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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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