C HAPTER 13: P ROMOTING H EALTHY
A DAPTATION TO A GING
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5t h
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. An 84-year-old patient who is hospitalized for pneumonia says to the
nurse, “I don’t know why I’ve lived so long. All m y friends are gone, m y
children and grandchildren are all independent and succ essful—nobody
needs me anymore.” An appropriate response by the nurse is:
a. “You have a lot to live for. Your children and grandchildren reall y
love you.”
b. “You must have inherited good genes. You should be thankful
you’re still alive.”
c. “Tell me about your ch ildren and what it was like when you were
raising them.”
d. “The pneumonia has made you feel morbid. Things will look up!”
ANS: C
Encouraging reminiscing helps the older adult put her life in
perspective and acquire a sense of ego.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Ap plication REF: p. 178 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #4 TOP: Psychosocial Aspects of Aging
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrit y: Coping and Adaptation
,2. An 80-year-old man has no chronic diseases and is alert, oriented , and
physicall y active. Which of the following nursing diagnoses is likel y to be
present as a result of the normal aging process?
a. Poisoning, risk for , related to the many medications an older person
must take.
b. Suffocation, risk for , related to declining r espiratory function.
c. Hopelessness, related to recognition of the end of life drawing near.
d. Constipation, related to slowed peristalsis.
ANS: D
Constipation is a common nursing diagnosis for older adults in
otherwise good health. In addition to peristals is slowing, most older
adults experience decreased taste and smell resulting in decreased
appetite and food intake, as well as decreased physical mobility.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 175|Table 13 -1
OBJ: Theory #4 TOP: Physical Changes KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Nursing Diagnosis MSC: NC LEX:
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. The nurse warns that infection after exposure to respiratory illness in the
older adult:
a. is more likel y to result in serious lower respiratory infection related
to weakened respiratory muscles and fewer cilia.
b. is likel y to be fatal due to the older person’s low resistance.
c. results in rates of infection similar to those in the younger adult.
d. can be easil y prevented with the use of antibiotics when the adult is
exposed.
, ANS: A
Changes in the older adult respiratory system make older adults more
susceptible to infections that can be very serious. Although some
infections are life threatening, most are not.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 175|Table
13-1 OBJ: Theory #4 TOP: Physical Changes KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Health
Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Earl y Detection of
Disease
4. When the nurse is conducting a class for senior citizens at a local assisted
living facilit y, to enhance physical health, he encourages the older
residents to engage in some form of exercise for at least:
a. 1 hour every other day.
b. 10 minutes at a time several times a day.
c. 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
d. 1 hour every morning.
ANS: C
Exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is beneficial.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 177 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #2 TOP: Physical Health Promotion
Behaviors KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
A DAPTATION TO A GING
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5t h
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. An 84-year-old patient who is hospitalized for pneumonia says to the
nurse, “I don’t know why I’ve lived so long. All m y friends are gone, m y
children and grandchildren are all independent and succ essful—nobody
needs me anymore.” An appropriate response by the nurse is:
a. “You have a lot to live for. Your children and grandchildren reall y
love you.”
b. “You must have inherited good genes. You should be thankful
you’re still alive.”
c. “Tell me about your ch ildren and what it was like when you were
raising them.”
d. “The pneumonia has made you feel morbid. Things will look up!”
ANS: C
Encouraging reminiscing helps the older adult put her life in
perspective and acquire a sense of ego.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Ap plication REF: p. 178 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #4 TOP: Psychosocial Aspects of Aging
KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC:
NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrit y: Coping and Adaptation
,2. An 80-year-old man has no chronic diseases and is alert, oriented , and
physicall y active. Which of the following nursing diagnoses is likel y to be
present as a result of the normal aging process?
a. Poisoning, risk for , related to the many medications an older person
must take.
b. Suffocation, risk for , related to declining r espiratory function.
c. Hopelessness, related to recognition of the end of life drawing near.
d. Constipation, related to slowed peristalsis.
ANS: D
Constipation is a common nursing diagnosis for older adults in
otherwise good health. In addition to peristals is slowing, most older
adults experience decreased taste and smell resulting in decreased
appetite and food intake, as well as decreased physical mobility.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 175|Table 13 -1
OBJ: Theory #4 TOP: Physical Changes KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Nursing Diagnosis MSC: NC LEX:
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. The nurse warns that infection after exposure to respiratory illness in the
older adult:
a. is more likel y to result in serious lower respiratory infection related
to weakened respiratory muscles and fewer cilia.
b. is likel y to be fatal due to the older person’s low resistance.
c. results in rates of infection similar to those in the younger adult.
d. can be easil y prevented with the use of antibiotics when the adult is
exposed.
, ANS: A
Changes in the older adult respiratory system make older adults more
susceptible to infections that can be very serious. Although some
infections are life threatening, most are not.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 175|Table
13-1 OBJ: Theory #4 TOP: Physical Changes KEY: Nursing
Process Step: Implementation MSC: NC LEX: Health
Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Earl y Detection of
Disease
4. When the nurse is conducting a class for senior citizens at a local assisted
living facilit y, to enhance physical health, he encourages the older
residents to engage in some form of exercise for at least:
a. 1 hour every other day.
b. 10 minutes at a time several times a day.
c. 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
d. 1 hour every morning.
ANS: C
Exercise for as little as 30 minutes a day 5 days a week is beneficial.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 177 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #2 TOP: Physical Health Promotion
Behaviors KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
