OLDER ADULT NCLEX UPDATED
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED PREPARATION RESOURCE
●● When developing the plan of care for an older adult who is
hospitalized for an acute illness, the nurse should
A. use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan.
B. plan for likely long-term-care transfer to allow additional time for
recovery.
C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient
goals.
D. minimize activity level during hospitalization.
Answer: C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting
patient goals.
Rationale: The plan of care for older adults should be individualized and
based on the patients current functional abilities. A standardized geriatric
nursing care plan is unlikely to address individual patient needs and
strengths. A patients need for discharge to a long-term-care facility is
variable. Activity level should be designed to allow the patient to retain
functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any additional
rest needed for recovery from the acute process.
,●● Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making
a visit to an 88-year-old with mild forgetfulness is of the most concern?
A. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the patient's
medications weekly.
B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month.
C. The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a
son at night.
D. The patient tells the nurse that a close friend recently died.
Answer: B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last
month.
Rationale: A 10-pound weight loss may be an indication of elder neglect
or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse.
●● A 70-year-old client asks the nurse to explain to her about
hypertension. An appropriate response by the nurse as to why older
clients often have hypertension is due to:
A. Myocardial muscle damage
B. Reduction in physical activity
C. Ingestion of foods high in sodium
D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
Answer: D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
,●● In reviewing changes in the older adult, the nurse recognizes that
which of the following statements related to cognitive functioning in the
older client is true?
A. Delirium is usually easily distinguished from irreversible dementia.
B. Therapeutic drug intoxication is a common cause of senile dementia.
C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of
delirium.
D. Cognitive deterioration is an inevitable outcome of the human aging
process.
Answer: C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause
of delirium.
Rationale: Delirium is a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that
is often due to a physiological cause such as an electrolyte imbalance,
cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medications, tumors, cerebrovascular
infection, or hemorrhage.
●● Which of the following interventions should be taken to help an
older client to prevent osteoporosis?
A. Decrease dietary calcium intake.
B. Increase sedentary lifestyles
, C. Increase dietary protein intake.
D. Encourage regular exercise.
Answer: D. Encourage regular exercise.
Rationale: Key word in question is prevent
Weight-bearing exercises helps to fight off degeneration of bone in
osteoporosis
●● Which of the following statements accurately reflects data that the
nurse should use in planning care to meet the needs of the older adult?
A. 50% of older adults have two chronic health problems.
B. Cancer is the most common cause of death among older adults.
C. Nutritional needs for both younger and older adults are essentially the
same.
D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of
prescription medications.
Answer: D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of
prescription medications.
Rationale: Approximately two thirds of older adults use prescription and
nonprescription drugs with one third of all prescriptions being written
for older adults
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
VERIFIED PREPARATION RESOURCE
●● When developing the plan of care for an older adult who is
hospitalized for an acute illness, the nurse should
A. use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan.
B. plan for likely long-term-care transfer to allow additional time for
recovery.
C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient
goals.
D. minimize activity level during hospitalization.
Answer: C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting
patient goals.
Rationale: The plan of care for older adults should be individualized and
based on the patients current functional abilities. A standardized geriatric
nursing care plan is unlikely to address individual patient needs and
strengths. A patients need for discharge to a long-term-care facility is
variable. Activity level should be designed to allow the patient to retain
functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any additional
rest needed for recovery from the acute process.
,●● Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making
a visit to an 88-year-old with mild forgetfulness is of the most concern?
A. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the patient's
medications weekly.
B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month.
C. The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a
son at night.
D. The patient tells the nurse that a close friend recently died.
Answer: B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last
month.
Rationale: A 10-pound weight loss may be an indication of elder neglect
or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse.
●● A 70-year-old client asks the nurse to explain to her about
hypertension. An appropriate response by the nurse as to why older
clients often have hypertension is due to:
A. Myocardial muscle damage
B. Reduction in physical activity
C. Ingestion of foods high in sodium
D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
Answer: D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
,●● In reviewing changes in the older adult, the nurse recognizes that
which of the following statements related to cognitive functioning in the
older client is true?
A. Delirium is usually easily distinguished from irreversible dementia.
B. Therapeutic drug intoxication is a common cause of senile dementia.
C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of
delirium.
D. Cognitive deterioration is an inevitable outcome of the human aging
process.
Answer: C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause
of delirium.
Rationale: Delirium is a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that
is often due to a physiological cause such as an electrolyte imbalance,
cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medications, tumors, cerebrovascular
infection, or hemorrhage.
●● Which of the following interventions should be taken to help an
older client to prevent osteoporosis?
A. Decrease dietary calcium intake.
B. Increase sedentary lifestyles
, C. Increase dietary protein intake.
D. Encourage regular exercise.
Answer: D. Encourage regular exercise.
Rationale: Key word in question is prevent
Weight-bearing exercises helps to fight off degeneration of bone in
osteoporosis
●● Which of the following statements accurately reflects data that the
nurse should use in planning care to meet the needs of the older adult?
A. 50% of older adults have two chronic health problems.
B. Cancer is the most common cause of death among older adults.
C. Nutritional needs for both younger and older adults are essentially the
same.
D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of
prescription medications.
Answer: D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of
prescription medications.
Rationale: Approximately two thirds of older adults use prescription and
nonprescription drugs with one third of all prescriptions being written
for older adults
