C HAPTER 14: O LDER A DULTS
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is observing skin integrit y of an older adult. Which finding will
the nurse document as a normal finding?
a. Oil y skin
b. Faster nail growth
c. Decreased elasticit y
d. Increased facial hair in men
ANS: C
Loss of skin elasticity is a common finding in the older adult. Other
common findings include pigmentation changes, glandular atrophy (oil,
moisture, and sweat glands), thinning hair (facial hair: decreased in
men, increased in women), slower nail growth, and atrophy of
epidermal arterioles.
DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Describe common
physiological changes of aging. TOP: Assessment MSC: Health
Promotion and Maintenance
2. An older-adult patient in no acute distress reports being less able to taste
and smell. What is the nurse’s best response to this information?
a. Notify the health care provider immediately to rule out cranial
, nerve damage.
b. Schedule the patient for an appointment at a smell and taste
disorders clinic.
c. Perform testing on the vestibulocochlear nerve and a hearing test.
d. Explain to the patient that diminished senses are normal findings.
ANS: D
Diminished taste and smell senses are common findings in older adults.
Scheduling an appointment at a smell and taste disorders clinic, testing
the vestibulocochlear nerve, or an attempt to rule out cranial nerve
damage is unnecessary at this time as per the information provided.
DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Describe common
physiological changes of aging. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. A nurse is assessing an older adult for cognitive changes. Which symptom
will the nurse report as normal?
a. Disorientation
b. Poor judgment
c. Slower reaction time
d. Loss of language skills
ANS: C
Slower reaction time is a common change in the older adult. Symptoms
of cognitive impairment, such as disorientation, loss of language skills,
loss of the abilit y to calculate, and poor judgment are not normal aging
changes and require further investi gation of underl ying causes.
, DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Describe common
physiological changes of aging. TOP: Assessment MSC:
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. An older patient diagnosed with dementia and confusion is admitted to the
nursing unit after hip replacement surgery. Which action will the nurse
include in the plan of care?
a. Maintain a routine.
b. Continue to reorient.
c. Allow several choices.
d. Sociall y isolate patient.
ANS: A
Patients experiencing dementia need a routine. Continuing to reor ient a
patient with dementia is nonproductive and not advised. Patients with
dementia need limited choices. Social interaction based on the patient’s
abilities is to be promoted.
DIF: Appl y (application) OBJ: Identify nursing
interventions related to the physiological, cognitive, and
psychosocial changes of aging. TOP: Planning MSC:
Physiological Adaptation
5. A nurse is helping an older -adult patient with instrumental activities of
dail y living. The nurse will most likel y be assisting the patient with which
activit y?
a. Taking a bath
b. Getting dressed
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is observing skin integrit y of an older adult. Which finding will
the nurse document as a normal finding?
a. Oil y skin
b. Faster nail growth
c. Decreased elasticit y
d. Increased facial hair in men
ANS: C
Loss of skin elasticity is a common finding in the older adult. Other
common findings include pigmentation changes, glandular atrophy (oil,
moisture, and sweat glands), thinning hair (facial hair: decreased in
men, increased in women), slower nail growth, and atrophy of
epidermal arterioles.
DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Describe common
physiological changes of aging. TOP: Assessment MSC: Health
Promotion and Maintenance
2. An older-adult patient in no acute distress reports being less able to taste
and smell. What is the nurse’s best response to this information?
a. Notify the health care provider immediately to rule out cranial
, nerve damage.
b. Schedule the patient for an appointment at a smell and taste
disorders clinic.
c. Perform testing on the vestibulocochlear nerve and a hearing test.
d. Explain to the patient that diminished senses are normal findings.
ANS: D
Diminished taste and smell senses are common findings in older adults.
Scheduling an appointment at a smell and taste disorders clinic, testing
the vestibulocochlear nerve, or an attempt to rule out cranial nerve
damage is unnecessary at this time as per the information provided.
DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Describe common
physiological changes of aging. TOP: Implementation
MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. A nurse is assessing an older adult for cognitive changes. Which symptom
will the nurse report as normal?
a. Disorientation
b. Poor judgment
c. Slower reaction time
d. Loss of language skills
ANS: C
Slower reaction time is a common change in the older adult. Symptoms
of cognitive impairment, such as disorientation, loss of language skills,
loss of the abilit y to calculate, and poor judgment are not normal aging
changes and require further investi gation of underl ying causes.
, DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Describe common
physiological changes of aging. TOP: Assessment MSC:
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. An older patient diagnosed with dementia and confusion is admitted to the
nursing unit after hip replacement surgery. Which action will the nurse
include in the plan of care?
a. Maintain a routine.
b. Continue to reorient.
c. Allow several choices.
d. Sociall y isolate patient.
ANS: A
Patients experiencing dementia need a routine. Continuing to reor ient a
patient with dementia is nonproductive and not advised. Patients with
dementia need limited choices. Social interaction based on the patient’s
abilities is to be promoted.
DIF: Appl y (application) OBJ: Identify nursing
interventions related to the physiological, cognitive, and
psychosocial changes of aging. TOP: Planning MSC:
Physiological Adaptation
5. A nurse is helping an older -adult patient with instrumental activities of
dail y living. The nurse will most likel y be assisting the patient with which
activit y?
a. Taking a bath
b. Getting dressed
