Nokea
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.
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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 The patient seems increasingly withdrawn and depressed.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 working as part of a team to help reduce the stigma attached to mental health treatment for the older adult population. Which of the following would be most appropriate to do to achieve this outcome?
- A. Provide education about mental health and mental disorders.
- B. Initiate screening programs for symptoms.
- C. Ensure older adults received integrated community care.
- D. Institute a wide range of social support services.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Providing education about mental health and disorders directly reduces stigma by increasing understanding and normalizing treatment. Screening, integrated care, and social support are valuable but less directly address stigma.
While assessing an older adult, the nurse allows ample time for the patient to respond based on the understanding of which of the following?
- A. Ample time ensures that the correct answer is given.
- B. The patient is most likely experiencing irreversible memory impairment.
- C. The patient is experiencing decreased cerebral oxygen flow from reduced activity.
- D. Ample time is needed to weigh the pros and cons of the perceived risk for answering.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Older adults may have slower processing due to decreased cerebral oxygen flow from age-related circulatory changes, necessitating ample response time. Ensuring correct answers, assuming irreversible impairment, or weighing risks are less relevant.
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.
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.