Nokea
An elderly patient has come in to the clinic for her twice-yearly physical. The patient tells the nurse that she is generally enjoying good health, but that she has been having occasional episodes of constipation over the past 6 months. What intervention should the nurse first suggest?
- A. Reduce the amount of stress she currently experiences.
- B. Increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake.
- C. Take herbal laxatives, such as senna, each night at bedtime.
- D. Increase daily intake of water.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Constipation is a common problem in older adults and increasing fluid intake is an appropriate early intervention. This should likely be attempted prior to recommending senna or other laxatives. Stress reduction is unlikely to wholly resolve the problem and there is no need to increase carbohydrate intake and reduce protein intake.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is caring for a 65 -year-old patient who has previously been diagnosed with hypertension. Which of the following blood pressure readings represents the threshold between high-normal blood pressure and hypertension?
- A. 140 / 90 mm Hg
- B. 145 / 95 mm Hg
- C. 150 / 100 mm Hg
- D. 160 / 100 mm Hg
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertension is the diagnosis given when the blood pressure is greater than 140 / 90 mm Hg. This makes the other options incorrect.
The admissions department at a local hospital is registering an elderly man for an outpatient diagnostic test. The admissions nurse asks the man if he has an advanced directive. The man responds that he does not want to complete an advance directive because he does not want anyone controlling his finances. What would be appropriate information for the nurse to share with this patient?
- A. Advance directives are not legal documents, so you have nothing to worry about.
- B. Advance directives are limited only to health care instructions and directives.
- C. Your finances cannot be managed without an advance directive.
- D. Advance directives are implemented when you become incapacitated, and then you will use a living will to allow the state to manage your money.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An advance directive is a formal, legally endorsed document that provides instructions for care (living will) or names a proxy decision maker (durable power of attorney for health care) and covers only issues related specifically to health care, not financial issues. They do not address financial issues. Advance directives are implemented when a patient becomes incapacitated, but financial issues are addressed with a durable power of attorney for finances, or financial power of attorney.
A gerontologic nurse is overseeing the care that is provided in a large, long-term care facility. The nurse is educating staff about the significant threat posed by influenza in older, frail adults. What action should the nurse prioritize to reduce the incidence and prevalence of influenza in the facility?
- A. Teach staff how to administer prophylactic antiviral medications effectively.
- B. Ensure that residents receive a high-calorie, high-protein diet during the winter.
- C. Make arrangements for residents to limit social interaction during winter months.
- D. Ensure that residents receive influenza vaccinations in the fall of each year.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The influenza and the pneumococcal vaccinations lower the risks of hospitalization and death in elderly people. The influenza vaccine, which is prepared yearly to adjust for the specific immunologic characteristics of the influenza viruses at that time, should be administered annually in autumn. Prophylactic antiviral medications are not used. Limiting social interaction is not required in most instances. Nutrition enhances immune response, but this is not specific to influenza prevention.
A gerontologic nurse is basing the therapeutic programs at a long-term care facility on Millers Functional Consequences Theory. To actualize this theory of aging, the nurse should prioritize what task?
- A. Attempting to control age-related physiological changes
- B. Lowering expectations for recovery from acute and chronic illnesses
- C. Helping older adults accept the inevitability of death
- D. Differentiating between age-related changes and modifiable risk factors
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Functional Consequences Theory requires the nurse to differentiate between normal, irreversible age-related changes and modifiable risk factors. This theory does not emphasize lowering expectations, controlling age-related changes, or helping adults accept the inevitability of death.
Based on a patients vague explanations for recurring injuries, the nurse suspects that a community-dwelling older adult may be the victim of abuse. What is the nurses primary responsibility?
- A. Report the findings to adult protective services.
- B. Confront the suspected perpetrator.
- C. Gather evidence to corroborate the abuse.
- D. Work with the family to promote healthy conflict resolution.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: If neglect or abuse of any kind including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse is suspected, the local adult protective services agency must be notified. The responsibility of the nurse is to report the suspected abuse, not to prove it, confront the suspected perpetrator, or work with the family to promote resolution.