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A 79-year-old white man tells a visiting nurse, 'I've been feeling sad lately. My family and friends are all dead. My money is running out, and my health is failing.' How should the nurse analyze this comment?
- A. Normal negativity of older adults
- B. Evidence of suicide risk
- C. A cry for sympathy
- D. Normal grieving
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient describes the loss of significant others, economic insecurity, and declining health, which are risk factors for suicide, especially in older adult white men.
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A nurse asks the following questions while assessing an older adult. The nurse will add the Geriatric Depression Scale as part of the assessment if the patient answers 'yes' to which question?
- A. Would you say your mood is often sad?'
- B. Are you having any trouble with your memory?'
- C. Have you noticed an increase in your alcohol use?'
- D. Do you often experience moderate-to-severe pain?'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Sadness may be a symptom of depression. Sad moods occurring with regularity should signal the need to assess further for other symptoms of depression.
Recognizing the risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among older adults, nurses should provide health teaching focused on what?
- A. Discouraging sexual expression
- B. Using birth control measures
- C. Avoiding blood transfusions
- D. Encouraging condom use
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Safe sex continues to be important and should be taught to the older adult population. Condom use is diminished in postmenopausal women, which places older adults at risk for AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
A nurse and social worker co-lead a reminiscence group for six 'baby boomer' adults. Which activity is appropriate to include in the group?
- A. Post-World War II music
- B. Learning to send and receive email
- C. Discussing national leadership during the Vietnam War
- D. Identifying the most troubling story in today's newspaper
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The baby boomer generation (born 1946?1964) would be familiar with post-World War II culture, making this activity appropriate for a reminiscence group.
A clinic nurse interviews four patients between 70 and 80 years of age. Which patient should have further assessment regarding the risk of alcohol addiction?
- A. One with a history of intermittent problems of alcohol misuse early in life and who now consumes one glass of wine nightly with dinner.
- B. One with no history of alcohol-related problems until age 65 years, when the patient began to drink alcohol daily 'to keep my mind off my arthritis.'
- C. One who drank socially throughout adult life and continues this pattern, saying, 'I've earned the right to do as I please.'
- D. One who abused alcohol between the ages of 25 and 40 years but now abstains and occasionally attends Alcoholics Anonymous.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The geriatric problem drinker is defined as someone who has no history of alcohol-related problems but develops an alcohol-abuse pattern in response to the stresses of aging.
A nurse and social worker co-lead a reminiscence group for eight adults aged 65 to 70. Which activity is most appropriate to include in the group?
- A. Singing a song from World War II
- B. Learning how to join an online social network
- C. Discussing national leadership during the Vietnam War
- D. Identifying the most troubling story in today's newspaper
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Young-old adults (65?74 years) were attuned to conflicts in national leadership during the Vietnam War, making this activity appropriate for a reminiscence group.