C HAPTER 13: Y OUNG AND M IDDLE A DULTS
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is planning care for a 30 -year-old. Which goal is priority?
a. Refine self-perception.
b. Master career plans.
c. Examine life goals.
d. Achieve intimacy.
ANS: B
From 29 to 34, the person directs enormous energy toward achievement
and mastery of the surrounding world. The years from 35 to 43 are a
time of vigorous examination of life goals and relationships. Between
the ages of 23 and 28, the person refines self -perception and abilit y for
intimacy.
DIF: Appl y (application) OBJ: Discuss cognitive and
psychosocial changes occurring during the young and middle
adult years. TOP: Planning MSC: Health Promotion and
Maintenance
2. A nurse is planning care for young -adult patients. Which information
should the nurse consider when planning care?
a. Fertilit y issues do not oc cur in young adulthood.
, b. Young adults tend to suffer more from severe illness.
c. Substance abuse is easy to observe in young -adult patients.
d. Young adults are quite active but are at risk for illness in later
years.
ANS: D
Young adults are generall y active a nd experience severe illnesses less
frequentl y. However, their lifest yles may put them at risk for illnesses
or disabilities during their middle or older-adult years. An estimated
10% to 15% of reproductive couples are infertile, and many are young
adults. Substance abuse is not always diagnosable, particularly in its
earl y stages.
DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Identify normal
physical changes in young and middle adulthood and pregnancy.
TOP: Planning MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. During a routine physical assessment, the nurse obtaining a health history
notes that a 50-year-old female patient reports pain and redness in the
right breast. Which action is best for the nurse to take in response to this
finding?
a. Assess the patient as thoroughl y as possible.
b. Explain to the patient that breast tenderness is normal at her age.
c. Tell the patient that redness is not a cause for concern and is quite
common.
d. Inform her that redness is the precursor to normal unilateral breast
enlargement.
ANS: A
, A comprehensive assessment offers direction for health promotion
recommendations, as well as for planning and implementing any
acutel y needed intervention. Redness or painful breasts are abnormal
physical assessment findings in the middle -aged adult. Increased size
of one breast is an abnormal physical assessment finding in the middle -
aged adult.
DIF: Appl y (application) OBJ: Identify normal physical
changes in young and middle adulthood and pregnancy. TOP:
Implementation MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A 55-year-old female presents to the outpatient clinic describing irregular
menstrual periods and hot flashes. Which information should the nurse
share with the patient?
a. The patient’s assessment points toward normal menopause.
b. Those symptoms are normal w hen a woman undergoes the
climacteric.
c. An assessment is not reall y needed because these problems are
normal for older women.
d. The patient should stop regular exercise because that is probably
causing these symptoms.
ANS: A
The most significant physiologic al changes during middle age are
menopause in women and the climacteric in men. Menopause t ypicall y
occurs between 45 and 60 years of age. The nurse should continue with
the examination because a comprehensive assessment offers direction
for health promoti on recommendations, as well as for planning and
Potter: Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is planning care for a 30 -year-old. Which goal is priority?
a. Refine self-perception.
b. Master career plans.
c. Examine life goals.
d. Achieve intimacy.
ANS: B
From 29 to 34, the person directs enormous energy toward achievement
and mastery of the surrounding world. The years from 35 to 43 are a
time of vigorous examination of life goals and relationships. Between
the ages of 23 and 28, the person refines self -perception and abilit y for
intimacy.
DIF: Appl y (application) OBJ: Discuss cognitive and
psychosocial changes occurring during the young and middle
adult years. TOP: Planning MSC: Health Promotion and
Maintenance
2. A nurse is planning care for young -adult patients. Which information
should the nurse consider when planning care?
a. Fertilit y issues do not oc cur in young adulthood.
, b. Young adults tend to suffer more from severe illness.
c. Substance abuse is easy to observe in young -adult patients.
d. Young adults are quite active but are at risk for illness in later
years.
ANS: D
Young adults are generall y active a nd experience severe illnesses less
frequentl y. However, their lifest yles may put them at risk for illnesses
or disabilities during their middle or older-adult years. An estimated
10% to 15% of reproductive couples are infertile, and many are young
adults. Substance abuse is not always diagnosable, particularly in its
earl y stages.
DIF: Understand (comprehension) OBJ: Identify normal
physical changes in young and middle adulthood and pregnancy.
TOP: Planning MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. During a routine physical assessment, the nurse obtaining a health history
notes that a 50-year-old female patient reports pain and redness in the
right breast. Which action is best for the nurse to take in response to this
finding?
a. Assess the patient as thoroughl y as possible.
b. Explain to the patient that breast tenderness is normal at her age.
c. Tell the patient that redness is not a cause for concern and is quite
common.
d. Inform her that redness is the precursor to normal unilateral breast
enlargement.
ANS: A
, A comprehensive assessment offers direction for health promotion
recommendations, as well as for planning and implementing any
acutel y needed intervention. Redness or painful breasts are abnormal
physical assessment findings in the middle -aged adult. Increased size
of one breast is an abnormal physical assessment finding in the middle -
aged adult.
DIF: Appl y (application) OBJ: Identify normal physical
changes in young and middle adulthood and pregnancy. TOP:
Implementation MSC: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A 55-year-old female presents to the outpatient clinic describing irregular
menstrual periods and hot flashes. Which information should the nurse
share with the patient?
a. The patient’s assessment points toward normal menopause.
b. Those symptoms are normal w hen a woman undergoes the
climacteric.
c. An assessment is not reall y needed because these problems are
normal for older women.
d. The patient should stop regular exercise because that is probably
causing these symptoms.
ANS: A
The most significant physiologic al changes during middle age are
menopause in women and the climacteric in men. Menopause t ypicall y
occurs between 45 and 60 years of age. The nurse should continue with
the examination because a comprehensive assessment offers direction
for health promoti on recommendations, as well as for planning and
