NUR 2214 Week 9 Quiz V1 | NUR 2214
Nursing Care of the Older Adult | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NUR2214 Week 9
Quiz) | Rasmussen University
1. A nurse is providing palliative care to a 78-year-old client with advanced heart failure.
Which of the following is the primary objective of palliative care?
A. Curing the underlying disease process.
B. Managing physical needs to the exclusion of psychosocial needs.
C. Limiting care to the final six months of life.
D. Providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life.
Answer: D
Rationale: Palliative care is designed to improve the quality of life for patients and their
families by addressing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. It is appropriate at any
stage of a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatment. The focus is on
symptom management rather than cure.
2. An older adult client has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The family asks the nurse
when the client would be eligible for hospice care. What is the correct response?
A. When the client has less than 12 months to live.
B. When the client chooses to continue aggressive chemotherapy.
,C. When a physician certifies the client has a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
D. When the client is no longer able to make their own decisions.
Answer: C
Rationale: Hospice eligibility generally requires two physicians to certify that the patient
has a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its normal
course. The client must also agree to forgo curative treatment in favor of comfort care. This
service is a specific type of palliative care focused on the end-of-life stage.
3. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse recognize as a sign of imminent death in an
older adult?
A. Increased urinary output and clear urine.
B. Cheyne-Stokes respirations and periods of apnea.
C. Increased appetite and thirst.
D. Increased blood pressure and tachycardia.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a rhythmic pattern of deep
breathing followed by periods of apnea, often indicating that death is near. As the body
begins to shut down, the respiratory center in the brain becomes less sensitive to carbon
dioxide levels. This pattern is a common and expected finding during the active dying
phase.
, 4. The nurse is discussing advanced directives with an older adult client. The client wants to
appoint a specific person to make medical decisions if they become incapacitated. What
document should the nurse recommend?
A. A Living Will.
B. A Last Will and Testament.
C. A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.
D. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (DPOA).
Answer: D
Rationale: A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, also known as a healthcare proxy,
designates an individual to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf. While a Living
Will outlines specific treatment preferences, the DPOA provides a person with the
authority to interpret those wishes in real-time. It is a critical component of advance care
planning for older adults.
5. A nurse is caring for a dying client who is experiencing ‘death rattle’ (audible respiratory
secretions). Which medication should the nurse expect to administer?
A. Albuterol.
B. Furosemide.
C. Guaifenesin.
D. Atropine or Scopolamine.
Nursing Care of the Older Adult | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NUR2214 Week 9
Quiz) | Rasmussen University
1. A nurse is providing palliative care to a 78-year-old client with advanced heart failure.
Which of the following is the primary objective of palliative care?
A. Curing the underlying disease process.
B. Managing physical needs to the exclusion of psychosocial needs.
C. Limiting care to the final six months of life.
D. Providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life.
Answer: D
Rationale: Palliative care is designed to improve the quality of life for patients and their
families by addressing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. It is appropriate at any
stage of a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatment. The focus is on
symptom management rather than cure.
2. An older adult client has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The family asks the nurse
when the client would be eligible for hospice care. What is the correct response?
A. When the client has less than 12 months to live.
B. When the client chooses to continue aggressive chemotherapy.
,C. When a physician certifies the client has a life expectancy of 6 months or less.
D. When the client is no longer able to make their own decisions.
Answer: C
Rationale: Hospice eligibility generally requires two physicians to certify that the patient
has a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less if the disease runs its normal
course. The client must also agree to forgo curative treatment in favor of comfort care. This
service is a specific type of palliative care focused on the end-of-life stage.
3. Which clinical manifestation should the nurse recognize as a sign of imminent death in an
older adult?
A. Increased urinary output and clear urine.
B. Cheyne-Stokes respirations and periods of apnea.
C. Increased appetite and thirst.
D. Increased blood pressure and tachycardia.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a rhythmic pattern of deep
breathing followed by periods of apnea, often indicating that death is near. As the body
begins to shut down, the respiratory center in the brain becomes less sensitive to carbon
dioxide levels. This pattern is a common and expected finding during the active dying
phase.
, 4. The nurse is discussing advanced directives with an older adult client. The client wants to
appoint a specific person to make medical decisions if they become incapacitated. What
document should the nurse recommend?
A. A Living Will.
B. A Last Will and Testament.
C. A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order.
D. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (DPOA).
Answer: D
Rationale: A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, also known as a healthcare proxy,
designates an individual to make medical decisions on the patient’s behalf. While a Living
Will outlines specific treatment preferences, the DPOA provides a person with the
authority to interpret those wishes in real-time. It is a critical component of advance care
planning for older adults.
5. A nurse is caring for a dying client who is experiencing ‘death rattle’ (audible respiratory
secretions). Which medication should the nurse expect to administer?
A. Albuterol.
B. Furosemide.
C. Guaifenesin.
D. Atropine or Scopolamine.
