MULTIDIMENSIONAL CARE MDC 1 FINAL EXAM Health Care of the Older Adult

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 - Ans: B Feedback: This patient’s statement places a priority on his loss of independence. This is undoubtedly a result of the neurologic changes associated with his disease, but this is not the focus of his statement. This is a disease process, not an age-related physiological change. 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 agerelated 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. - Ans: A Feedback: The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is cardiovascular disease. With age, heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity, resulting in a reduced stroke volume. As a person ages, systolic blood pressure does not decrease, resting heart rate does not decrease, and the aged are not less likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle. 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 - Ans: B Feedback: Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged. Intolerance is implied by the employees’ statement, but the intolerance is aimed at the coworker’s age. The employees’ statement does not raise concern about dependence. The prejudice exhibited in the statement is very specific. 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 - Ans: A Feedback: Hypertension is the diagnosis given when the blood pressure is greater than 140/90 mm Hg. This makes the other options incorrect. 5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been hospitalized for a fractured radius. The patient’s 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. - Ans: A Feedback: Showers are less drying than hot tub baths. Sun exposure should indeed be limited, but daily application of sunscreen is not necessary for many patients. Dry skin is an agerelated change, but this does not mean that no appropriate interventions exist to address it. Dairy intake is unrelated.