NURSE 3110 Gerontology e2 QUIZ | Questions with Answers

1. The nurse is attempting to justify the need for education in cultural competence in the health care venue. Which of the following statements accurately reflects the need for nurses to be culturally competent? C) The proportion of health care consumers who are minorities will increase significantly in the future. 2. The nurse is beginning a new job in an area with a large African American population. Which of the following statements recognized by the nurse best captures a characteristic of African Americans? B) Female-headed households are common among African Americans. 3. The nurse has observed an increasing number of Asian patients in the hospital. Which of the following statements is true of older Asian Americans? B) Health is often viewed as a state of physical and spiritual harmony. 4. The nurse's colleague states, “Older people who live in the country are a lot healthier than city folk.” How can the nurse respond most accurately to this statement? B) “But chronic conditions are more common among rural adults.” 5. The nurse realizes the need to educate a colleague when the colleague states the following: D) “It's inaccurate to link the prevalence of particular diseases with particular minority groups.” 6.A nurse has recently begun to provide care to older adults in a large, urban hospital. Having lived until recently in an ethnically homogenous region, the nurse has begun to recognize the significant differences in priorities and perspectives of patients from other cultural groups and has taken action to learn about these groups. What stage of cultural self-assessment is this nurse demonstrating? B) Conscious incompetence 7.A nurse's colleague has recommended that the nurse read up on some of the more common cultural groups in the area. How should the nurse interpret information that is available about cultural groups in the United States? A) Cultural generalizations can be useful and accurate, but they do not replace individualized assessment and care. 8.Following knee replacement surgery 10 days earlier, a 79-year-old woman has been diagnosed with an infection in the knee. A sample of synovial fluid has been cultured in order to determine the causative microorganism and to select an appropriate antibiotic. This course of events characterizes what major health belief system? C) Scientific (biomedical) paradigm 9.A nurse has identified several practice improvements that will promote culturally competent care. Performing a thorough and reflective cultural self- assessment will result in which of the following outcomes for the nurse? D) A progression from judgmental views of other cultures to a recognition of positive attributes The nurse at a long-term care facility has completed the admission sment of a 79-year-old male resident. The resident has identified himself as gay and has expressed sadness at having to leave his partner of several decades in order to move to the facility. The nurse should recognize that this resident is likely to have a history of B) stigmatization. 1. The nurse is using the Functional Consequences Theory as a lens for planning patient care in a health care facility. The nurse recognizes that which of the following is an element of this nursing theory? C) Wellness is a concept that is broader than just physiologic functioning. 2. The nurse is working with a 79-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Which of the following interactions best exemplifies the nurse's understanding of the relationship between age-related changes and risk factors? B) The nurse teaches the patient about bone density in older women and the role of vitamin D and calcium intake. 3. The nurse is teaching a colleague about the difference between age-related changes and risk factors. Which of the following examples best demonstrates an age-related change? D) An older adult with decreased bowel motility 4. The nurse is differentiating between an 81-year-old patient's age-related changes and his risk factors for disease. Which of the following characteristics of the patient would the nurse consider as a risk factor? A) Chronic bronchitis 5. The nurse is identifying positive functional consequences as part of the development of an older patient's care plan. Which of the following statements best captures the concept of positive functional consequences? D) They result from automatic actions or purposeful interventions. 6. The Functional Consequences Theory accounts for the important role that each of the domains of nursing play in the wellness of older adults. Which of the following situations best demonstrates the effect of environment on the older adult? A) A resident of a care facility experiences a fall because there are not grab bars outside his bathtub. 7. The Functional Consequences Theory can be applied to promote wellness in older adults in diverse settings. Which of the following examples demonstrates this application? B) Facilitating early mobilization to prevent muscle wasting and loss of function in an older hospital patient 8.A nurse is aware that addressing issues related to connectedness and quality of life is central to the Functional Consequences Theory. Which of the following actions is most likely to enhance the older adult's connectedness? D) Changing a policy so that a husband and wife can remain in the same room of a care facility 9.A nurse who provides care for older adults in a long-term care setting is aware of the importance of maintaining residents' connectedness to society. How can this aspect of quality of life be best achieved? B) Arranging regular visits by school children to the facility 10.A 79-year-old man is dismayed that his driver's license will not be renewed, an action that his primary care provider states is a result of his loss of visual acuity and increased reaction time. This man is experiencing the consequences of B) age-related changes. 