Exam 3: NUR 257/ NUR257 (NEW 2025/2026
Update) – Aging and Chronic Illness in Nursing |
Verified Exam Guide | 100% Correct Questions &
Answers | Grade A – Galen College
Define chronic illnesses. - Answer Illnesses that are prolonged, may not be cured, come with
irreversible changes and disabilities, and need prolonged care.
List some examples of common chronic illnesses. - Answer Cancer, heart disease, diabetes,
hypertension, obesity, lung diseases, arthritis, neurological diseases.
What percentage of people die from chronic illnesses? - Answer 70%
Out of the top 10 reasons for death, how many are due to chronic diseases? List them. -
Answer 7:
1. heart disease
2. cancer
3. lower respiratory disease
4. stroke
6. alzheimer's disease
7. Diabetes
Explain the trajectory of chronic illness. - Answer Onset, stable, acute, comeback, crisis,
unstable, downward, dying
What are the tasks of the chronically ill (7)? - Answer -Prevent/manage crisis
-Carry out prescribed treatment
-Control symptoms
-Reorder time
-Adjust to changes in course of disease
-Prevent social isolation
-Attempt to normalize interactions with others
,Who makes the biggest difference in the lives of chronically ill people? - Answer Nurses!
What 4 things do nurses do to make a difference in the lives of people with chronic diseases? -
Answer -Teach patients about how to live the most fully with their disease
-Monitor for complications, avoid crises due to the disease
-Manage how these diseases interact with daily life, and other problems and diseases
-Prevent or slow the progression of damage due to the disease
How many major chronic illnesses does the average patient over 75 years old have? -
Answer 3
By 2030, how many people will be > 65 years old? - Answer 1:5 people
What is the average life expectancy? - Answer 77+
What are some common stereotypes of old people? - Answer Smelly, rigid, cute, dementia
What are some special groups of older adults? - Answer Chronically ill, women, cognitively
impaired, rural, homeless, frail, ethnic
What is unique about older women when compared to older adults in general? - Answer There
is more poverty
What is unique about the cognitively impaired special group of older adults? - Answer They
are the minority but the most needy
What is the main concern for older adults who live in rural settings? - Answer Transportation.
Telehealth may help
What is the biggest fear of homeless older adults? - Answer institutional care
What are some characteristics of frail older adults? - Answer Unplanned weight loss,
weakness, poor energy, slowness, low activity
What are some common social issues with aging? - Answer Family, caregiver needs, elder
abuse, social programs (medicare), legal issues
What are the health care needs of older adults associated with hospitalization? - Answer -Frail
patients are at risk for iatrogenic problems
-Discharge planning- where do they go?
-Interdisciplinary needs
, What is unique about the health care needs of older adults? - Answer -Delerium and dementia
make care difficult
-Safety is an issue
-Unusual reactions to common problems
-Syndromes of related problems
Why is it important for a nurse to have critical thinking skills while treating an older adult? -
Answer Creativity, individualization, and complex problem solving skills are necessary
Why is it important for a nurse to have communication skills while treating an older adult? -
Answer Dealing with stress, fear, death, and helping people to solve their own problems
Why is it important for a nurse to have comforting skills while treating an older adult? -
Answer Do what people cant do for themselves with safety and dignity
What is the nursing process? - Answer ADPIE:
-Assessment
-Nursing Diagnosis
-Planning nursing care
-Implementing nursing care
-Evaluation
What three things are impacted by physical hygeine? - Answer Comfort, safety, and well
being
What is the main purpose of the skin? - Answer Protection from infection, loss of fluids and
heat
What can be determined by assessing a patients skin? - Answer Skin is a reflection of internal
status. heat, sensation, color, and integrity
Explain the importance of touch in relation to skin? - Answer The skin is a large surface for
communication, so touching is a major nursing communication tool
Why do feet and hands require special attention? - Answer -Hands are used for manipulation
-Feet are used for support
-Both are needed for ADLS
-Allows for assessment of internal functioning (heart/lungs) and ability to move/feel
Update) – Aging and Chronic Illness in Nursing |
Verified Exam Guide | 100% Correct Questions &
Answers | Grade A – Galen College
Define chronic illnesses. - Answer Illnesses that are prolonged, may not be cured, come with
irreversible changes and disabilities, and need prolonged care.
