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After checking a patient?s blood pressure, he asks the nurse what changes he should expect in himself as he grows older. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. You don?t have anything to worry about; you will basically stay the same.
- B. Your personality will stay the same, but your intelligence level will lessen somewhat.
- C. Usually, you can anticipate that you will begin to react to things more slowly.
- D. You will become increasingly childlike, and your personality will change.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Older adults typically experience slower reaction times due to age-related cognitive and neurological changes. Personality and intelligence remain relatively stable, and becoming childlike is not a normal aging process.
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While assessing an older adult patient for mental health issues, the nurse pays special attention to the patient?s sensory function based on the understanding of which of the following?
- A. Most older adults follow a specific pattern of decline in functioning leading to gradual onset of problems.
- B. Sensory decline may affect the individual?s ability to process information, possibly influencing the findings of the mental status examination.
- C. Diminished sensory function can lead to changes in other body systems that may affect the individual?s reaction to prescribed medications.
- D. Changes in the senses can result in changes in cognitive abilities that mimic the manifestations of mental disorders.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensory decline (e.g., hearing, vision) can impair information processing, affecting mental status examination results. Patterns of decline vary, sensory changes don?t directly alter other systems for medication reactions, and cognitive mimicry is possible but less primary.
The nurse is working with a patient whose mobility is impaired secondary to a fall that resulted in a broken hip. In addition, the patient, who has diabetes, is developing problems with vision and hearing. The patient seems increasingly withdrawn and depressed. The nurse determines that the patient is at risk for spiritual distress. Which intervention would be most appropriate?
- A. Encourage the patient to talk about significant childhood religious experiences.
- B. Offer to take the patient to a revival the nurse?s church is holding in the community.
- C. Read to the patient Bible passages that seem particularly relevant to the patient?s case.
- D. Explore what the mobility, sight, and hearing changes mean to the patient.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Exploring the meaning of the patient?s losses addresses spiritual distress by focusing on their personal values and coping, which is patient-centered. Religious interventions (A, B, C) may not align with the patient?s beliefs and could be inappropriate.
The nurse is planning a presentation to a group of older adults on the topic of suicide in the population. One of the group participants asks who has the highest risk of suicide. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. Older adults who have multiple prescriptions from a variety of different pharmacies.
- B. Older adults who are experiencing a deep and profound depression.
- C. Older adult women who are divorced or widowed.
- D. Men over the age of 75 years who are divorced or widowed.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Men over 75 who are divorced or widowed have the highest suicide risk in older adults due to social isolation, loss, and gender-specific tendencies. Depression is a risk factor, but men in this demographic are particularly vulnerable. Women and polypharmacy are less specific.
A nurse is reviewing the medical records of several older adult patients. The nurse determines that which individual would have the least chance of developing mental health problems with aging?
- A. A man who is single, has an eighth grade education, and walks to the mailbox and back every day
- B. A woman who is married with graduate education, eats nutritionally balanced meals, and exercises for 20 minutes each day
- C. A man who is married, has a high school education, eats mostly fast food, and walks a mile each day
- D. A woman who is single, has a college degree and watches what she eats but really does not exercise
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The married woman with graduate education, balanced diet, and regular exercise has protective factors (education, social support, healthy lifestyle) reducing mental health risks. The others have risk factors like lower education, poor diet, or minimal exercise.
A nursing student is reading an article about protective factors for mental illness with older adults. The article mentions the individual?s ability to adapt successfully to stress, trauma, or chronic adversity. The student identifies this as which of the following?
- A. Functional status
- B. Gerotransendence
- C. Resilience
- D. Empty nest
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Resilience is the ability to adapt to stress, trauma, or adversity, a key protective factor for mental health. Functional status refers to physical capabilities, gerotranscendence to spiritual aging, and empty nest to a life stage, not adaptation.