Geriatric nursing review questions Part I
Geriatrics
Career Academy Of Professional Studies
1) