NUR 2214 Week 3 Quiz V2 | NUR 2214
Nursing Care of the Older Adult | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NUR2214 Week 3
Quiz) | Rasmussen University
1. An older adult patient presents with an acute onset of confusion and fluctuating levels of
consciousness. Which condition should the nurse suspect first?
A. Alzheimer’s disease
B. Delirium
C. Major depressive disorder
D. Normal age-related memory loss
Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by a rapid onset and a fluctuating course of
symptoms. It is often triggered by an underlying physiological cause such as infection or
medication toxicity. Unlike dementia, delirium is considered a medical emergency that is
often reversible with prompt treatment.
2. When communicating with an older adult who has presbycusis, which technique is most
effective for the nurse to use?
A. Speak in a high-pitched, loud voice
B. Speak clearly in a lower-pitched tone while facing the patient
,C. Shout directly into the patient’s better ear
D. Exaggerate facial expressions and lip movements
Answer: B
Rationale: Presbycusis involves the loss of high-frequency hearing, making lower-pitched
tones easier for the patient to distinguish. Facing the patient allows them to use visual cues
and lip-reading to supplement their hearing. Shouting is often counterproductive as it can
distort the sound and increase the pitch.
3. A patient reports a gradual loss of peripheral vision, describing it as ‘tunnel vision.’ Which
ocular condition does the nurse anticipate?
A. Cataracts
B. Macular degeneration
C. Glaucoma
D. Retinal detachment
Answer: C
Rationale: Glaucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure which causes
progressive damage to the optic nerve. This damage typically results in the loss of
peripheral vision, often referred to as tunnel vision. Early detection and treatment are vital
to prevent total blindness in these patients.
, 4. Which assessment finding is most indicative of depression in an older adult, rather than a
cognitive impairment?
A. Inability to follow multi-step instructions
B. Consistent memory loss regarding recent events
C. Sun-downing behaviors in the late afternoon
D. Frequent ‘I don’t know’ answers during cognitive testing
Answer: D
Rationale: Older adults with depression often exhibit a ‘pseudo-dementia’ where they give
up easily on cognitive tasks and respond with ‘I don’t know.’ This contrasts with dementia
patients who may try to cover up their deficits or confabulate. Depression in the elderly
also frequently manifests as physical complaints rather than overt sadness.
5. The nurse is using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) to evaluate a patient. What is
the primary purpose of this tool?
A. To stage the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
B. To identify the severity of clinical depression
C. To measure the patient’s functional status and ADLs
D. To distinguish delirium from other forms of cognitive impairment
Answer: D
Nursing Care of the Older Adult | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NUR2214 Week 3
Quiz) | Rasmussen University
1. An older adult patient presents with an acute onset of confusion and fluctuating levels of
consciousness. Which condition should the nurse suspect first?
A. Alzheimer’s disease
B. Delirium
C. Major depressive disorder
D. Normal age-related memory loss
Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by a rapid onset and a fluctuating course of
symptoms. It is often triggered by an underlying physiological cause such as infection or
medication toxicity. Unlike dementia, delirium is considered a medical emergency that is
often reversible with prompt treatment.
2. When communicating with an older adult who has presbycusis, which technique is most
effective for the nurse to use?
A. Speak in a high-pitched, loud voice
B. Speak clearly in a lower-pitched tone while facing the patient
,C. Shout directly into the patient’s better ear
D. Exaggerate facial expressions and lip movements
Answer: B
Rationale: Presbycusis involves the loss of high-frequency hearing, making lower-pitched
tones easier for the patient to distinguish. Facing the patient allows them to use visual cues
and lip-reading to supplement their hearing. Shouting is often counterproductive as it can
distort the sound and increase the pitch.
3. A patient reports a gradual loss of peripheral vision, describing it as ‘tunnel vision.’ Which
ocular condition does the nurse anticipate?
A. Cataracts
B. Macular degeneration
C. Glaucoma
D. Retinal detachment
Answer: C
Rationale: Glaucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure which causes
progressive damage to the optic nerve. This damage typically results in the loss of
peripheral vision, often referred to as tunnel vision. Early detection and treatment are vital
to prevent total blindness in these patients.
, 4. Which assessment finding is most indicative of depression in an older adult, rather than a
cognitive impairment?
A. Inability to follow multi-step instructions
B. Consistent memory loss regarding recent events
C. Sun-downing behaviors in the late afternoon
D. Frequent ‘I don’t know’ answers during cognitive testing
Answer: D
Rationale: Older adults with depression often exhibit a ‘pseudo-dementia’ where they give
up easily on cognitive tasks and respond with ‘I don’t know.’ This contrasts with dementia
patients who may try to cover up their deficits or confabulate. Depression in the elderly
also frequently manifests as physical complaints rather than overt sadness.
5. The nurse is using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) to evaluate a patient. What is
the primary purpose of this tool?
A. To stage the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
B. To identify the severity of clinical depression
C. To measure the patient’s functional status and ADLs
D. To distinguish delirium from other forms of cognitive impairment
Answer: D