1.A 77-year-old man was put on broad-spectrum antibiotics when he was hospitalized for sepsis. He has a history of rheumatoid arthritis and a recurring problem with pneumonia. Which of the following theories best explains why he has had these concerns? C) Immunity theory 2. Until recently, a 77-year-old woman lived alone in her own home. Her younger sister assisted her with grocery shopping, and they would occasionally have lunch together. Recently, the woman fell on some ice and fractured her ankle. Her orthopedic surgeon and her case manager have obtained for her a short-term placement in a long-term care facility for rehabilitation physical therapy. After the patient's physical therapy is finished and her ankle is healed, the patient tells her nurse that she wants to stay at the facility; she is very happy living there and likes the social interaction that she experiences there. Which of the following theories of aging best describes the status of this patient? D) Theory of thriving 3. Which of the following statements best explains the relevance of psychological theories for gerontological nursing? A) Human needs theory allows the nurse to determine priorities of nursing care for older adults. 4.A 55-year-old adult female patient recently learned she has type 2 diabetes. She does water aerobics three times a week, has completed a diabetes education class, and does blood glucose monitoring herself. Her blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c have improved and she has lost weight. Which of the following statements best describes this patient's actions? C) Compression of morbidity 5.You are asked by the son of an 81-year-old patient about vitamins, antioxidants, and age-related macular degeneration. Which of the following theories of aging will help you most when responding to him? C) Free radicals theory 6.A group of nurses is involved in the planning and implementation of a health promotion campaign that is aimed at older adults. Which of the following questions is the best guide to such a campaign? A) “How can we help older adults maintain wellness as they age?” 7.A gerontological nurse is aware that quality of life is an important consideration when assessing the functioning of older adults. What measure should the nurse use when appraising older adults' quality of life? D) Active life expectancy 8.A 74-year-old woman has recently begun integrating more fresh fruit and vitamin supplements into her diet in an effort to increase the levels of antioxidants in her body. This woman's actions indicate an understanding of what theory of aging? D) Free radical theory 9.The subculture theory of aging has been proposed to explain some of the sociocultural aspects of the aging process. Which of the following characteristics of older adults is explained by the subculture theory? D) Older adults may interact much more with other older adults than with members of other age groups. 10.A nurse is aware that many health care providers prioritize the role of biology in the aging process. What is a weakness of biologic theories of aging? C) Biologic theories of aging do not adequately address issues of wellness and quality of life. 1.A nurse is leading a word-quiz game with a group of nursing home residents because the nurse knows this activity will assist the residents in maintaining C) Crystallized intelligence 2.A 69-year-old woman has recently been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and has asked the nurse to help her remember things better. Which of the following nursing diagnoses is appropriate for this older adult? C) Health-seeking behaviors 3.A 70-year-old man tells his nurse that he is “worried that I'm losing his mind.” He reports that he has difficulty remembering names as well as he used to, and adds that he has missed two health care appointments in the past month because he forgot about them. The nurse initiates a memory training program for him, although the nurse has been unable to identify any risk factors that might affect the older adult's cognitive abilities. Which of the following questions is the best approach to evaluating the effectiveness of the memory training program? C) “How have the memory training techniques helped you?” 4. Which of the following teaching methods is most appropriate for a 1-hour group health education program on nutrition for older adults? A) Limiting background noise and using a brightly colored Food Guide Pyramid 5. Which of the following points should the nurse emphasize when educating older adults about memory and cognition? B) Using calendars, notes, and imagery can help enhance memory. 6.A 54-year-old woman has brought her father to an appointment at a community clinic because of his increasingly frequent lapses in memory. What assessment question is most likely to identify his potential risk factors for impaired cognitive functioning? C) “What medications are you currently taking?” 7.A 74-year-old man is distraught at the fact that he recently forgot an important appointment as well as lost his wallet. The man has always prided himself in being intelligent, alert, and informed, so even minor lapses in cognition are a source of stress. How should the man's nurse best interpret these recent deficits in memory? D) The man may be experiencing benign senescent forgetfulness. 8.A nurse leads a reminiscence session each Monday afternoon at a long-term care facility. Why does storytelling hold the potential for a positive impact on the cognition of older adults? B) Creative activities can positively benefit the structure, and thus function, of the brain. 9.A nurse who provides care in a long-term care setting is aware that the cognitive function of older adults does not necessarily decline on an inevitable trajectory. What action has the greatest potential to enhance the cognitive function of residents and prevent cognitive declines? C) Encourage older adults to participate in mentally stimulating activities. 