Chapter 11: Health Care of the Older Adult
Exam with correct answers
1. You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and
symptoms of Parkinson disease have become more severe over the
past several months. The man tells you that he can no longer do as
many things for himself as he used to be able to do. What factor should
you recognize as impacting your patients life most significantly?
A) Neurologic deficits
B) Loss of independence
C) Age-related changes
D) Tremors and decreased mobility - correct answer-B) Loss of
independence
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large
number of older adults who are living with various forms of
cardiovascular disease. This nurse is well aware that heart disease is the
leading cause of death in the aged. What is an age-related physiological
change that contributes to this trend?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age. - correct answer-A) Heart
muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
,3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his
manager about a 65-year-old coworker. What phenomenon would the
nurse identify when hearing the employee state, He should just retire
and make way for some new blood.?
A) Intolerance
B) Ageism
C) Dependence
D) Nonspecific prejudice - correct answer-B) Ageism
4. The nurse is caring for a 65-year-old patient who has previously been
diagnosed with hypertension. Which of the following blood pressure
readings represents the threshold between high-normal blood pressure
and hypertension?
A) 140/90 mm Hg
B) 145/95 mm Hg
C) 150/100 mm Hg
D) 160/100 mm Hg - correct answer-A) 140/90 mm Hg
5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been
hospitalized for a fractured radius. The patients daughter has
accompanied the patient to the hospital and asks you what her father
can do for his very dry skin, which has become susceptible to cracking
and shearing. What would be your best response?
A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning.
, C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable.
D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products. - correct
answer-A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
An elderly patient has come in to the clinic for her twice-yearly physical.
The patient tells the nurse that she is generally enjoying good health,
but that she has been having occasional episodes of constipation over
the past 6 months. What intervention should the nurse first suggest?
A) Reduce the amount of stress she currently experiences.
B) Increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake.
C) Take herbal laxatives, such as senna, each night at bedtime.
D) Increase daily intake of water. - correct answer-D) Increase daily
intake of water.
An 84-year-old patient has returned from the post-anesthetic care unit
(PACU) following hip arthroplasty. The patient is oriented to name only.
The patient's family is very upset because, before having surgery, the
patient had no cognitive deficits. The patient is subsequently diagnosed
with postoperative delirium. What should the nurse explain to the
patient's family?
A) This problem is self-limiting and there is nothing to worry about.
B) Delirium involves a progressive decline in memory loss and overall
cognitive function.
C) Delirium of this type is treatable and her cognition will return to
previous levels.
Exam with correct answers
1. You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and
symptoms of Parkinson disease have become more severe over the
past several months. The man tells you that he can no longer do as
many things for himself as he used to be able to do. What factor should
you recognize as impacting your patients life most significantly?
A) Neurologic deficits
B) Loss of independence
C) Age-related changes
D) Tremors and decreased mobility - correct answer-B) Loss of
independence
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large
number of older adults who are living with various forms of
cardiovascular disease. This nurse is well aware that heart disease is the
leading cause of death in the aged. What is an age-related physiological
change that contributes to this trend?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age. - correct answer-A) Heart
muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
,3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his
manager about a 65-year-old coworker. What phenomenon would the
nurse identify when hearing the employee state, He should just retire
and make way for some new blood.?
A) Intolerance
B) Ageism
C) Dependence
D) Nonspecific prejudice - correct answer-B) Ageism
4. The nurse is caring for a 65-year-old patient who has previously been
diagnosed with hypertension. Which of the following blood pressure
readings represents the threshold between high-normal blood pressure
and hypertension?
A) 140/90 mm Hg
B) 145/95 mm Hg
C) 150/100 mm Hg
D) 160/100 mm Hg - correct answer-A) 140/90 mm Hg
5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been
hospitalized for a fractured radius. The patients daughter has
accompanied the patient to the hospital and asks you what her father
can do for his very dry skin, which has become susceptible to cracking
and shearing. What would be your best response?
A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning.
, C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable.
D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products. - correct
answer-A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
An elderly patient has come in to the clinic for her twice-yearly physical.
The patient tells the nurse that she is generally enjoying good health,
but that she has been having occasional episodes of constipation over
the past 6 months. What intervention should the nurse first suggest?
A) Reduce the amount of stress she currently experiences.
B) Increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake.
C) Take herbal laxatives, such as senna, each night at bedtime.
D) Increase daily intake of water. - correct answer-D) Increase daily
intake of water.
An 84-year-old patient has returned from the post-anesthetic care unit
(PACU) following hip arthroplasty. The patient is oriented to name only.
The patient's family is very upset because, before having surgery, the
patient had no cognitive deficits. The patient is subsequently diagnosed
with postoperative delirium. What should the nurse explain to the
patient's family?
A) This problem is self-limiting and there is nothing to worry about.
B) Delirium involves a progressive decline in memory loss and overall
cognitive function.
C) Delirium of this type is treatable and her cognition will return to
previous levels.
