NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 1 – Concepts of Aging and Chronic Illness in Nursing Review (Latest 2026/2027 Update) | Galen | Complete Study Guide | Verified Questions & Answers | 100% Correct Solutions | Grade A

NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 1 – Concepts of Aging and Chronic Illness in Nursing Review (Latest 2026/2027 Update) | Galen | Complete Study Guide | Verified Questions & Answers | 100% Correct Solutions | Grade A Q: How often should a breast cancer screening be done? Answer Every year Q: Functional Answer no longer able to perform usual activities Q: Social Answer changes in roles (retirement, birth of a grandchild) Q: Biological Answer how the body may change Q: chronological terms Answer late life is recognized as beginning sometimes between the ages of 50 & 65 Q: super centenarians Answer older adults who have reached age 110 and beyond Q: centenarians Answer people 100 years old or older Q: those in between Answer born between 1915 and 1945 Q: Baby boomers Answer people born between 1946 and 1964 Q: healthy aging Answer related to the functional status, socioeconomic factors, marital status, who is important to the person Q: Older adults should increase dietary intake of complex carbs and fiber containing food to Answer 5 or more Q: vaginal and cervical cancer screening Answer stops at age 60-65 Q: HIV screening Answer AS NEEDED Q: How often should a a physical exam be done? Answer yearly - more frequently if there is a chronic illness Q: Dietary fat should be reduced to ___? Answer no more than 30% Q: Saturated fat should be reduced to ____? Answer less than 10% Q: How often should older adults exercise? Answer 3-5 times/week Q: How long should older adults spend in the sun? Answer 10-15 minutes 2-3 times/week Q: Calcium intake for older adults Answer mg daily Q: Culture Answer shared and learned values, beliefs, expectations and behaviors of a group of people Q: Health disparity Answer differences in health outcomes among groups Q: What terms should you not use with older adults? Answer old lady/man, sweetie, honey, geezer Q: How should you not talk to older adults? Answer Exaggerated speech "baby talk" demeaning emotional tone Q: Culturally appropriate things to do Answer Ask for physical touch assess their culture do not prolong eye contact w/ asians Q: signs that death is approaching Answer decreased appetite cold extremities decrease in vitals decreased output incontinence respiratory rattles (death rattles) pt seeing/hearing deceased loved ones restlessness Q: What should you do when someone is actively dying? Answer Encourage talking to pt don't sit them up few visitors keep them comfortable - pain meds (morphine) Q: Palliative care Answer care for terminally ill patients consisting of comfort measures and symptom control Q: Hospice care Answer provides care for the dying (6 months or less) and their family/friends through support majority of the care is at home Q: How can you reduce caregiver stress? Answer maintain sense of humor seek support groups self care - attend to own health care needs relax, exercise s/s of elderly mistreatment Answer bruising, overbearing caregiver, fractures, presence of blood If you suspect mistreatment, what should you do? Answer Separate pt from caregiver talk to pt/assess then report who is most likely to be abused? Answer cognitive impaired adults dependents physical/mentally frail having abused a caregiver in the past women living alone Neglect Answer fail to care for properly Abuse Answer physical or emotional harm to someone Reproductive changes in older adults Answer Male—sperm count diminished, smaller testes, erections less firm and slow to develop, enlarged prostates Female—decreased estrogen production, degeneration of ovaries, atrophy of vagina, uterus, breasts, menopause GI changes in older adults Answer dry mouth decreased gastric motility peristalsis slows - constipation is common Skin & nail changes in older adults Answer skin - becomes thinner, easily torn, pallor, saggy, decreased vitamin D production nails - thicken, increases risk of fungal infections What should an older adult with pancreatitis do before meals? Take pancreatic enzymes Common s/s that an older adult has an infection? Decreased LOC/confusion Priority concerns with older adults increased stress on the heart hydration malnutrition When transferring a pt to another facility, home, etc. what is important? continuum of care How do older adults need to protect their skin when outside in the sun? long sleeve shirts umbrellas for shade sunscreen What causes stress on the heart? Constipation death of a loved one surgery How to promote wellness vaccines check ups breast exams colorectal cancer socialization physical activity diet Vaccines TDAP FLU Shingles - x2 at age 50-60 What to do when a patient from another culture is not following plan care? Asses why make sure they understand ask about their