Self Care for the Gerontological Nurse
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which activity done by a gerontological nurse would be considered outside the normal scope
of gerontological nursing practice?
A) Addressing the pain that accompanies clients' aging through various sources
B) Helping older adults explore the deeper meanings of experiences they have
C) Providing care that facilitates integration, restoration, and balance in clients' lives
D) Intervening in clients' family relationships that have become dysfunctional or estranged -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: D
Feedback:
Intervening in clients' family relationships that have become dysfunctional or estranged is not
an identified action of practice by a gerontological nurse. Addressing pain, helping explore
deeper meanings of experiences, and providing care are aspects of care provided by the
gerontological nurse.
Which statement captures the ultimate goal of the gerontological nurse healer?
A) Facilitating change
B) Preventing and treating illness
C) Assisting in a return to wholeness
D) Ensuring longevity and productivity - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: C
Feedback:
The notion of assisting the patient in a return to wholeness, which involves body, mind, and
spirit, best conveys the role of the nurse healer. Facilitating change may or may not be done
by the nurse healer. Preventing and treating illness is beyond the scope of the gerontological
nurse healer. Ensuring longevity and productivity cannot be achieved by the gerontological
nurse healer.
The nurse wants to demonstrate presence with a patient newly diagnosed with heart disease.
Which actions will the nurse perform when caring for this patient? (Select all that apply.)
A) Use the senses
B) Actively listen
, C) Refer to a to-do list
D) Suggest that the patient should not worry
E) Focus on what the patient says - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: A, B, E
Feedback:
Presence entails being truly with patients and providing them undivided attention, regardless
of the quantity of time that is available. To demonstrate presence the nurse will use the
senses, actively listen, and focus on what the patient says. Referring to a to-do list and
suggesting that the patient not worry do not demonstrate presence by the nurse.
An older patient recovering from a fractured hip is concerned about the ability to care for a
spouse with Alzheimer's disease. Which nursing response would demonstrate availability?
A) "How have you helped your spouse in the past?"
B) "It sounds like this might be very stressful for you."
C) "You'll likely find that your hip will heal quite a bit faster than you expect."
D) "I'm going to look into homecare options for you both that might be available." -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: B
Feedback:
Acknowledging the stress and difficulty of a situation conveys interest and availability.
Asking the patient how the spouse has been helped in the past might place the patient on the
defensive. Stating the speed in which the patient's hip will heal does not address the patient's
concern. Looking into homecare options focuses on the patient's and spouses potential needs
but does not demonstrate availability.
Which statement best captures the nature of the connections that nurse healers strive for with
their patients?
A) Connection entails identifying what makes a patient unique.
B) It is important that the connections be therapeutic rather than personal.
C) Connection involves being truly with patients and devoting undivided attention to them.
D) Nurses should prioritize the patient's needs and experiences and avoid sharing details of
their own lives.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Nurse healers commit to learning about what makes each patient unique. While differing
from non-nursing relationships, it would be inaccurate to state that nurse-patient connections
cannot be "personal." Experiences from the nurse's life may be shared when appropriate
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Which activity done by a gerontological nurse would be considered outside the normal scope
of gerontological nursing practice?
A) Addressing the pain that accompanies clients' aging through various sources
B) Helping older adults explore the deeper meanings of experiences they have
C) Providing care that facilitates integration, restoration, and balance in clients' lives
D) Intervening in clients' family relationships that have become dysfunctional or estranged -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: D
Feedback:
Intervening in clients' family relationships that have become dysfunctional or estranged is not
an identified action of practice by a gerontological nurse. Addressing pain, helping explore
deeper meanings of experiences, and providing care are aspects of care provided by the
gerontological nurse.
Which statement captures the ultimate goal of the gerontological nurse healer?
A) Facilitating change
B) Preventing and treating illness
C) Assisting in a return to wholeness
D) Ensuring longevity and productivity - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: C
Feedback:
The notion of assisting the patient in a return to wholeness, which involves body, mind, and
spirit, best conveys the role of the nurse healer. Facilitating change may or may not be done
by the nurse healer. Preventing and treating illness is beyond the scope of the gerontological
nurse healer. Ensuring longevity and productivity cannot be achieved by the gerontological
nurse healer.
The nurse wants to demonstrate presence with a patient newly diagnosed with heart disease.
Which actions will the nurse perform when caring for this patient? (Select all that apply.)
A) Use the senses
B) Actively listen
, C) Refer to a to-do list
D) Suggest that the patient should not worry
E) Focus on what the patient says - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: A, B, E
Feedback:
Presence entails being truly with patients and providing them undivided attention, regardless
of the quantity of time that is available. To demonstrate presence the nurse will use the
senses, actively listen, and focus on what the patient says. Referring to a to-do list and
suggesting that the patient not worry do not demonstrate presence by the nurse.
An older patient recovering from a fractured hip is concerned about the ability to care for a
spouse with Alzheimer's disease. Which nursing response would demonstrate availability?
A) "How have you helped your spouse in the past?"
B) "It sounds like this might be very stressful for you."
C) "You'll likely find that your hip will heal quite a bit faster than you expect."
D) "I'm going to look into homecare options for you both that might be available." -
CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Ans: B
Feedback:
Acknowledging the stress and difficulty of a situation conveys interest and availability.
Asking the patient how the spouse has been helped in the past might place the patient on the
defensive. Stating the speed in which the patient's hip will heal does not address the patient's
concern. Looking into homecare options focuses on the patient's and spouses potential needs
but does not demonstrate availability.
Which statement best captures the nature of the connections that nurse healers strive for with
their patients?
A) Connection entails identifying what makes a patient unique.
B) It is important that the connections be therapeutic rather than personal.
C) Connection involves being truly with patients and devoting undivided attention to them.
D) Nurses should prioritize the patient's needs and experiences and avoid sharing details of
their own lives.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Nurse healers commit to learning about what makes each patient unique. While differing
from non-nursing relationships, it would be inaccurate to state that nurse-patient connections
cannot be "personal." Experiences from the nurse's life may be shared when appropriate