List some examples of common chronic illnesses. - Answer Cancer, heart disease, diabetes,
hypertension, obesity, lung diseases, arthritis, neurological diseases.
What percentage of people die from chronic illnesses? - Answer 70%
Out of the top 10 reasons for death, how many are due to chronic diseases? List them. -
Answer 7:
1. heart disease
2. cancer
3. lower respiratory disease
4. stroke
6. alzheimer's disease
7. Diabetes
Explain the trajectory of chronic illness. - Answer Onset, stable, acute, comeback, crisis,
unstable, downward, dying
What are the tasks of the chronically ill (7)? - Answer -Prevent/manage crisis
-Carry out prescribed treatment
-Control symptoms
-Reorder time
-Adjust to changes in course of disease
-Prevent social isolation
-Attempt to normalize interactions with others
,Who makes the biggest difference in the lives of chronically ill people? - Answer Nurses!
What 4 things do nurses do to make a difference in the lives of people with chronic diseases? -
Answer -Teach patients about how to live the most fully with their disease
-Monitor for complications, avoid crises due to the disease
-Manage how these diseases interact with daily life, and other problems and diseases
-Prevent or slow the progression of damage due to the disease
How many major chronic illnesses does the average patient over 75 years old have? -
Answer 3
By 2030, how many people will be > 65 years old? - Answer 1:5 people
What is the average life expectancy? - Answer 77+
What are some common stereotypes of old people? - Answer Smelly, rigid, cute, dementia
What are some special groups of older adults? - Answer Chronically ill, women, cognitively
impaired, rural, homeless, frail, ethnic
What is unique about older women when compared to older adults in general? - Answer There
is more poverty
What is unique about the cognitively impaired special group of older adults? - Answer They
are the minority but the most needy
What is the main concern for older adults who live in rural settings? - Answer Transportation.
Telehealth may help
What is the biggest fear of homeless older adults? - Answer institutional care
What are some characteristics of frail older adults? - Answer Unplanned weight loss,
weakness, poor energy, slowness, low activity
What are some common social issues with aging? - Answer Family, caregiver needs, elder
abuse, social programs (medicare), legal issues
What are the health care needs of older adults associated with hospitalization? - Answer -Frail
patients are at risk for iatrogenic problems
-Discharge planning- where do they go?
-Interdisciplinary needs
, What is unique about the health care needs of older adults? - Answer -Delerium and dementia
make care difficult
-Safety is an issue
-Unusual reactions to common problems
-Syndromes of related problems
Why is it important for a nurse to have critical thinking skills while treating an older adult? -
Answer Creativity, individualization, and complex problem solving skills are necessary
Why is it important for a nurse to have communication skills while treating an older adult? -
Answer Dealing with stress, fear, death, and helping people to solve their own problems
Why is it important for a nurse to have comforting skills while treating an older adult? -
Answer Do what people cant do for themselves with safety and dignity
What is the nursing process? - Answer ADPIE:
-Assessment
-Nursing Diagnosis
-Planning nursing care
-Implementing nursing care
-Evaluation
What three things are impacted by physical hygeine? - Answer Comfort, safety, and well
being
What is the main purpose of the skin? - Answer Protection from infection, loss of fluids and
heat
What can be determined by assessing a patients skin? - Answer Skin is a reflection of internal
status. heat, sensation, color, and integrity
Explain the importance of touch in relation to skin? - Answer The skin is a large surface for
communication, so touching is a major nursing communication tool
Why do feet and hands require special attention? - Answer -Hands are used for manipulation
-Feet are used for support
-Both are needed for ADLS
-Allows for assessment of internal functioning (heart/lungs) and ability to move/feel