preferences 3rd generation theory reminiscing life review Ways to reminisce listen without correction or criticism be patient actively listen use props & triggers such as photographs life review it takes a person through their life in a structured & chronological order What meds lower blood pressure? Beta blockers - lols Therapeutic communication for elderly don't give advice no standing over them actively listening no why questions don't minimize feelings allow to reminisce Bill of rights right to voice grievance right to refuse meds/tx/interventions right to who has access medical records confidentiality Stages of widowhood Reactionary Withdrawal Recuperation Exploration Integration Reactionary phase response to lost Withdrawal phase Depression, withdrawing from daily life Recuperation phase Trying to return back to normal activity Exploration phase begin new things, adventures Integration phase Return back to society HIV/AIDS teaching Everyone gets education safe sex no needle sharing ABCs - abstinence, be faithful, wear condoms PPE Can other infections can happen with HIV Yes - yeast infections most common ADLs (activities of daily living) bathing, dressing, eating, and getting around the house IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living) preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using telephone, doing homework, laundry and taking medications Dimensions of sexuality Social: cultural factors Psychological : attitudes, feelings Biological: physiological responses Moral: belief system Types of grief anticipatory, acute, shadow, complicated, disenfranchised signs and symptoms of neglect dehydration, malnutrition, skin breakdown and poor personal hygiene Risk factors for chronic diseases diabetes, lack of exercise, smoking males are more likely If a pt is dying and the family & pt wants a intervention done, what do you do? Do it If a pt is dying and the family wants a intervention done but the pt doesn't, what do you do? Don't do it Grief support promote self care help with ADLs active listening Priority for dying pt keep pt comfortable What are some sexual interventions to educate elders? change positions do it at a time of day when in least pain pre-medicate warm compresses/hot showers for arthritis What do we do if we suspect elderly has HIV? Ask what their s/s are Acute illness short duration and severe Chronic illness an on-going illness, slow or gradual in onset; it has no known cure; it can be controlled and complications prevented with proper treatment Geriatric Syndromes Falls and gait abnormalities Frailty Delirium Urinary incontinence Sleep disorders Pressure ulcers signs and symptoms of frailty weight loss, fatigue, muscle weakness, slow or unsteady gait, and declines in activity Common bereavement reactions self neglect, isolation, withdrawal, not being able to talk about the grief, increased heart stress How often should a breast cancer screening be done? Every year Functional no longer able to perform usual activities Social changes in roles (retirement, birth of a grandchild) Biological how the body may change chronological terms late life is recognized as beginning sometimes between the ages of 50 & 65 super centenarians older adults who have reached age 110 and beyond centenarians people 100 years old or older those in between born between 1915 and 1945 Baby boomers people born between 1946 and 1964 healthy aging related to the functional status, socioeconomic factors, marital status, who is important to the person Older adults should increase dietary intake of complex carbs and fiber containing food to 5 or more vaginal and cervical cancer screening stops at age 60-65 HIV screening AS NEEDED How often should a a physical exam be done? yearly - more frequently if there is a chronic illness Dietary fat should be reduced to ___? no more than 30% Saturated fat should be reduced to ____? less than 10% How often should older adults exercise? 3-5 times/week How long should older adults spend in the sun? 10-15 minutes 2-3 times/week Calcium intake for older adults mg daily Culture shared and learned values, beliefs, expectations and behaviors of a group of people Health disparity differences in health outcomes among groups What terms should you not use with older adults? old lady/man, sweetie, honey, geezer How should you not talk to older adults? Exaggerated speech "baby talk" demeaning emotional tone Culturally appropriate things to do Ask for physical touch assess their culture do not prolong eye contact w/ asians signs that death is approaching decreased appetite cold extremities decrease in vitals decreased output incontinence respiratory rattles (death rattles) pt seeing/hearing deceased loved ones restlessness What should you do when someone is actively dying? Encourage talking to pt don't sit them up few visitors keep them comfortable - pain meds (morphine) Palliative care care for terminally ill patients consisting of comfort measures