wear eye glasses for reading
4. Pulse rate 110 bpm
5. Respiratory rate 22 per minute after walking a short
distance Answer: 2, 3, 5
Explanation: 1. Even though the arteries stiffen with age, an elevation in blood
pressure needs to be investigated and not assumed that it is a normal change
related to aging.
2. With aging, bladder capacity declines. Needing to urinate every 3 hours would be
evidence of reduced bladder capacity.
3. With aging, difficulty focusing up close would necessitate the need for reading
glasses. This would be considered a normal change with aging.
4. Even though the heart muscle thickens with age, a pulse rate of 110 needs to
be investigated and not assumed that it is a normal change related to aging.
5. Maximum breathing capacity may decline by about 40% between the ages of
40 and 70. A respiratory rate of 22 per minute after walking a short distance
can be considered a normal change related to aging.
Page Ref: 17
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Health Promotion and
Maintenance Client Need Sub: Aging
Process
Nurs/Integ Conc.: Nursing Process: Assessment
Page 4
