the Maturing and Aged Family (Questions and
Answers)
1. A 60-year-old woman presents with a chief complaint of uncomfortable breathing on
exertion. She has had a minimally productive cough for several years that does not bother
her. On further questioning, she states that her breathing gets much worse when she lies
down. The most likely cause of her dyspnea is:
Cardiac
2. A 68-year-old male presents with a chief complaint of episodes of lightheadedness or
dizziness. He states that sweating, tachycardia, and some hand trembling are often
associated with these episodes. Which one of the following questions should you ask to help
confirm the diagnosis?
Are these symptoms related to eating?
3. A 68-year-old male presents with a chief complaint of episodic dizziness. Although not dizzy
at present, he states that he has noted onset of dizzy episodes when he rolls over in bed and
occasionally when he turns his head rapidly. Episodes last about 3 minutes. The most likely
diagnosis is:
Benign positional vertigo
4. A 75-year old resident in the nursing home has end stage dementia and experiences a 10-
pound weight loss over the course of 2 months. The resident has become increasingly
difficult to feed and often spits out food, pockets food, and frequently drools. The family is
concerned about the resident's nutritional status. What is the initial action of the nurse
practitioner?
, order a swallow evaluation
5. A 77-year-old client being treated for glaucoma asks the nurse practitioner what causes
glaucoma. The nurse bases the response on the knowledge that the increase in
intraocular pressure is a result of:
a breakdown in the absorption process
6. . A 78-year-old man is being evaluated in the geriatric clinic. His daughter reports that he
has been very forgetful lately, and she is concerned that he might be "senile." The advanced
practice nurse administers the clock drawing test and the patient draws a distorted circular
shape and places the numbers all on one side of the shape. Based on his performance, the
nurse concludes that the patient:
needs further evaluation
7. The abrupt onset of symptoms of stress or urge incontinence is most often due to a
urinary tract infection
True
8. After first managing the pain being experienced by the client with gout, the treatment
focuses on:
Preventing systemic involvement by altering the client's diet
9. Based on current demographic data, which statement identifies a predictive trend
regarding the health care needs of society?
More nursing services will be required to serve the needs of the population 85 years of age and
older.
10. The caregiver for an older adult with cognitive impairment is concerned about the individual's
seeming disinterest in eating. Which suggestion does the nurse practitioner offer based upon
a known effect of dementia on a client's nutrition?