and symptom control Hospice care provides care for the dying (6 months or less) and their family/friends through support majority of the care is at home How can you reduce caregiver stress? maintain sense of humor seek support groups self care - attend to own health care needs relax, exercise s/s of elderly mistreatment bruising, overbearing caregiver, fractures, presence of blood If you suspect mistreatment, what should you do? Separate pt from caregiver talk to pt/assess then report who is most likely to be abused? cognitive impaired adults dependents physical/mentally frail having abused a caregiver in the past women living alone Neglect fail to care for properly Abuse physical or emotional harm to someone Reproductive changes in older adults Male—sperm count diminished, smaller testes, erections less firm and slow to develop, enlarged prostates Female—decreased estrogen production, degeneration of ovaries, atrophy of vagina, uterus, breasts, menopause GI changes in older adults dry mouth decreased gastric motility peristalsis slows - constipation is common Skin & nail changes in older adults skin - becomes thinner, easily torn, pallor, saggy, decreased vitamin D production nails - thicken, increases risk of fungal infections What should an older adult with pancreatitis do before meals? Take pancreatic enzymes Common s/s that an older adult has an infection? Decreased LOC/confusion Priority concerns with older adults increased stress on the heart hydration malnutrition When transferring a pt to another facility, home, etc. what is important? continuum of care How do older adults need to protect their skin when outside in the sun? long sleeve shirts umbrellas for shade sunscreen What causes stress on the heart? Constipation death of a loved one surgery How to promote wellness vaccines check ups breast exams colorectal cancer socialization physical activity diet Vaccines TDAP FLU Shingles - x2 at age 50-60 What to do when a patient from another culture is not following plan care? Asses why make sure they understand ask about their preferences 3rd generation theory reminiscing life review Ways to reminisce listen without correction or criticism be patient actively listen use props & triggers such as photographs life review it takes a person through their life in a structured & chronological order What meds lower blood pressure? Beta blockers - lols Therapeutic communication for elderly don't give advice no standing over them actively listening no why questions don't minimize feelings allow to reminisce Bill of rights right to voice grievance right to refuse meds/tx/interventions right to who has access medical records confidentiality Stages of widowhood Reactionary Withdrawal Recuperation Exploration Integration Reactionary phase response to lost Withdrawal phase Depression, withdrawing from daily life Recuperation phase Trying to return back to normal activity Exploration phase begin new things, adventures Integration phase Return back to society HIV/AIDS teaching Everyone gets education safe sex no needle sharing ABCs - abstinence, be faithful, wear condoms PPE Can other infections can happen with HIV Yes - yeast infections most common ADLs (activities of daily living) bathing, dressing, eating, and getting around the house IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living) preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using telephone, doing homework, laundry and taking medications Dimensions of sexuality Social: cultural factors Psychological : attitudes, feelings Biological: physiological responses Moral: belief system Types of grief anticipatory, acute, shadow, complicated, disenfranchised signs and symptoms of neglect dehydration, malnutrition, skin breakdown and poor personal hygiene Risk factors for chronic diseases diabetes, lack of exercise, smoking males are more likely If a pt is dying and the family & pt wants a intervention done, what do you do? Do it If a pt is dying and the family wants a intervention done but the pt doesn't, what do you do? Don't do it Grief support promote self care help with ADLs active listening Priority for dying pt keep pt comfortable What are some sexual interventions to educate elders? change positions do it at a time of day when in least pain pre-medicate warm compresses/hot showers for arthritis What do we do if we suspect elderly has HIV? Ask what their s/s are Acute illness short duration and severe Chronic illness an on-going illness, slow or gradual in onset; it has no known cure; it can be controlled and complications prevented with proper treatment Geriatric Syndromes Falls and gait abnormalities Frailty Delirium Urinary incontinence Sleep disorders Pressure ulcers signs and symptoms of frailty weight loss, fatigue, muscle weakness, slow or unsteady gait, and declines in activity Common bereavement reactions self neglect, isolation, withdrawal, not being able to talk about the grief, increased heart stress