NURS 5120 MODULE 2 ELDERLY DISCUSSION
SCENARIO 2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ An older male client with heart failure (HF) complains of chronic
constipation and wants to retrain his bowel. Which information
should the registered nurse (RN) offer the client for establishing
regular bowel habits?
A. Add whole grain foods and fibrous vegetables to diet
B. Drink water and fluids up to 3,000 ml daily
C. Use a stool softener or glycerin suppository PRN
D. Plan daily exercise based on fatigue level. Answer: (A) Add whole
grain foods and fibrous vegetables to diet.
Rationale: Increasing daily fiber (A) with increasing fluid intake are
the best tools to use when retraining bowel habits. (B) may cause
fluid overload for this older client and potentially exacerbate HF. (C)
should not be advised without the healthcare provider's
recommendation. The client's fatigue level may curtail how much
daily exercise (D) the client can tolerate.
◉ The registered nurse (RN) is observing the skin of an older client.
Which finding should the RN document as consistent with the
normal aging process?
,A. Decreased elasticity
B. Tough and leathery texture
C. Shiny and edematous
D. Excessive hair growth on the head. Answer: (A) Decreased
elasticity
Rationale: Loss of elasticity is a common finding of the normal aging
process (A). The skin of elderly clients becomes thin and fragile with
aging, not (B). When a client has peripheral edema, the skin can be
shiny and edematous (C), which is not consistent with normal aging
changes. Hair thinning and hair loss are common, not excessive hair
growth (D).
◉ The home health registered nurse (RN) visits an older female
client with an ideal conduit who has been experiencing chronic
urinary tract infections (UTI). Which intervention should the RN
recommend to the client to manage the frequency of UTIs?
A. Force fluid intake to 1,000 ml daily
B. Change appliance every 4 hours
C. Attach a larger drainage bag while sleeping
D. Allow bag to fill completely before emptying. Answer: (C) Attach a
larger drainage bag while sleeping
Rationale: (C) can prevent urinary reflux if the bag fills to near
capacity or greater, which can contribute to UTIs. Forcing fluids is
, encouraged and should exceed urinary output, which commonly
should be greater than 1,000 ml (A). (B) can increase skin irritation
and increase risk for infection by exposing the portal of entry
frequently. Allowing the bag to fill completely before emptying (D)
increases risk of urinary reflux and UTIs.
◉ The healthcare provider prescribes a new medication,
atorvastatin (Lipitor), for an older client who arrives at the clinic for
an annual physical examination. What common side effect should
the registered nurse (RN) advise the client to observe with this
medication?
A. Constipation
B. Headaches
C. Muscle weakness
D. Nausea and vomiting. Answer: (B) Headaches
Rationale: Headaches (B) are the most common side effect with this
medication, which the RN should direct the client to report. (A and
C) are rare occurrences with this medication. (D) is not considered a
side effect of this medication.
◉ After a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), an older
man returns to the medical surgical floor with a 3-way indwelling
urinary catheter. The registered nurse (RN) observes the catheter's
tubing for drainage when the client states that he needs to void.
What should the RN implement based on this finding?
SCENARIO 2026 STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
◉ An older male client with heart failure (HF) complains of chronic
constipation and wants to retrain his bowel. Which information
should the registered nurse (RN) offer the client for establishing
regular bowel habits?
A. Add whole grain foods and fibrous vegetables to diet
B. Drink water and fluids up to 3,000 ml daily
C. Use a stool softener or glycerin suppository PRN
D. Plan daily exercise based on fatigue level. Answer: (A) Add whole
grain foods and fibrous vegetables to diet.
Rationale: Increasing daily fiber (A) with increasing fluid intake are
the best tools to use when retraining bowel habits. (B) may cause
fluid overload for this older client and potentially exacerbate HF. (C)
should not be advised without the healthcare provider's
recommendation. The client's fatigue level may curtail how much
daily exercise (D) the client can tolerate.
◉ The registered nurse (RN) is observing the skin of an older client.
Which finding should the RN document as consistent with the
normal aging process?
,A. Decreased elasticity
B. Tough and leathery texture
C. Shiny and edematous
D. Excessive hair growth on the head. Answer: (A) Decreased
elasticity
Rationale: Loss of elasticity is a common finding of the normal aging
process (A). The skin of elderly clients becomes thin and fragile with
aging, not (B). When a client has peripheral edema, the skin can be
shiny and edematous (C), which is not consistent with normal aging
changes. Hair thinning and hair loss are common, not excessive hair
growth (D).
◉ The home health registered nurse (RN) visits an older female
client with an ideal conduit who has been experiencing chronic
urinary tract infections (UTI). Which intervention should the RN
recommend to the client to manage the frequency of UTIs?
A. Force fluid intake to 1,000 ml daily
B. Change appliance every 4 hours
C. Attach a larger drainage bag while sleeping
D. Allow bag to fill completely before emptying. Answer: (C) Attach a
larger drainage bag while sleeping
Rationale: (C) can prevent urinary reflux if the bag fills to near
capacity or greater, which can contribute to UTIs. Forcing fluids is
, encouraged and should exceed urinary output, which commonly
should be greater than 1,000 ml (A). (B) can increase skin irritation
and increase risk for infection by exposing the portal of entry
frequently. Allowing the bag to fill completely before emptying (D)
increases risk of urinary reflux and UTIs.
◉ The healthcare provider prescribes a new medication,
atorvastatin (Lipitor), for an older client who arrives at the clinic for
an annual physical examination. What common side effect should
the registered nurse (RN) advise the client to observe with this
medication?
A. Constipation
B. Headaches
C. Muscle weakness
D. Nausea and vomiting. Answer: (B) Headaches
Rationale: Headaches (B) are the most common side effect with this
medication, which the RN should direct the client to report. (A and
C) are rare occurrences with this medication. (D) is not considered a
side effect of this medication.
◉ After a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), an older
man returns to the medical surgical floor with a 3-way indwelling
urinary catheter. The registered nurse (RN) observes the catheter's
tubing for drainage when the client states that he needs to void.
What should the RN implement based on this finding?
