NURS 5120 MODULE 2 ELDERLY DISCUSSION
CASE SCENARIO AND RUBRIC 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ FULL SOLUTION
◉ A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have
to watch their salt intake because food does not taste as good as it
used to so they have to season most foods. What information should
the RN offer the couple?
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food is perceived, and
different seasonings can stimulate taste.
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is needed to compensate
for a decrease in renal function.
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may be the reason they
want to over-season their food.
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients should
use other seasonings instead of salt.. Answer: D. Taste buds are often
dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other seasonings
instead of salt.
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, which influences
an older client's sensitivity to taste and is often compensated for the
,use of stronger tasting seasonings. (A), (B), and (C) are not normal
aging processes related to taste.
◉ After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a
frail, elderly client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long history of
smoking and still smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Which finding
should the registered nurse (RN) report to the healthcare provider?
A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory acidosis. Answer: B.
Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2
saturation (B) can impact adequate oxygenation, which should be
reported to the HCP. (A) occurs due to chronic hyperinflation of the
lungs and is common in clients with COPD. Anemia (C) is frequently
identified in clients with COPD, and respiratory acidosis (D) due to
CO2 retention contributes to a lower blood pH.
◉ An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility.
The family explains to the registered nurse (RN) that the client is
unmanageable and always confused, disoriented and depressed. The
client asks the RN repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN
respond?
,A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living
community
B. Question the client about her perception of where she might be
now.
C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is on an outing with her
family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she will meet new
friends.. Answer: A. Explain that she is in a new home called an
assisted living community.
Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a client
who is confused because the response is consistent and true. (B, C,
and D) do not provide the client with feedback that is reality based.
◉ A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who
is experiencing short-term memory loss and confusion. Which
activity should the registered nurse (RN) schedule the client to do
during the day?
A. Arts and crafts
B. Current events discussion group
C. Group sing-along
D. Daily exercise group. Answer: D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the client to mirror the
leader and minimizes the client's stress to remember. (A), (C), and a
, current events discussion group (B) are thought-provoking activities
that require attention to detail and short-term memory to
participate in the group activity which may be stressful and
frustrating to the resident who has difficulty remembering sequence
of the details.
◉ The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older
female client with end stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently
fractured her hip. What technique should the registered nurse (RN)
use to determine the client's pain?
A. Use the FACE pain scale
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits. Answer: C.
Observe for facial grimacing
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is the best method for
evaluating pain for a client who cannot communicate due to
Alzheimer disease. (A) and (B) may not be understood by a client
with end-stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is not a helpful tool for pain
assessment.
◉ An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical
examination. While the nurse assesses the client, the client states
that he is having intimacy problems with his wife. Which
CASE SCENARIO AND RUBRIC 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ FULL SOLUTION
◉ A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have
to watch their salt intake because food does not taste as good as it
used to so they have to season most foods. What information should
the RN offer the couple?
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food is perceived, and
different seasonings can stimulate taste.
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is needed to compensate
for a decrease in renal function.
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may be the reason they
want to over-season their food.
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients should
use other seasonings instead of salt.. Answer: D. Taste buds are often
dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other seasonings
instead of salt.
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, which influences
an older client's sensitivity to taste and is often compensated for the
,use of stronger tasting seasonings. (A), (B), and (C) are not normal
aging processes related to taste.
◉ After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a
frail, elderly client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long history of
smoking and still smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Which finding
should the registered nurse (RN) report to the healthcare provider?
A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory acidosis. Answer: B.
Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2
saturation (B) can impact adequate oxygenation, which should be
reported to the HCP. (A) occurs due to chronic hyperinflation of the
lungs and is common in clients with COPD. Anemia (C) is frequently
identified in clients with COPD, and respiratory acidosis (D) due to
CO2 retention contributes to a lower blood pH.
◉ An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility.
The family explains to the registered nurse (RN) that the client is
unmanageable and always confused, disoriented and depressed. The
client asks the RN repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN
respond?
,A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living
community
B. Question the client about her perception of where she might be
now.
C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is on an outing with her
family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she will meet new
friends.. Answer: A. Explain that she is in a new home called an
assisted living community.
Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a client
who is confused because the response is consistent and true. (B, C,
and D) do not provide the client with feedback that is reality based.
◉ A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who
is experiencing short-term memory loss and confusion. Which
activity should the registered nurse (RN) schedule the client to do
during the day?
A. Arts and crafts
B. Current events discussion group
C. Group sing-along
D. Daily exercise group. Answer: D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the client to mirror the
leader and minimizes the client's stress to remember. (A), (C), and a
, current events discussion group (B) are thought-provoking activities
that require attention to detail and short-term memory to
participate in the group activity which may be stressful and
frustrating to the resident who has difficulty remembering sequence
of the details.
◉ The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older
female client with end stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently
fractured her hip. What technique should the registered nurse (RN)
use to determine the client's pain?
A. Use the FACE pain scale
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits. Answer: C.
Observe for facial grimacing
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is the best method for
evaluating pain for a client who cannot communicate due to
Alzheimer disease. (A) and (B) may not be understood by a client
with end-stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is not a helpful tool for pain
assessment.
◉ An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical
examination. While the nurse assesses the client, the client states
that he is having intimacy problems with his wife. Which
