NUR 2214 Week 10 Quiz V1 | NUR 2214
Nursing Care of the Older Adult | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NUR2214 Week 10
Quiz) | Rasmussen University
1. An 82-year-old client is admitted with acute confusion and a high risk for falls. Which
nursing intervention is the priority to ensure client safety?
A. Placing the client in a room close to the nurses’ station for frequent observation.
B. Applying bilateral soft wrist restraints to prevent the client from leaving the bed.
C. Administering a PRN sedative to reduce the client’s agitation and movement.
D. Keeping all four side rails up to ensure the client remains in bed.
Answer: A
Rationale: Safety for a confused older adult is best maintained through increased
observation and environmental modifications rather than physical or chemical restraints.
Placing the client near the nurses’ station allows for rapid intervention if the client
attempts to get up. Restraints and side rails can actually increase the risk of injury and
agitation in geriatric populations.
2. Which of the following is an age-related change in the cardiovascular system that the nurse
should consider when assessing an older adult?
A. Increased sensitivity of baroreceptors causing rapid heart rate changes.
,B. Decrease in systolic blood pressure due to vessel elasticity.
C. Increased efficiency of the heart’s electrical conduction system.
D. Increased stiffness of the large arteries and decreased cardiac output.
Answer: D
Rationale: Aging is associated with structural changes such as arterial stiffening and a
decrease in the number of pacemaker cells in the SA node. These changes lead to a decrease
in cardiac output during stress and a higher prevalence of systolic hypertension.
Understanding these physiological shifts is essential for accurate assessment of
cardiovascular health in seniors.
3. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a 90-year-old client. Which finding is
considered a normal age-related change?
A. Localized areas of redness on the sacrum that do not blanch.
B. Thin, fragile skin with a decrease in subcutaneous fat.
C. Thickened, moist skin with increased subcutaneous fat in the extremities.
D. The presence of fluid-filled vesicles along a dermatome.
Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults naturally experience a thinning of the epidermis and a loss of
subcutaneous fat, making their skin more prone to injury and temperature fluctuations.
While redness and vesicles indicate pathology (pressure ulcers or shingles), thin skin is a
, standard physiological change of aging. Nurses should prioritize gentle handling to prevent
skin tears in this population.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer several medications to an older adult. Which factor
increases this client’s risk for an adverse drug reaction?
A. Decreased glomerular filtration rate and reduced hepatic blood flow.
B. Increased total body water and decreased body fat.
C. Increased gastric acid secretion which speeds up drug absorption.
D. Enhanced metabolism of drugs due to increased liver enzyme activity.
Answer: A
Rationale: Reduced renal and hepatic function in older adults significantly slows the
metabolism and excretion of drugs, leading to higher toxicity risks. The decrease in total
body water and increase in body fat also alters the volume of distribution for many
medications. This makes the ‘start low and go slow’ approach vital for geriatric
pharmacology.
5. A client with advanced dementia is exhibiting increased agitation and restlessness in the
late afternoon. Which condition is the client likely experiencing?
A. Acute delerium secondary to an undiagnosed infection.
B. A normal response to the transition into the stage of integrity versus despair.
C. Sundowning syndrome related to sensory overload or fatigue.
Nursing Care of the Older Adult | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NUR2214 Week 10
Quiz) | Rasmussen University
1. An 82-year-old client is admitted with acute confusion and a high risk for falls. Which
nursing intervention is the priority to ensure client safety?
A. Placing the client in a room close to the nurses’ station for frequent observation.
B. Applying bilateral soft wrist restraints to prevent the client from leaving the bed.
C. Administering a PRN sedative to reduce the client’s agitation and movement.
D. Keeping all four side rails up to ensure the client remains in bed.
Answer: A
Rationale: Safety for a confused older adult is best maintained through increased
observation and environmental modifications rather than physical or chemical restraints.
Placing the client near the nurses’ station allows for rapid intervention if the client
attempts to get up. Restraints and side rails can actually increase the risk of injury and
agitation in geriatric populations.
2. Which of the following is an age-related change in the cardiovascular system that the nurse
should consider when assessing an older adult?
A. Increased sensitivity of baroreceptors causing rapid heart rate changes.
,B. Decrease in systolic blood pressure due to vessel elasticity.
C. Increased efficiency of the heart’s electrical conduction system.
D. Increased stiffness of the large arteries and decreased cardiac output.
Answer: D
Rationale: Aging is associated with structural changes such as arterial stiffening and a
decrease in the number of pacemaker cells in the SA node. These changes lead to a decrease
in cardiac output during stress and a higher prevalence of systolic hypertension.
Understanding these physiological shifts is essential for accurate assessment of
cardiovascular health in seniors.
3. A nurse is performing a skin assessment on a 90-year-old client. Which finding is
considered a normal age-related change?
A. Localized areas of redness on the sacrum that do not blanch.
B. Thin, fragile skin with a decrease in subcutaneous fat.
C. Thickened, moist skin with increased subcutaneous fat in the extremities.
D. The presence of fluid-filled vesicles along a dermatome.
Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults naturally experience a thinning of the epidermis and a loss of
subcutaneous fat, making their skin more prone to injury and temperature fluctuations.
While redness and vesicles indicate pathology (pressure ulcers or shingles), thin skin is a
, standard physiological change of aging. Nurses should prioritize gentle handling to prevent
skin tears in this population.
4. The nurse is preparing to administer several medications to an older adult. Which factor
increases this client’s risk for an adverse drug reaction?
A. Decreased glomerular filtration rate and reduced hepatic blood flow.
B. Increased total body water and decreased body fat.
C. Increased gastric acid secretion which speeds up drug absorption.
D. Enhanced metabolism of drugs due to increased liver enzyme activity.
Answer: A
Rationale: Reduced renal and hepatic function in older adults significantly slows the
metabolism and excretion of drugs, leading to higher toxicity risks. The decrease in total
body water and increase in body fat also alters the volume of distribution for many
medications. This makes the ‘start low and go slow’ approach vital for geriatric
pharmacology.
5. A client with advanced dementia is exhibiting increased agitation and restlessness in the
late afternoon. Which condition is the client likely experiencing?
A. Acute delerium secondary to an undiagnosed infection.
B. A normal response to the transition into the stage of integrity versus despair.
C. Sundowning syndrome related to sensory overload or fatigue.
