NUR 3120 Exam 3, 2026 – Nursing Study and Review
Material
neurocognitive disorders - ANS✔✔ disorders resulting from changes in the brain and marked by
disturbances in orientation, memory, intellect, judgement, and affect
types of neurocognitive disorders - ANS✔✔ delirium
dementia
amnestic disorders - traumatic brain injury
misdiagnoses of mental illnesses in the elderly - ANS✔✔ symptoms misattributed to - physical
disorders, normal aging, cognitive impairment, lack of age appropriate diagnostic criteria
depression and anxiety undertreated
comorbidity of somatic and psychiatric illnesses makes accurate diagnosis more difficult
4 D's of geropsychiatric assessment - ANS✔✔ depression
dementia
delirium
delusions
,difficult to differentiate nursing problems or sort out behaviors related to these
coexistence of medical problems can exacerbate behavioral symptoms
risk factors for suicide in the elderly - ANS✔✔ depression
recent death of loved one
physical illness, uncontrollable pain, fear of prolonged illness
perceived poor health
substance abuse
social isolation and lonliness
major changes in social roles - retirement
suicide and the elderly - ANS✔✔ talk about it less but use more violent, lethal means
intentional deaths include excessive risk taking, lack of caution in management of ordinary
affairs, refusal to eat, overuse of misuse of alcohol/drugs, noncompliance with life sustaining
medical regimens
adaptive cognitive responses - ANS✔✔ decisiveness
,intact memory
complete orientation
accurate perception
focused attention
coherent, logical thought
maladaptive cognitive responses - ANS✔✔ may occur episodically or be continual
may be reversible or progressive deterioration in functioning
inability to make decisions
impaired memory and judgment
disorientation
misperceptions
decreased attention span
difficulties with logical reasoning
, delirium - ANS✔✔ behavioral response to widespread disturbances in cerebral metabolism
involves sudden decline from previous level of functioning
usually considered a medical emergency that can lead to death or permanent cognitive decline
if not treated
often results from advanced age and medications or medical procedures
disturbances caused by delirium - ANS✔✔ consciousness
attention
cognition
perception
motor ability
cardinal symptoms of delirium - ANS✔✔ inability to direct, focus, sustain and shift attention
abrupt onset with clinical features that fluctuate periods of lucidity
disorganized thinking and poor executive functioning
onset of delirium - ANS✔✔ rapid
Material
neurocognitive disorders - ANS✔✔ disorders resulting from changes in the brain and marked by
disturbances in orientation, memory, intellect, judgement, and affect
types of neurocognitive disorders - ANS✔✔ delirium
dementia
amnestic disorders - traumatic brain injury
misdiagnoses of mental illnesses in the elderly - ANS✔✔ symptoms misattributed to - physical
disorders, normal aging, cognitive impairment, lack of age appropriate diagnostic criteria
depression and anxiety undertreated
comorbidity of somatic and psychiatric illnesses makes accurate diagnosis more difficult
4 D's of geropsychiatric assessment - ANS✔✔ depression
dementia
delirium
delusions
,difficult to differentiate nursing problems or sort out behaviors related to these
coexistence of medical problems can exacerbate behavioral symptoms
risk factors for suicide in the elderly - ANS✔✔ depression
recent death of loved one
physical illness, uncontrollable pain, fear of prolonged illness
perceived poor health
substance abuse
social isolation and lonliness
major changes in social roles - retirement
suicide and the elderly - ANS✔✔ talk about it less but use more violent, lethal means
intentional deaths include excessive risk taking, lack of caution in management of ordinary
affairs, refusal to eat, overuse of misuse of alcohol/drugs, noncompliance with life sustaining
medical regimens
adaptive cognitive responses - ANS✔✔ decisiveness
,intact memory
complete orientation
accurate perception
focused attention
coherent, logical thought
maladaptive cognitive responses - ANS✔✔ may occur episodically or be continual
may be reversible or progressive deterioration in functioning
inability to make decisions
impaired memory and judgment
disorientation
misperceptions
decreased attention span
difficulties with logical reasoning
, delirium - ANS✔✔ behavioral response to widespread disturbances in cerebral metabolism
involves sudden decline from previous level of functioning
usually considered a medical emergency that can lead to death or permanent cognitive decline
if not treated
often results from advanced age and medications or medical procedures
disturbances caused by delirium - ANS✔✔ consciousness
attention
cognition
perception
motor ability
cardinal symptoms of delirium - ANS✔✔ inability to direct, focus, sustain and shift attention
abrupt onset with clinical features that fluctuate periods of lucidity
disorganized thinking and poor executive functioning
onset of delirium - ANS✔✔ rapid
