GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING FINAL EXAM WITH ANSWERS

A 70-year-old client has just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The nurse is working with the client and family, teaching them about communicating with the client. Which information would the nurse incorporate into the discussion? - answer-The disease progresses slowly with therapy helping to minimize disability. A 72-year-old client just recently diagnosed with cancer comes to the clinic for an evaluation. During the visit, the client asks the nurse, "I know that there are different things that can be done to treat cancer, but I'm wondering if my age might affect what can be done?" Which information would the nurse most likely integrate into the response to the client? - answer-Reduced dosages of chemotherapeutic agents will be necessary due to age-related changes in kidney function. A 75-year-old adult is a new attendee at strength training class. Which schedule would be most appropriate for this client to engage in? - answer-Twelve repetitions with low-weight free weights at least twice weekly. A 76-year-old client has been prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for the treatment of depression. Which assessment would the nurse most likely identify as the priority during the initial days of the client's drug therapy? - answer-Monitoring for changes in the client's nutritional status A 78-year-old client has been diagnosed by his geriatrician as being in the third stage of Alzheimer's disease. Which findings would support this assessment? - answer-The client's wife and children have recently noticed a change in memory and judgment with the client getting easily flustered in social situations. A 78-year-old resident with a diagnosis of melanoma is experiencing anxiety related to the appearance of the large and highly visible lesion on the right cheek. Which intervention would be most appropriate for the nurse to implement to help decrease the resident's anxiety? - answer-Resolve to interact with and touch the resident no differently than other residents. A 79-year-old client with a long-standing diagnosis of chronic leukemia experienced a blast crisis 1 week ago and died overnight. The nurse is providing comfort to the client's family. The nurse would expect the client's family to experience which stage first? - answer-Denial A 79-year-old female client, admitted for hip replacement surgery, said that she had insomnia the night before. The client received a dose of a prescribed benzodiazepine. Shortly thereafter, the client began displaying signs of delirium that have persisted until the morning change of shift. Which instruction would the night nurse give to the nurse coming on shift? - answer-"Try to keep her level of stimulation as low as you can when you are working with her." A 79-year-old male client has a number of health problems, including Parkinson's disease. When assessing this client, which finding would the nurse most likely attribute to the client's diagnosis of Parkinson's disease? - answer-- Emotional instability - Blank facial expression - Slow movement with poor balance - Walking with a shuffling gait A 92-year-old client in a medical unit has become acutely confused. The development is of great concern to the care team since the client has no history of cognitive deficits. Which action would be the priority? - answer-Obtain blood samples. A client is beginning to awaken after surgery and becomes extremely restless. Which agent would the post-anesthesia care nurse most likely administer first? - answer-Oxygen to correct hypoxia A client is prescribed Larodopa as part of the treatment plan for Parkinson's disease. When teaching the client about this drug, which item would the nurse encourage the client to avoid? - answer-Foods high in vitamin B 6 A client newly diagnosed with diabetes tells the nurse, "I'm fearful and nervous about having to cope with this disease." Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate? - answer-"It's true that you will have to make some changes but these changes will help control your diabetes." A gerontological nurse is conducting a health promotion program for a group of older adults about activities specific to the integumentary system. The nurse determines that the teaching was successful based on which statement? - answer-"I'm aware that irregularly shaped moles can be associated with melanoma." A gerontological nurse is conducting a program for a group of nurses involved in providing home care in the community. When describing the status of caregiving, which information would the nurse most likely include? - answer-Women typically spend more time caring for aging parents than they did for their own children. A gerontological nurse is conducting a program for a group of nurses working at the long-term care facility about aging and musculoskeletal functioning. Which statement would the nurse most likely include when describing this relationship? - answer-A combination of age-related reduction in muscle mass and inactivity decreases musculoskeletal function. A gerontological nurse is conducting a program for staff nurses at a long-term care facility about older adults and sensory function. When discussing this topic, which information would the nurse most likely include? Select all that apply. - answer-- "Sensory deficits are a threat not only to quality of life but to safety as well." - "Sensory losses commonly lead to impaired communication." - "Sensory deficits make it difficult to interpret the older adult's physical environment." - "Sensory deficits have a negative effect on older adults' social relationships." A gerontological nurse is describing the effects of aging on the endocrine system to a client diagnosed with diabetes. Which information would the nurse most likely integrate into the discussion about how aging affects the endocrine system and its hormones? - answer-The endocrine system's ability to regulate body activities decreases. A gerontological nurse is developing a program for a group of older adult clients at the community health center to address cancer in this population. The nurse understands that cancer affects all age groups, not just older adults, but certain cancers are more prevalent in this age group. Which factor would the nurse need to address when developing the program? - answer-Prolonged exposure to carcinogens A gerontological nurse is discussing the importance of reminiscence with a group of nurses working on the rehabilitative unit. The unit provides care to many older adults. The nurse determines that the discussion was successful when the staff identifies reminiscence as having which effect? Select all that apply. - answer-B. Means of finding meaning in remaining life D. Memory improvement E. Means for resolving past conflicts A gerontological nurse is implementing a care model that addresses holism and healing. Which assumption would the nurse most likely integrate into the model? Select all that apply. - answer-D. The physical environment can be used as a therapeutic tool. E. Caregivers' presence and interactions affect health, healing, and the quality of nursing facility life. A gerontological nurse is participating at a community health fair and is providing information to older adults about ways to promote healthy sensory function. Which suggestion would the nurse most likely make? - answer-"Even if you have good vision, it's important to get an eye examination every year." A gerontological nurse is working with an older adult to develop an individual exercise program. Which information would the nurse need to integrate into the development of the program? - answer-The number and size of muscle fibers decline leading to a decrease in grip strength. A gerontological nurse observes a staff nurse infantilizing an older adult client receiving rehabilitative services. The gerontological nurse implements actions to correct the staff nurse's action based on the understanding that the staff nurse was violating which guideline for rehabilitative nursing? - answer-Equating physical disability with mental disability A home health care nurse is providing care to an older adult client with chronic conditions. Which intervention would be most appropriate for the nurse to implement to best ensure proper care for a client when the nurse is not present but can be reached by a telephone or pager? - answer-Provide detailed written instructions for all procedures. A nurse is assessing an older adult and a family caregiver. Which statement by a family caregiver would lead the nurse to suspect elder abuse? - answer-"When my dad starts wandering around the house, I give him sleeping pills until he calms down and falls asleep in his chair." A nurse is assessing several families. Which family would the nurse most likely identify as representing a skipped-generation household? - answer-A client who raised her granddaughter until she left for college. A n