Chapter 21: Assessment of the Older Adult

Chapter 21: Assessment of the Older Adult

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. A 75-year old patient tells the nurse, “I just do not enjoy eating as much as I used to because the food does not have much taste or smell.” Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

a.	“You should make an appointment with your health care provider.”
b.	“Try eating small, frequent meals.”
c.	“The senses of smell and taste decrease as we age.”
d.	“Maybe you should use saline drops in your nose.”

 

 

ANS:  C

 

	Feedback
A	This action is not warranted in this case; these changes are expected with aging.
B	This is practical advice, but will not alter the change in smell and taste.
C	A decreased sense of smell is caused by a decrease in the number of sensory cells in the nasal lining. Taste perception may also diminish due to gradual atrophy of the tongue and a decrease in the number of papillae and taste buds.
D	This is practical advice, but will not alter the change in smell and taste.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply                   REF:   516

TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Aging Process

 

2. During inspection of the mouth of an older adult, a nurse notices which finding as an expected change associated with aging?

a.	Exposed root surfaces of teeth
b.	Aphthous ulcers of the mucosa
c.	Collection of debris at the gingival margins
d.	Leukoplakia of the dorsal and ventral tongue

 

 

ANS:  A

 

	Feedback
A	Root surfaces of the teeth are exposed to caries formation because of gingival recession.
B	Ulcers are not an expected finding.
C	Collection of debris at the gingival margins is not an expected finding.
D	This is not an expected finding; leukoplakia is a white patch or plaque that cannot be scraped off and often represents a premalignant lesion.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understand            REF:   516

TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Aging Process

 

3. Which assessment finding of older adult patients indicates expected respiratory function?

a.	Increased elasticity of the alveoli
b.	Flaccidity of the chest wall
c.	Reduced inspiratory and expiratory effort
d.	Decreased anteroposterior diameter

 

 

ANS:  C

 

	Feedback
A	With aging, alveoli become less elastic and more fibrous.
B	With aging, the chest wall may become stiffer, possibly because of calcification at rib articulation points, resulting in decreased chest wall compliance.
C	Diminished strength of the respiratory muscles results in reduced maximal inspiratory and expiratory force.
D	The anteroposterior diameter increases with aging due to kyphoscoliosis.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understand            REF:   516

TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Aging Process

 

4. During an office visit, a 78-year-old woman is upset because her height is “2 inches less than it was when I was 40!” How does the nurse explain this change to the patient?

a.	“Reduced height may occur as you age due to shortening of the vertebrae.”
b.	“You may be experiencing this height change due to arthritis.”
c.	“You need to improve your posture by performing stretching exercises.”
d.	“This is a rare occurrence and warrants having a bone density test.”

 

 

ANS:  A

 

	Feedback
A	Decreased bone formation reduces height in most older adults, which may cause shortening of the vertebrae and thinning of the vertebral disks.
B	Decreased bone formation reduces height in most older adults and is not due to arthritis.
C	This is appropriate advice, but is not related the patient’s height.
D	This is an expected occurrence and does not warrant concern.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Apply                   REF:   516

TOP:   Nursing Process: Assessment

MSC:  NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Aging Process