Eliopoulos - Gerontological Nursing 8th
Ed - Common Aging Changes Exam
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 1
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Difficulty: Difficult
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 52, Physical Appearance
1. During an assessment of an 82-year-old woman, a gerontological nurse learns that
the woman has lost over 4 inches in height over the last several years. Which of the
following factors have likely contributed to this phenomenon? Select all that apply. -
Answers -A) The woman's overall proportion of body water has decreased.
B) The client has experienced a loss of cartilage.
C) The woman's thyroid hormone levels have declined since the sixth decade.
D) The client's vertebrae have thinned.
E) Loss of stature is a consequence of the woman's diet.
F) The woman's long bones have decreased in length.
Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Reduced hydration, loss of cartilage, and thinning of vertebrae can all contribute to loss
of stature. Decreased levels of TH, shortening of long bones, and diet are not noted to
contribute to this phenomenon.
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 2
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 52, Respiratory System
2. A 78-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of community-acquired
pneumonia. Potential pathological findings on a recent chest x-ray have prompted his
physician to order a bronchoscopy and lung function tests. Which of the following
findings would be most likely suggestive of pathological processes rather than normal,
age-related respiratory changes? - Answers -A) The client has fewer cilia than would be
found in a younger client.
, B) Lung function tests reveal that both maximum breathing and vital capacity are
diminished since his last test.
C) There is an accumulation of serous fluid between the lungs and the pleural
membrane.
D) The lungs are smaller than younger adults' and there are fewer alveoli.
Ans: C
Feedback:
While decreases in the number of cilia, alveoli, lung size, and lung capacities are
commonly associated with aging, an accumulation of serous fluid would not be
considered a normal consequence of the aging process.
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 3
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Teaching/learning
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 54, Cardiovascular System
3. An 80-year-old resident of an assisted living facility is proud of the fact that he was an
elite athlete during his younger years. Despite his concerted efforts to remain physically
active and maintain his stamina, he is lamenting his loss of exercise tolerance in recent
years. How can his nurse best respond to these concerns? - Answers -A) "It's inevitable
that your heart increases in size as you age, and this is associated with a loss of cardiac
efficiency."
B) "It's normal for your heart to contract less strongly as you age, and this makes you
somewhat less able to exercise vigorously."
C) "As you age, it's common for your heart rate becomes less regular and this often
results in fatigue."
D) "The normal increase in blood pressure that accompanies aging leaves you with less
cardiac reserve capacity than when you were young."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Cardiac contractility decreases as a part of normal aging. An increase in heart size,
irregular heart rate, and increased blood pressure would be considered pathological
conditions regardless of age.
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 4
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 57, Urinary System
Ed - Common Aging Changes Exam
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 1
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Difficulty: Difficult
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 52, Physical Appearance
1. During an assessment of an 82-year-old woman, a gerontological nurse learns that
the woman has lost over 4 inches in height over the last several years. Which of the
following factors have likely contributed to this phenomenon? Select all that apply. -
Answers -A) The woman's overall proportion of body water has decreased.
B) The client has experienced a loss of cartilage.
C) The woman's thyroid hormone levels have declined since the sixth decade.
D) The client's vertebrae have thinned.
E) Loss of stature is a consequence of the woman's diet.
F) The woman's long bones have decreased in length.
Ans: A, B, D
Feedback:
Reduced hydration, loss of cartilage, and thinning of vertebrae can all contribute to loss
of stature. Decreased levels of TH, shortening of long bones, and diet are not noted to
contribute to this phenomenon.
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 2
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 52, Respiratory System
2. A 78-year-old man has received a recent diagnosis of community-acquired
pneumonia. Potential pathological findings on a recent chest x-ray have prompted his
physician to order a bronchoscopy and lung function tests. Which of the following
findings would be most likely suggestive of pathological processes rather than normal,
age-related respiratory changes? - Answers -A) The client has fewer cilia than would be
found in a younger client.
, B) Lung function tests reveal that both maximum breathing and vital capacity are
diminished since his last test.
C) There is an accumulation of serous fluid between the lungs and the pleural
membrane.
D) The lungs are smaller than younger adults' and there are fewer alveoli.
Ans: C
Feedback:
While decreases in the number of cilia, alveoli, lung size, and lung capacities are
commonly associated with aging, an accumulation of serous fluid would not be
considered a normal consequence of the aging process.
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 3
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Application
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Teaching/learning
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 54, Cardiovascular System
3. An 80-year-old resident of an assisted living facility is proud of the fact that he was an
elite athlete during his younger years. Despite his concerted efforts to remain physically
active and maintain his stamina, he is lamenting his loss of exercise tolerance in recent
years. How can his nurse best respond to these concerns? - Answers -A) "It's inevitable
that your heart increases in size as you age, and this is associated with a loss of cardiac
efficiency."
B) "It's normal for your heart to contract less strongly as you age, and this makes you
somewhat less able to exercise vigorously."
C) "As you age, it's common for your heart rate becomes less regular and this often
results in fatigue."
D) "The normal increase in blood pressure that accompanies aging leaves you with less
cardiac reserve capacity than when you were young."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Cardiac contractility decreases as a part of normal aging. An increase in heart size,
irregular heart rate, and increased blood pressure would be considered pathological
conditions regardless of age.
Origin: Chapter 5- Common Aging Changes, 4
Chapter: 5
Client Needs: D4
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 57, Urinary System