10.Mrs. Terence, age 82, lives with a number of health problems, including type 2 diabetes and chronic venous ulcers. Despite these challenges, she has confided in the nurse that she feels more satisfied with her life now than when she was a younger woman. Mrs. Terence is exemplifying what phenomenon? B) The paradox of well-being 1.A 75-year-old woman who often used to go out to dinner with her friends has stopped from going out because she has been experiencing urinary incontinence and is afraid of having an “accident” in public. When her daughter asks her why she doesn't go out with her friends anymore, she says, “I'm getting too old for such foolishness.” Her daughter asks her to go to the doctor for an evaluation, but she refuses to do so. Which of the following is occurring with this older adult? B) She sees incontinence as an inevitable consequence of aging. 2. An older woman returns to her hospital room after abdominal surgery. As the nurse completes her assessment, the patient asks the nurse to pin her “prayer cloth” to her pillow. Which of the following things should the nurse say or do first? D) Pin the prayer cloth to her pillow since it is an essential part of her spiritual health. 3. Which of the following interventions can assist nursing home residents in promoting their psychosocial health? C) Adapting the environment to compensate for residents' sensory impairments 4.A registered nurse is teaching a nursing assistant about the impact of culture on older adults' well-being. Which of the following statements by the nursing assistant indicates a need for further teaching? A) “A cultural background has little influence on individuals' standards for 'normal' or 'abnormal' behavior.” 5.Which of the following policies would promote a sense of control for an older adult in an assisted living facility? A) Holding resident council meetings twice monthly and inviting all residents to attend 6.A nurse who works with older adults recognizes that late adulthood is a time of life that is characterized by a number of significant life events. What psychosocial consequences occur because of life events that are common in late adulthood? (Select all that apply) B) Adjusting to relocation from home C) Adjustment to a lower income D) Adaptation to chronic illnesses E) Coming to terms with one's mortality 7.A 69-year-old woman is saddened by her recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, as stressor that will make numerous demands on her life in the coming years. Which of the following actions demonstrates a problem-focused approach to this stressor? B) Obtaining diabetic cookbooks and learning to change her cooking habits 8.A nurse on a subacute, geriatric medicine unit is aware that patients' levels of psychosocial functioning have a significant impact on multiple aspects of their lives. Which of the following consequences is known to result from impaired psychosocial function? A) Anxiety 9.A nurse who manages the care in a nursing home has organized a Health Aging Class for residents. Which activity should be prioritized during these classes? D) Participants share their experiences around dealing with psychosocial changes. 10.A nurse is responsible for leading a Healthy Aging Class at a community health center. What question should the nurse use to generate discussion among participants in this setting? A) “How did you adjust to your move from your house to the assisted living facility Irma?” 1. The nurse is responsible for performing a psychosocial assessment of an older adult living in the community. Which of the following statements best captures the nature of psychosocial assessment? D) It is a component of holistic nursing care of older adults. 2. While the nurse is performing a recently admitted hospital patient's morning care, the patient states, “I'm pretty sure I'll never see my own apartment again.” Which of the following responses by the nurse best demonstrates effective communication? A) “What is it that makes you feel that way, ma'am?” 3. The nurse recognizes the need to assess the patient's abstract thinking. Which of the following questions is most useful in the assessment of a patient's abstract thinking ability? B) “What do a dog and a cat have in common?” 4. The nurse recognizes that many formal, public social supports go underutilized. Which of the following factors most contributes to the low rate of use of social supports by older adults? A) There are many misperceptions of these programs by older adults. 5. The nurse has excluded a spiritual assessment component from the larger psychosocial assessment of a patient. What is the most justifiable rationale the nurse could give for excluding spiritual assessment? D) “A spiritual assessment is not always relevant to the health issues at hand, especially in high-acuity situations.” 6.A nurse is conducting a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of a woman who has recently moved to the long-term care facility. How should the nurse best assess the woman's motor function? A) Observe the woman as she walks into or out of the room. 7.A nurse is aware of the high incidence and prevalence of cognitive deficits among older adults, and consequently prioritizes the assessment of clients' orientation. What strategy should the nurse use in this domain of psychosocial assessment? B) Have a broad discussion with the client around his or her geographic and temporal context. 8.A psychosocial assessment addresses many dimensions of an older adult's present reality. Which of the following statements may suggest that an older adult in the hospital may be experiencing low self-esteem? C) “When I was younger, I worked around the clock and now I can't even make it to the toilet.” 9.Mrs. Holt, age 89, is a resident of a nursing home who has recently accused several members of the care staff of repeatedly stealing jewelry and cash from her overbed table despite the fact that the facility's policy requires residents to keep such valuables in locked storage outside of residents' rooms. The nurse has responded empathically to Mrs. Holt's accusations and has explained why this is impossible, to no avail. The nurse would recognize the potential that this resident is experiencing A) delusions. 