Chapter 8 Management of the Older Adult Patient
Multiple Choice
1. An 80-year-old patient tells the nurse assessing him that he continues to enjoy swimming,
bowling, and gardening. The nurse determines that this patient is exhibiting a theory of aging
termed:
A) Trust
B) Autonomy
C) Activity
D) Integrity
Ans: C
Feedback: The patient is exhibiting the activity theory proposed by Havighurst (1968) that life
satisfaction in normal aging involves maintaining the active lifestyle of middle age.
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner frequently cares for patients with heart disease and is
aware that it is the leading cause of death in the aged. This is due in part to which of the
following?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity. B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) The aged are less likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Ans: A
Feedback: The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is cardiovascular
disease. Malignant neoplasms are the second leading cause.
3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager about a 65-
year- old coworker. The nurse is concerned about ageism when she hears the employee state:
A) “He is a very active individual and enjoys playing tennis.” B) “He should retire and make
way for some new blood.”
C) “He should spend more time with his family.” D) “He is a bad apple.”
,Ans: B
Feedback: Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged.
4. A nurse is planning to teach an 80-year-old patient who has exhibited short-term memory
loss how to change his dressing. She should:
A) Set long-term goals with the patient. B) Provide some music to aid learning. C) Keep visual
cues to a minimum.
D) Keep teaching periods short. Ans: D
Feedback: To assist the elderly patient with short-term memory loss, the nurse should keep
teaching periods short, provide glare-free lighting, link new information with familiar
information, use visual and auditory cues, and set short-term goals with the patient.
5. A 65-year-old patient has been diagnosed with essential hypertension. Which of the
following blood pressure readings demonstrate essential hypertension?
A) 140/92
B) 145/88
C) 90/62
D) 120/68
Ans: A
Feedback: Essential hypertension is the diagnosis given when the diastolic pressure is greater
than or equal to 90 mm Hg regardless of the systolic pressure. Secondary hypertension can be
attributed to an underlying cause, and isolated systolic hypertension is said to be present
when the systolic pressure is greater than 140 mm Hg.
6. A 75-year-old patient with very dry skin is hospitalized for a fractured radius. The nurse
should instruct the patient to:
A) Bathe one to 2 times a week.
B) Use makeup to cover the wrinkles. C) Avoid prolonged use of sunscreens. D) Drink more
milk.
, Ans: A
Feedback: Patients with dry skin should be instructed to use a lubricating cream daily, avoid
prolonged exposure to the sun, bathe only one to 2 times per week, and maintain a safe
indoor temperature.
7. A nurse is planning a presentation on the normal signs of aging to a group of senior
citizens. Which of the following should be included in the teaching plan?
A) Enhanced sense of smell
B) Decrease in muscle mass
C) Disappearance of sexual desire for both men and women
D) Increased sebaceous and sweat glands for both men and women
Ans: B
Feedback: Normal signs of aging are a decrease in the sense of smell, a decrease in muscle
mass, a decline but not disappearance of sexual desire, and decreased sebaceous and sweat
glands for both men and women.
8. A nurse is caring for a female patient who has been diagnosed with kyphosis. In which of
the following activities might the patient find it difficult to participate?
A) Light yoga class with hyperextension of the spine
B) Therapeutic touch
C) Sitting in a chair and knitting
D) Reading a newspaper
Ans: A
Feedback: Kyphosis is an increased convex curvature of the spine with mobility limitations.
Multiple Choice
1. An 80-year-old patient tells the nurse assessing him that he continues to enjoy swimming,
bowling, and gardening. The nurse determines that this patient is exhibiting a theory of aging
termed:
A) Trust
B) Autonomy
C) Activity
D) Integrity
Ans: C
Feedback: The patient is exhibiting the activity theory proposed by Havighurst (1968) that life
satisfaction in normal aging involves maintaining the active lifestyle of middle age.
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner frequently cares for patients with heart disease and is
aware that it is the leading cause of death in the aged. This is due in part to which of the
following?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity. B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) The aged are less likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Ans: A
Feedback: The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is cardiovascular
disease. Malignant neoplasms are the second leading cause.
3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager about a 65-
year- old coworker. The nurse is concerned about ageism when she hears the employee state:
A) “He is a very active individual and enjoys playing tennis.” B) “He should retire and make
way for some new blood.”
C) “He should spend more time with his family.” D) “He is a bad apple.”
,Ans: B
Feedback: Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged.
4. A nurse is planning to teach an 80-year-old patient who has exhibited short-term memory
loss how to change his dressing. She should:
A) Set long-term goals with the patient. B) Provide some music to aid learning. C) Keep visual
cues to a minimum.
D) Keep teaching periods short. Ans: D
Feedback: To assist the elderly patient with short-term memory loss, the nurse should keep
teaching periods short, provide glare-free lighting, link new information with familiar
information, use visual and auditory cues, and set short-term goals with the patient.
5. A 65-year-old patient has been diagnosed with essential hypertension. Which of the
following blood pressure readings demonstrate essential hypertension?
A) 140/92
B) 145/88
C) 90/62
D) 120/68
Ans: A
Feedback: Essential hypertension is the diagnosis given when the diastolic pressure is greater
than or equal to 90 mm Hg regardless of the systolic pressure. Secondary hypertension can be
attributed to an underlying cause, and isolated systolic hypertension is said to be present
when the systolic pressure is greater than 140 mm Hg.
6. A 75-year-old patient with very dry skin is hospitalized for a fractured radius. The nurse
should instruct the patient to:
A) Bathe one to 2 times a week.
B) Use makeup to cover the wrinkles. C) Avoid prolonged use of sunscreens. D) Drink more
milk.
, Ans: A
Feedback: Patients with dry skin should be instructed to use a lubricating cream daily, avoid
prolonged exposure to the sun, bathe only one to 2 times per week, and maintain a safe
indoor temperature.
7. A nurse is planning a presentation on the normal signs of aging to a group of senior
citizens. Which of the following should be included in the teaching plan?
A) Enhanced sense of smell
B) Decrease in muscle mass
C) Disappearance of sexual desire for both men and women
D) Increased sebaceous and sweat glands for both men and women
Ans: B
Feedback: Normal signs of aging are a decrease in the sense of smell, a decrease in muscle
mass, a decline but not disappearance of sexual desire, and decreased sebaceous and sweat
glands for both men and women.
8. A nurse is caring for a female patient who has been diagnosed with kyphosis. In which of
the following activities might the patient find it difficult to participate?
A) Light yoga class with hyperextension of the spine
B) Therapeutic touch
C) Sitting in a chair and knitting
D) Reading a newspaper
Ans: A
Feedback: Kyphosis is an increased convex curvature of the spine with mobility limitations.
