Nokea
An older patient tells the nurse that she is becoming more forgetful. The nurse explains to the patient that this is most likely related to which of the following?
- A. Anxiety
- B. Organic brain syndrome
- C. Plaques in the brain tissue
- D. Medications
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Medications, especially those with anticholinergic or sedative effects, are a common cause of forgetfulness in older adults. Anxiety may contribute, but medications are more likely. Organic brain syndrome and plaques suggest more severe conditions like dementia, not initially assumed.
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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.
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.
The nurse is preparing to assess a 78-year-old patient who has been diagnosed with major depression. Which of the following would the nurse expect to assess as a normal finding?
- A. Decrease in body fat
- B. Increased muscle mass
- C. Dulled taste sensation
- D. Enhanced visual acuity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dulled taste sensation is a normal age-related change in older adults due to reduced sensory function. Decreased body fat and increased muscle mass are not typical, and visual acuity typically declines, not enhances, with age.
A nurse is preparing to conduct an assessment of a 79-year-old woman who has come to the clinic for evaluation. When performing this assessment, which of the following would be most appropriate for the nurse to do? Select all that apply.
- A. Dim any lights that appear too bright.
- B. Face the patient from the side.
- C. Use short, simple sentences.
- D. Focus on one topic at a time.
- E. Speak slowly in a shouting tone.
Correct Answer: A,C,D
Rationale: Appropriate assessment techniques for older adults include dimming bright lights (A) to reduce glare, using short, simple sentences (C), and focusing on one topic (D) to accommodate sensory and cognitive changes. Facing from the side (B) is less effective than facing directly, and shouting (E) may be inappropriate or distressing.
A nursing instructor is preparing for a class discussion on polypharmacy and older adults. Which of the following would the instructor expect to include?
- A. The risk for drug abuse, although present, is fairly rare in this population.
- B. Older adults often experience a greater risk for adverse reactions.
- C. Medications are usually prescribed in higher doses initially and then gradually reduced.
- D. Age-related pharmacokinetic changes enhance the drug?s therapeutic effectiveness.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults face a greater risk for adverse drug reactions due to age-related changes in metabolism and excretion. Drug abuse is rare, doses are typically lower, not higher, and pharmacokinetic changes often reduce, not enhance, effectiveness.