Chapter 23: Middle-Age Adult
Edelman: Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A 35-year-old person asks the nurse working in a dermatology clinic what causes skin to
wrinkle. Which of the following statements would be most appropriate way for the nurse to
reply?
a. “There is really nothing you can do to prevent a lot of wrinkles. It is part of aging.”
b. “As we age, we lose fat beneath the skin so wrinkles appear. There is nothing we
can do to prevent it.”
c. “Wrinkles appear for a number of reasons, including loss of fat beneath your skin
and too much sun exposure.”
d. “Wrinkles are caused by genetic factors.”
ANS: C
Loss of subcutaneous fat and collagen damage related to sun exposure cause wrinkles.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 563
2. A 45-year-old client who has experienced a ten pound weight gain during the past year asks the
nurse if she thinks iron supplements would help increase her energy. Which of the following
would be the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Ask the client to describe her daily activity and diet
b. Leave a note requesting an iron supplement on the client’s chart for the doctor
c. Provide the client with information related to aerobic exercise classes
d. Ask the client if she is still menstruating
ANS: A
A lack of routine exercise and activity plus a diet high in calories contributes to weight gain and
a lack of energy. The priority action by the nurse is assessment, which will reveal the reason for
a lack of energy.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 563
3. Which of the following is a normal physiological change that occurs during middle age?
a. Increase in gastric emptying resulting in acid reflux
b. Reduction in height caused by kyphosis
c. Reduction of glomerular filtration by 50%
d. Increase in the amount of estrogen produced in both genders
ANS: C
Gastric emptying is decreased, kyphosis is not an expected part of aging, and estrogen levels
decrease in women and increase in men as male testosterone levels decrease.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: p. 564
, 4. A nurse is conducting a community education program. Which of the following should be
stressed as the leading cause of death in middle-age adults?
a. Automobile accidents
b. Malignant disease
c. Homicide
d. Suicide
ANS: B
The leading causes of death during middle adulthood are heart disease, cancer, and accidents.
Accidents are the major cause of death for children and young adults. Homicide and suicide are
major causes of death for young adults.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 564 | p. 564 (Box 23-1)
5. A nurse formed a political action committee to advocate for health insurance for the uninsured.
On which of the following populations would the nurse focus the group’s efforts?
a. Asian Americans
b. Blacks
c. Hispanic Americans
d. Working-poor White Americans
ANS: C
Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States and have the highest
uninsured rate.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 567
6. A nurse has been asked to develop a visit plan for a mobile mammogram van. Which of the
following considerations would be made by the nurse when deciding which neighborhoods to
visit?
a. Hispanic women have the highest rate of breast cancer of all minority groups in the
United States.
b. The death rate from breast cancer is higher in Hispanic women than for women in
other ethnic groups.
c. The death rate from breast cancer in Hispanic women has risen in the past 10
years.
d. Breast cancer in Hispanic women is usually diagnosed at an early stage.
ANS: B
Even though Hispanic women have a breast cancer rate approximately 40% lower than non-
Hispanic White women, their death rate is higher and the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 567
7. A nurse has received a grant to provide a community-based education series for middle-age
adults. Which of the following topics would allow the nurse to have the greatest impact on the
health of members of this age group?
a. Diet and exercise
b. Seat belt use
Edelman: Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A 35-year-old person asks the nurse working in a dermatology clinic what causes skin to
wrinkle. Which of the following statements would be most appropriate way for the nurse to
reply?
a. “There is really nothing you can do to prevent a lot of wrinkles. It is part of aging.”
b. “As we age, we lose fat beneath the skin so wrinkles appear. There is nothing we
can do to prevent it.”
c. “Wrinkles appear for a number of reasons, including loss of fat beneath your skin
and too much sun exposure.”
d. “Wrinkles are caused by genetic factors.”
ANS: C
Loss of subcutaneous fat and collagen damage related to sun exposure cause wrinkles.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 563
2. A 45-year-old client who has experienced a ten pound weight gain during the past year asks the
nurse if she thinks iron supplements would help increase her energy. Which of the following
would be the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Ask the client to describe her daily activity and diet
b. Leave a note requesting an iron supplement on the client’s chart for the doctor
c. Provide the client with information related to aerobic exercise classes
d. Ask the client if she is still menstruating
ANS: A
A lack of routine exercise and activity plus a diet high in calories contributes to weight gain and
a lack of energy. The priority action by the nurse is assessment, which will reveal the reason for
a lack of energy.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 563
3. Which of the following is a normal physiological change that occurs during middle age?
a. Increase in gastric emptying resulting in acid reflux
b. Reduction in height caused by kyphosis
c. Reduction of glomerular filtration by 50%
d. Increase in the amount of estrogen produced in both genders
ANS: C
Gastric emptying is decreased, kyphosis is not an expected part of aging, and estrogen levels
decrease in women and increase in men as male testosterone levels decrease.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: p. 564
, 4. A nurse is conducting a community education program. Which of the following should be
stressed as the leading cause of death in middle-age adults?
a. Automobile accidents
b. Malignant disease
c. Homicide
d. Suicide
ANS: B
The leading causes of death during middle adulthood are heart disease, cancer, and accidents.
Accidents are the major cause of death for children and young adults. Homicide and suicide are
major causes of death for young adults.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 564 | p. 564 (Box 23-1)
5. A nurse formed a political action committee to advocate for health insurance for the uninsured.
On which of the following populations would the nurse focus the group’s efforts?
a. Asian Americans
b. Blacks
c. Hispanic Americans
d. Working-poor White Americans
ANS: C
Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States and have the highest
uninsured rate.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 567
6. A nurse has been asked to develop a visit plan for a mobile mammogram van. Which of the
following considerations would be made by the nurse when deciding which neighborhoods to
visit?
a. Hispanic women have the highest rate of breast cancer of all minority groups in the
United States.
b. The death rate from breast cancer is higher in Hispanic women than for women in
other ethnic groups.
c. The death rate from breast cancer in Hispanic women has risen in the past 10
years.
d. Breast cancer in Hispanic women is usually diagnosed at an early stage.
ANS: B
Even though Hispanic women have a breast cancer rate approximately 40% lower than non-
Hispanic White women, their death rate is higher and the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: p. 567
7. A nurse has received a grant to provide a community-based education series for middle-age
adults. Which of the following topics would allow the nurse to have the greatest impact on the
health of members of this age group?
a. Diet and exercise
b. Seat belt use
