Chapter 6- The Specialty
Origin:
of Gerontological Nursing, 1
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: A1
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Difficulty: Easy
Integrated Process: Communication
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 73, Development of Gerontological Nursing
1. Prior to the beginning of a gerontological nursing course, a nursing student questions
why the course is not classified as geriatric nursing. How can the instructor best
respond?
A) “Gerontological nursing implies health promotion activities that can accompany
aging, not solely nursing care of the sick.”
B) “Gerontological nursing focuses on issues related to normal aging and excludes the
direct care of acutely ill older adults.”
C) “The term 'geriatric nursing' implies that all older adults are ill, and the term is no
longer in use.”
D) “There is a stigma associated with the term 'geriatric' so it has been replaced with
the term 'gerontological'.”
Ans: A
Feedback:
The term “gerontological nursing” encompasses the direct care of older adults but
supersedes this to include activities related to health promotion and wellness among this
population. It does not, however, exclude direct care during illness. The term “geriatric
nursing” is not obsolete nor is the change to “gerontological nursing” motivated by
stigma associated with “geriatric.”
Origin: Chapter 6- The Specialty of Gerontological Nursing, 2
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: A1
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 2
Page and Header: 73, Development of Gerontological Nursing
2. Which of the following facts best accounts for the complexity of gerontological nursing?
A) Assessment of older adults is often complicated by the presence of cognitive
deficits.
B) Multiple health conditions often coexist in older adults and symptoms are often
atypical.
C) Older adults are expected to have poorer health outcomes than younger clients.
D) Evidence-based practice with older adults is more difficult due to the relative
lack of research into their unique health needs.
Ans: B
Feedback:
, Older adults frequently experience multiple, overlapping health problems coupled with
atypical symptom presentation. While cognitive deficits may exist, this phenomenon is
not as pervasive as answer B, and assessment is still possible nonetheless. Expectation of
poor health outcomes, a questionable assumption in itself, does not necessarily add to the
complexity of care for older adults. There is a significant body of research that addresses
elders' health needs.
Origin: Chapter 6- The Specialty of Gerontological Nursing, 3
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: B
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 4
Page and Header: 77, Box 6-3
3. Which of the following principles that underlie a gerontological nurse's practice is most
in need of reexamination and modification?
A) Nursing older adults requires a unique data and knowledge set.
B) Aiming for wholeness in physical, social, spiritual, and psychological health is a
realistic goal.
C) The aging process is a natural and unavoidable part of human life.
D) Health outcomes among older adults can be equal to those of younger populations.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Answers A, B, and C are all identified principles of gerontological nursing. In light of
the nature and inevitability of the aging process, however, answer D is neither accurate
nor realistic.
Origin: Chapter 6- The Specialty of Gerontological Nursing, 4
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: A1
Cognitive Level: Knowledge
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 3
Page and Header: 77, Standards
4. Nurse L works on an acute care for elders (ACE) unit of a county hospital. Which of the
following sources should the nurse utilize as standards for practice? Select all that
apply.
A) The American Nurses Association (ANA) standards
B) The Joint Commission
C) Hospital-specific standards of practice
D) State and federal regulations
Ans: A, B, C, D
Feedback:
Origin:
of Gerontological Nursing, 1
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: A1
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Difficulty: Easy
Integrated Process: Communication
Objective: 1
Page and Header: 73, Development of Gerontological Nursing
1. Prior to the beginning of a gerontological nursing course, a nursing student questions
why the course is not classified as geriatric nursing. How can the instructor best
respond?
A) “Gerontological nursing implies health promotion activities that can accompany
aging, not solely nursing care of the sick.”
B) “Gerontological nursing focuses on issues related to normal aging and excludes the
direct care of acutely ill older adults.”
C) “The term 'geriatric nursing' implies that all older adults are ill, and the term is no
longer in use.”
D) “There is a stigma associated with the term 'geriatric' so it has been replaced with
the term 'gerontological'.”
Ans: A
Feedback:
The term “gerontological nursing” encompasses the direct care of older adults but
supersedes this to include activities related to health promotion and wellness among this
population. It does not, however, exclude direct care during illness. The term “geriatric
nursing” is not obsolete nor is the change to “gerontological nursing” motivated by
stigma associated with “geriatric.”
Origin: Chapter 6- The Specialty of Gerontological Nursing, 2
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: A1
Cognitive Level: Comprehension
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 2
Page and Header: 73, Development of Gerontological Nursing
2. Which of the following facts best accounts for the complexity of gerontological nursing?
A) Assessment of older adults is often complicated by the presence of cognitive
deficits.
B) Multiple health conditions often coexist in older adults and symptoms are often
atypical.
C) Older adults are expected to have poorer health outcomes than younger clients.
D) Evidence-based practice with older adults is more difficult due to the relative
lack of research into their unique health needs.
Ans: B
Feedback:
, Older adults frequently experience multiple, overlapping health problems coupled with
atypical symptom presentation. While cognitive deficits may exist, this phenomenon is
not as pervasive as answer B, and assessment is still possible nonetheless. Expectation of
poor health outcomes, a questionable assumption in itself, does not necessarily add to the
complexity of care for older adults. There is a significant body of research that addresses
elders' health needs.
Origin: Chapter 6- The Specialty of Gerontological Nursing, 3
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: B
Cognitive Level: Analysis
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 4
Page and Header: 77, Box 6-3
3. Which of the following principles that underlie a gerontological nurse's practice is most
in need of reexamination and modification?
A) Nursing older adults requires a unique data and knowledge set.
B) Aiming for wholeness in physical, social, spiritual, and psychological health is a
realistic goal.
C) The aging process is a natural and unavoidable part of human life.
D) Health outcomes among older adults can be equal to those of younger populations.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Answers A, B, and C are all identified principles of gerontological nursing. In light of
the nature and inevitability of the aging process, however, answer D is neither accurate
nor realistic.
Origin: Chapter 6- The Specialty of Gerontological Nursing, 4
Chapter: 6
Client Needs: A1
Cognitive Level: Knowledge
Difficulty: Moderate
Integrated Process: Nursing process
Objective: 3
Page and Header: 77, Standards
4. Nurse L works on an acute care for elders (ACE) unit of a county hospital. Which of the
following sources should the nurse utilize as standards for practice? Select all that
apply.
A) The American Nurses Association (ANA) standards
B) The Joint Commission
C) Hospital-specific standards of practice
D) State and federal regulations
Ans: A, B, C, D
Feedback:
