NURSING CARE OF THE OLDER ADULT
EXAM #2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ageism - answer-discrimination against the elderly
What is important for nurses to do before taking care of elderly patients? - answer--
assess your own attitude
- assess attitude toward aging
- form positive attitudes toward older adults
-promote older adults independence with adl
Continuity theory - answer-personality remains table and behavior becomes more
predictable as people age
Which theory evaluates that the behaviors developed during a lifetime determine the
degree of engagement in older adulthood? - answer-continuity theory
Gerotranscendance theory - answer-older adult experiences a shift in perspective with
age from a materialistic and national view to transcendent view
What are some developmental tasks that the elderly go through? - answer-1.
Decreasing health and physical strength
2. Adjusting to retirement or fixed income
3. Death of a spouse, children or sibling
4. Accepting self aging person
5. Maintaining satisfactory living arrangements
What are the primary things to look for when selecting a nursing home? - answer-1.
Quality of care
2. Quality of food
3. Tell them what is paid for and how much they will have to pay
4. Are they attentive to residents and personal tasks
What is the biggest cue for earning warning signs of aging? - answer-mental status
changes
When you look at changes during gerontological nursing what should the nurse take
note of? - answer-- mental status
- occurrence of falls
- dehydration
- loss of function
- dizziness
- appetite changes
, What are the three most common abnormal illnesses seen in the elder? - answer-1. Uti
2. Pneumonia
3. Mi
What are the signs of uit? - answer-- confusion, incontinence, elevation of temp within
normal limits
What should the nurse check for immediately if a patient suddenly becomes confused? -
answer-uti
What are the signs of pneumonia? - answer-- tachycardia and tachypnea
- confusion
- decreased appetite
- decreased functioning
What are the signs of mi? - answer-- sudden onset dyspnea
- anxiety
- confusion
What are the three biggest indicators of early acute illness? - answer-1. Mental status
change
2. Falls
3. Deyhydration
What makes the elderly more susceptible to physiologic changes? - answer-life
changes
What are some normal changes to the skin of the older adults hat can take place? -
answer-- epithelial layer thinning
- elastic collagen fibers shrink and become rigid
- age spots appear
What are cherry angiomas? Where do they occur? - answer-- red ro brown spots on the
drunk
What is the primary problem with aging in the neck? Why is it a problem? - answer--
cough reflex is blunted
- bad because of the risk for aspiration
What happens to visual acuity of the elderly? - answer-it will decline because of retinal
damage and a reduced pupil size and opacity of the lens
Why is presbyopia a problem? - answer-decreased ability to accommodate from near to
far vision
EXAM #2 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Ageism - answer-discrimination against the elderly
What is important for nurses to do before taking care of elderly patients? - answer--
assess your own attitude
- assess attitude toward aging
- form positive attitudes toward older adults
-promote older adults independence with adl
Continuity theory - answer-personality remains table and behavior becomes more
predictable as people age
Which theory evaluates that the behaviors developed during a lifetime determine the
degree of engagement in older adulthood? - answer-continuity theory
Gerotranscendance theory - answer-older adult experiences a shift in perspective with
age from a materialistic and national view to transcendent view
What are some developmental tasks that the elderly go through? - answer-1.
Decreasing health and physical strength
2. Adjusting to retirement or fixed income
3. Death of a spouse, children or sibling
4. Accepting self aging person
5. Maintaining satisfactory living arrangements
What are the primary things to look for when selecting a nursing home? - answer-1.
Quality of care
2. Quality of food
3. Tell them what is paid for and how much they will have to pay
4. Are they attentive to residents and personal tasks
What is the biggest cue for earning warning signs of aging? - answer-mental status
changes
When you look at changes during gerontological nursing what should the nurse take
note of? - answer-- mental status
- occurrence of falls
- dehydration
- loss of function
- dizziness
- appetite changes
, What are the three most common abnormal illnesses seen in the elder? - answer-1. Uti
2. Pneumonia
3. Mi
What are the signs of uit? - answer-- confusion, incontinence, elevation of temp within
normal limits
What should the nurse check for immediately if a patient suddenly becomes confused? -
answer-uti
What are the signs of pneumonia? - answer-- tachycardia and tachypnea
- confusion
- decreased appetite
- decreased functioning
What are the signs of mi? - answer-- sudden onset dyspnea
- anxiety
- confusion
What are the three biggest indicators of early acute illness? - answer-1. Mental status
change
2. Falls
3. Deyhydration
What makes the elderly more susceptible to physiologic changes? - answer-life
changes
What are some normal changes to the skin of the older adults hat can take place? -
answer-- epithelial layer thinning
- elastic collagen fibers shrink and become rigid
- age spots appear
What are cherry angiomas? Where do they occur? - answer-- red ro brown spots on the
drunk
What is the primary problem with aging in the neck? Why is it a problem? - answer--
cough reflex is blunted
- bad because of the risk for aspiration
What happens to visual acuity of the elderly? - answer-it will decline because of retinal
damage and a reduced pupil size and opacity of the lens
Why is presbyopia a problem? - answer-decreased ability to accommodate from near to
far vision
