Chapter 6: Geriatric Implications for Medical-Surgical Nursing
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient experiencing bradycardia.
When educating the patient about this disorder, which age-related
cardiovascular change should be included?
a. Stiffened artery walls
b. Increased size of the left atrium
c. Reduced number of pacemaker cells in the SA node
d. Decreased cardiac responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimuli
2. When caring for an older adult diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF),
which age-related cardiovascular change should the nurse include in education?
a. Stiffened artery walls
b. Increased size of the left atrium
c. Reduced number of pacemaker cells in the SA node
d. Decreased cardiac responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimuli
3. For an older adult with atrial fibrillation, what age-related cardiovascular
change should be included in patient education?
a. Stiffened artery walls
b. Increased size of the left atrium
c. Reduced number of pacemaker cells in the SA node
d. Decreased cardiac responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimuli
4. When educating older adult patients about dementia, which statement should
the nurse include?
a. “Dementia causes impaired judgment.”
b. “Dementia causes fluctuations in alertness.”
c. “Symptoms of dementia cause day-night reversal.”
d. “Symptoms of dementia do not last more than one month.”
5. An older adult patient with an ulcer is receiving care. Which age-related
gastrointestinal change is often the cause?
a. Slowed gastric emptying
b. Atrophied gastric mucosa
c. Increased secretion of gastrin
, d. Reduced secretion of intrinsic factor
6. In caring for an older adult with osteoporosis, which age-related cause should
be included in teaching?
a. Decreased speed of foot movements
b. Decreased absorption of vitamin D
c. Increased intramuscular fat
d. Increased subcutaneous fat
7. During assessment with the Get-Up-and-Go test, if the patient cannot stand
without assistance, which score should be documented?
a. 0
b. 1
c. 3
d. 4
8. Which nursing action is appropriate during hourly rounds for older adult
patients?
a. Obtaining vital signs
b. Assisting to the bathroom
c. Accounting for personal items in the room
d. Documenting recent meal intake
9. What classification should the nurse use for a 70-year-old patient?
a. Old
b. Old-old
c. Oldest old
d. Young-old
10. Which term describes tissue hardening due to fibrous overgrowth in aging?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
11. How should the nurse describe narrowing of coronary arteries?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
, c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
12. Which term best describes muscle wasting with aging?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
13. What term describes calcium salt deposits in blood vessels associated with
aging?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
14. Which data from health history increases the risk for heart disease?
a. Dependent edema
b. Diabetes insipidus
c. Cigarette smoking
d. Diminished hearing
15. To support safety goals during home care, which action is appropriate?
a. Verifying patient identity during visits
b. Administering all medications during scheduled visits
c. Recommending throw rugs on hard floors
d. Asking family members to smoke away from oxygen use
16. Which clinical sign is expected in an older adult with Parkinson’s disease?
a. Tremors
b. Paralysis
c. Vision impairment
d. Right-sided weakness
17. Due to impaired renal function, which electrolyte imbalance should be
monitored?
a. Hypokalemia
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is providing care to an older adult patient experiencing bradycardia.
When educating the patient about this disorder, which age-related
cardiovascular change should be included?
a. Stiffened artery walls
b. Increased size of the left atrium
c. Reduced number of pacemaker cells in the SA node
d. Decreased cardiac responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimuli
2. When caring for an older adult diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF),
which age-related cardiovascular change should the nurse include in education?
a. Stiffened artery walls
b. Increased size of the left atrium
c. Reduced number of pacemaker cells in the SA node
d. Decreased cardiac responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimuli
3. For an older adult with atrial fibrillation, what age-related cardiovascular
change should be included in patient education?
a. Stiffened artery walls
b. Increased size of the left atrium
c. Reduced number of pacemaker cells in the SA node
d. Decreased cardiac responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimuli
4. When educating older adult patients about dementia, which statement should
the nurse include?
a. “Dementia causes impaired judgment.”
b. “Dementia causes fluctuations in alertness.”
c. “Symptoms of dementia cause day-night reversal.”
d. “Symptoms of dementia do not last more than one month.”
5. An older adult patient with an ulcer is receiving care. Which age-related
gastrointestinal change is often the cause?
a. Slowed gastric emptying
b. Atrophied gastric mucosa
c. Increased secretion of gastrin
, d. Reduced secretion of intrinsic factor
6. In caring for an older adult with osteoporosis, which age-related cause should
be included in teaching?
a. Decreased speed of foot movements
b. Decreased absorption of vitamin D
c. Increased intramuscular fat
d. Increased subcutaneous fat
7. During assessment with the Get-Up-and-Go test, if the patient cannot stand
without assistance, which score should be documented?
a. 0
b. 1
c. 3
d. 4
8. Which nursing action is appropriate during hourly rounds for older adult
patients?
a. Obtaining vital signs
b. Assisting to the bathroom
c. Accounting for personal items in the room
d. Documenting recent meal intake
9. What classification should the nurse use for a 70-year-old patient?
a. Old
b. Old-old
c. Oldest old
d. Young-old
10. Which term describes tissue hardening due to fibrous overgrowth in aging?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
11. How should the nurse describe narrowing of coronary arteries?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
, c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
12. Which term best describes muscle wasting with aging?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
13. What term describes calcium salt deposits in blood vessels associated with
aging?
a. Atrophy
b. Stenosis
c. Sclerosis
d. Calcification
14. Which data from health history increases the risk for heart disease?
a. Dependent edema
b. Diabetes insipidus
c. Cigarette smoking
d. Diminished hearing
15. To support safety goals during home care, which action is appropriate?
a. Verifying patient identity during visits
b. Administering all medications during scheduled visits
c. Recommending throw rugs on hard floors
d. Asking family members to smoke away from oxygen use
16. Which clinical sign is expected in an older adult with Parkinson’s disease?
a. Tremors
b. Paralysis
c. Vision impairment
d. Right-sided weakness
17. Due to impaired renal function, which electrolyte imbalance should be
monitored?
a. Hypokalemia
