Chapter 12: Middle Adulthood
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Health maintenance during middle adulthood should be directed toward:
a. preventing illnesses due to lifestyle and physiological changes.
b. stopping the physiological aging process.
c. preparing for inevitable physical decline.
d. maintaining strength and endurance at the young adult level.
ANS: A
Metabolic needs decrease during middle adulthood. Diet and exercise must be part of the
lifestyle of the middle-aged adult. Diet, smoking, and lack of exercise influence
cardiovascular change.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 184 OBJ: 8
TOP: Health maintenance KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: prevention and early detection of disease
2. According to Erikson, the primary task of middle adulthood is contributing positively to
family and community, also known as . Failure to achieve this task
may result in stagnation. a. intimacy
b. integrated
c. generativity
d. ego integrity
ANS: C
Generativity enhances self-image and promotes a feeling of well-being. Adults who do not
achieve a sense of generativity may become self-preoccupied and overly concerned with
physical and psychological health needs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 184 OBJ: 3
TOP: Erikson’s developmental tasks KEY: Nursing Process Step: NA
MSC: NCLEX: NA
3. A 50-year-old woman visits the women’s health clinic stating her last menstrual period was 6
months ago. Since that time, she has been experiencing palpitations and hot flashes. The
health-care worker should suspect that her symptoms are related to: a. pregnancy.
b. menopause.
c. a cardiac disorder.
d. neurosis.
, ANS: B
Hot flashes and palpitations often accompany menopause and are very distracting and
uncomfortable for the woman. Hormone replacement may be prescribed, or complementary
and alternative medicine therapy may be recommended.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 187 OBJ: 4
TOP: Women’s health KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: physiological adaptation
4. Many middle-aged adults desire to return to school to continue an education interrupted by
career, family, and childrearing. When counseling these adults, an important factor to consider
is that:
a. intelligence declines after age 30, so it may be too difficult to resume schooling at this
age.
b. it may take more time to learn and assimilate new material, but once learned, the
content is remembered with greater accuracy.
c. without family responsibilities or pressures, learning capability will quickly return to
young adult levels.
d. there should be no difficulty in keeping up with the younger students in the class.
ANS: B
Speed in mental functioning may be a problem as adults grow older, but when time is not a
factor there is little difference in performance when compared to young adults.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 194-195 OBJ: 3
TOP: Challenges KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: growth and development
5. When assessing a middle-aged person, the health-care worker should be sensitive to the fact
that these persons are uniquely challenged by: a. metabolic changes in their aging bodies.
b. attempting to meet the needs of both their children and their parents.
c. inadequate income and job insecurity in an unstable economy.
d. the need to find their place in their community.
ANS: B
These adults may have to handle increased financial and emotional responsibilities related to
the needs of their children and the needs of their aging, and perhaps dependent, parents.
Middle-aged persons usually have a stable income and job security and usually have
established themselves in a community.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 185 OBJ: 9
, TOP: The sandwich generation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: NCLEX:
Health Promotion and Maintenance: growth and development
6. While discussing health promotion and maintenance to a group of middle-aged men, the
health-care worker advises that men should make as a priority to have an annual: a. screen for
prostate cancer.
b. sperm count for infertility.
c. skin assessment for cancer.
d. assessment for testosterone level.
ANS: A
Because of the prevalence of cancer of the prostate as the most common cancer in men,
annual screening for prostate cancer is recommended. New screening procedures are available
which can diagnose prostate cancer much earlier and often before symptoms occur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 189 OBJ: 8
TOP: Prostate screening KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: prevention and early detection of disease
7. To enhance success for health teaching to middle-aged adults, the health-care worker should:
a. provide information related to health concerns and stressors common to the age-group.
b. begin with concepts about teaching and learning techniques.
c. incorporate structured learning activities that keep all group members learning at the
same rate.
d. direct members to seek independent learning without formal instruction.
ANS: A
Successful teaching of middle-aged adults depends on having an understanding of their
concerns and potential sources of stress. Teaching strategies should incorporate the
independence and competencies of adult learners and provide information relevant to the age-
group. Directing these adults to independent learning without providing guidelines or initial
direction may doom the opportunity to learn.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 190 OBJ: 11
TOP: Teaching strategies for the middle-aged adult
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: growth and development
8. A middle-aged man says that he is taking up a strenuous exercise program to increase his
testosterone level and his libido. The best response to this information would be:
a. “That is great! You will begin to feel better and enjoy an increased libido.”
b. “While exercising, you should wear tight fitting underwear and an athletic support.”
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Health maintenance during middle adulthood should be directed toward:
a. preventing illnesses due to lifestyle and physiological changes.
b. stopping the physiological aging process.
c. preparing for inevitable physical decline.
d. maintaining strength and endurance at the young adult level.
ANS: A
Metabolic needs decrease during middle adulthood. Diet and exercise must be part of the
lifestyle of the middle-aged adult. Diet, smoking, and lack of exercise influence
cardiovascular change.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 184 OBJ: 8
TOP: Health maintenance KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: prevention and early detection of disease
2. According to Erikson, the primary task of middle adulthood is contributing positively to
family and community, also known as . Failure to achieve this task
may result in stagnation. a. intimacy
b. integrated
c. generativity
d. ego integrity
ANS: C
Generativity enhances self-image and promotes a feeling of well-being. Adults who do not
achieve a sense of generativity may become self-preoccupied and overly concerned with
physical and psychological health needs.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 184 OBJ: 3
TOP: Erikson’s developmental tasks KEY: Nursing Process Step: NA
MSC: NCLEX: NA
3. A 50-year-old woman visits the women’s health clinic stating her last menstrual period was 6
months ago. Since that time, she has been experiencing palpitations and hot flashes. The
health-care worker should suspect that her symptoms are related to: a. pregnancy.
b. menopause.
c. a cardiac disorder.
d. neurosis.
, ANS: B
Hot flashes and palpitations often accompany menopause and are very distracting and
uncomfortable for the woman. Hormone replacement may be prescribed, or complementary
and alternative medicine therapy may be recommended.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 187 OBJ: 4
TOP: Women’s health KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: physiological adaptation
4. Many middle-aged adults desire to return to school to continue an education interrupted by
career, family, and childrearing. When counseling these adults, an important factor to consider
is that:
a. intelligence declines after age 30, so it may be too difficult to resume schooling at this
age.
b. it may take more time to learn and assimilate new material, but once learned, the
content is remembered with greater accuracy.
c. without family responsibilities or pressures, learning capability will quickly return to
young adult levels.
d. there should be no difficulty in keeping up with the younger students in the class.
ANS: B
Speed in mental functioning may be a problem as adults grow older, but when time is not a
factor there is little difference in performance when compared to young adults.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 194-195 OBJ: 3
TOP: Challenges KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: growth and development
5. When assessing a middle-aged person, the health-care worker should be sensitive to the fact
that these persons are uniquely challenged by: a. metabolic changes in their aging bodies.
b. attempting to meet the needs of both their children and their parents.
c. inadequate income and job insecurity in an unstable economy.
d. the need to find their place in their community.
ANS: B
These adults may have to handle increased financial and emotional responsibilities related to
the needs of their children and the needs of their aging, and perhaps dependent, parents.
Middle-aged persons usually have a stable income and job security and usually have
established themselves in a community.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 185 OBJ: 9
, TOP: The sandwich generation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment MSC: NCLEX:
Health Promotion and Maintenance: growth and development
6. While discussing health promotion and maintenance to a group of middle-aged men, the
health-care worker advises that men should make as a priority to have an annual: a. screen for
prostate cancer.
b. sperm count for infertility.
c. skin assessment for cancer.
d. assessment for testosterone level.
ANS: A
Because of the prevalence of cancer of the prostate as the most common cancer in men,
annual screening for prostate cancer is recommended. New screening procedures are available
which can diagnose prostate cancer much earlier and often before symptoms occur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 189 OBJ: 8
TOP: Prostate screening KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: prevention and early detection of disease
7. To enhance success for health teaching to middle-aged adults, the health-care worker should:
a. provide information related to health concerns and stressors common to the age-group.
b. begin with concepts about teaching and learning techniques.
c. incorporate structured learning activities that keep all group members learning at the
same rate.
d. direct members to seek independent learning without formal instruction.
ANS: A
Successful teaching of middle-aged adults depends on having an understanding of their
concerns and potential sources of stress. Teaching strategies should incorporate the
independence and competencies of adult learners and provide information relevant to the age-
group. Directing these adults to independent learning without providing guidelines or initial
direction may doom the opportunity to learn.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 190 OBJ: 11
TOP: Teaching strategies for the middle-aged adult
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: growth and development
8. A middle-aged man says that he is taking up a strenuous exercise program to increase his
testosterone level and his libido. The best response to this information would be:
a. “That is great! You will begin to feel better and enjoy an increased libido.”
b. “While exercising, you should wear tight fitting underwear and an athletic support.”