10.A psychosocial assessment addresses many dimensions of an older adult's present reality. What question may a nurse ask to gauge a client's insight? D) “Why do you think that your doctor admitted you to the hospital?” 1. Which of the following is a priority nursing intervention for the management of delirium? A) Giving the patient low-dose oxygenation and maintaining his or her fluid and electrolyte balance 2.A nurse is conducting a class at a senior citizens' center on factors that protect against dementia. Which of the following statements by an older adult in the class indicates a need for further teaching by the nurse? A) “Engaging in exercise will not help prevent symptoms of dementia.” 3. Which of the following statements about cholinesterase inhibitors is true? B) Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite can be prevented or reduced by starting with a low dose. 4. Which of the following are examples of appropriate communication techniques for dealing effectively with people with dementia? C) Maintain good eye contact and use a relaxed and smiling approach. 5. Which of the following interventions specifically facilitates performance of independent activities of daily living in an older adult with dementia? B) Offering finger foods and nutritional snacks if the person will not sit at the dining table to eat 6. An 80-year-old man was referred to a neurologist after several months of worsening cognitive deficits and has subsequently been diagnosed with Alzheimer disease. Which statement by the nurse to the man's family demonstrates appropriate use of terminology? D) “We always try our best to foster wellness in persons who have dementia.” 7. Mr. Holdom was diagnosed 3 years ago with a cognitive impairment, a condition that worsened over the next several months and which culminated in his recent death. An autopsy revealed numerous infracted brain regions resulting from vessel occlusions. Mr. Holdom most likely suffered from which type of dementia? B) Vascular dementia 8.A long-time resident of an assisted living facility has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. A nurse who provides care at the facility has remarked to a colleague, “It's a real shame, but at least she'll never know what's happening to her.” What fact should underlie the colleague's response? B) Many persons with dementia are acutely aware of the fact that they are experiencing a cognitive deficit. 9.A gerontological nurse has been providing ongoing care for an older adult who has a diagnosis of dementia. What goal should the nurse prioritize when conducting ongoing assessment of this client? D) Identifying factors affecting the client's functioning and quality of life 10.A nursing home is in the planning stages of building a new wing that will be specifically designed for the needs of older adults who have dementia. What design characteristic should be included in this new facility? B) Pictures, signs, and color codes for identifying places 1.A nurse is aware that the manifestations of depression in older adults may differ from those in younger people. Which of the following lists of symptoms indicate depression in the older adult? A) Decreased energy, dysphasia, anorexia, unresponsiveness to suggestions 2. The nurse is reviewing the side effects of antidepressants with a group of older adults. Which of the following statements by a member of the group indicates that the nurse's teaching has been effective? C) “I need to maintain my fluid intake while on antidepressant medication.” 3. Which of the following statements about depression and functional impairment is true? B) Depression can lead to hip fracture and increase susceptibility to infection. 4. Which of the following statements is true about theories of late-life depression? C) The learned helplessness theory can help identify factors that protect older adults from depression. xx 5. Which of the following questions would be appropriate for level 1 assessment of the immediate risk of suicide? C) “Does your life feel worthless? Do you ever think about escaping from your problems?” 6.A gerontological nurse is conducting an assessment of an older adult who has a history of depression. Assessment reveals that the client has been drinking up to two bottles of wine each day for the last several months. What should the nurse teach the client about alcohol use and depression? C) “Alcohol has been shown to contribute to depression and vice versa.” 7. Mrs. Gaines has been accompanied by her daughter during her latest visit to her primary care provider. Her daughter has expressed concern about her mother's increasing apathy, isolation, and apparent sadness over the past several months, and Mrs. Gaines acknowledges many of the symptoms of depression. What assessment should Mrs. Gaines' care provider prioritize when attempting to identify the etiology of her depression? B) Medication assessment 8. Which of the following statements by residents of a nursing home should prompt the nurse to assess for depression? A) “Lately I wake up for the day at 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning and can't fall asleep again.” 9.A nurse who provides care on an acute care for elders (ACE) unit recognizes the high incidence and prevalence of depression among older adults. Which of the following statements represents the priority for follow-up and interventions? D) “I think it would be better for everyone if I wasn't here anymore.” 10.Mrs. Hernandez was diagnosed with depression shortly after relocating to the nursing home 6 weeks ago. What intervention should the nurse who is providing care for Mrs. Hernandez implement to address her depression? B) Providing opportunities for Mrs. Hernandez to engage with other residents Show Less