Chapter 11: Health Care of the Older Adult
Hinkle: Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical
Nursing, 13th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and symptoms of
Parkinson disease have become more severe over the past several months. The
man tells you that he can no longer do as many things for himself as he used to
be able to do. What factor should you recognize as impacting your patient's life
most significantly?
A) Neurologic deficits
B) Loss of independence
C) Age-related changes
D) Tremors and decreased mobility
ANS: B
This patient's statement places a priority on his loss of independence. This is
undoubtedly a result of the neurologic changes associated with his disease, but
this is not the focus of his statement. This is a disease process, not an age-related
physiological change.
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large number of
older adults who are living with various forms of cardiovascular disease. This
nurse is well aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the aged.
What is an age-related physiological change that contributes to this trend?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age.
ANS: A
The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is
, cardiovascular disease. With age, heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity,
resulting in a reduced stroke volume. As a person ages, systolic blood pressure
does not decrease, resting heart rate does not decrease, and the aged are not less
likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager
about a 65- year-old coworker. What phenomenon would the nurse identify
when hearing the employee state, He should just retire and make way for
some new blood.?
A) Intolerance
B) Ageism
C) Dependence
D) Nonspecific prejudice
ANS: B
Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged. Intolerance is implied by the
employee's statement, but the intolerance is aimed at the coworker's age. The
employee's statement does not raise concern about dependence. The prejudice
exhibited in the statement is very specific.
4. 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 ANS: A
Hypertension is the diagnosis given when the blood pressure is greater than 140/90 mm
Hg. This
makes the other options incorrect.
5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been hospitalized
for a fractured radius. The patient's daughter has accompanied the patient to the
hospital and asks you what her father can do for his very dry skin, which has
become susceptible to cracking and shearing. What would be your best
response?
A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning.
C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable.
D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products.
ANS: A
Showers are less drying than hot tub baths. Sun exposure should indeed be
limited, but daily application of sunscreen is not necessary for many patients.
Dry skin is an age- related change, but this does not mean that no appropriate
interventions exist to address it. Dairy intake is unrelated.
6. 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.
ANS: D
Hinkle: Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical
Nursing, 13th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. You are providing care for an 82-year-old man whose signs and symptoms of
Parkinson disease have become more severe over the past several months. The
man tells you that he can no longer do as many things for himself as he used to
be able to do. What factor should you recognize as impacting your patient's life
most significantly?
A) Neurologic deficits
B) Loss of independence
C) Age-related changes
D) Tremors and decreased mobility
ANS: B
This patient's statement places a priority on his loss of independence. This is
undoubtedly a result of the neurologic changes associated with his disease, but
this is not the focus of his statement. This is a disease process, not an age-related
physiological change.
2. A gerontologic nurse practitioner provides primary care for a large number of
older adults who are living with various forms of cardiovascular disease. This
nurse is well aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the aged.
What is an age-related physiological change that contributes to this trend?
A) Heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity.
B) Systolic blood pressure decreases.
C) Resting heart rate decreases with age.
D) Atrial-septal defects develop with age.
ANS: A
The leading cause of death for patients over the age of 65 years is
, cardiovascular disease. With age, heart muscle and arteries lose their elasticity,
resulting in a reduced stroke volume. As a person ages, systolic blood pressure
does not decrease, resting heart rate does not decrease, and the aged are not less
likely to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
3. An occupational health nurse overhears an employee talking to his manager
about a 65- year-old coworker. What phenomenon would the nurse identify
when hearing the employee state, He should just retire and make way for
some new blood.?
A) Intolerance
B) Ageism
C) Dependence
D) Nonspecific prejudice
ANS: B
Ageism refers to prejudice against the aged. Intolerance is implied by the
employee's statement, but the intolerance is aimed at the coworker's age. The
employee's statement does not raise concern about dependence. The prejudice
exhibited in the statement is very specific.
4. 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 ANS: A
Hypertension is the diagnosis given when the blood pressure is greater than 140/90 mm
Hg. This
makes the other options incorrect.
5. You are the nurse caring for an 85-year-old patient who has been hospitalized
for a fractured radius. The patient's daughter has accompanied the patient to the
hospital and asks you what her father can do for his very dry skin, which has
become susceptible to cracking and shearing. What would be your best
response?
A) He should likely take showers rather than baths, if possible.
B) Make sure that he applies sunscreen each morning.
C) Dry skin is an age-related change that is largely inevitable.
D) Try to help your father increase his intake of dairy products.
ANS: A
Showers are less drying than hot tub baths. Sun exposure should indeed be
limited, but daily application of sunscreen is not necessary for many patients.
Dry skin is an age- related change, but this does not mean that no appropriate
interventions exist to address it. Dairy intake is unrelated.
6. 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.
ANS: D
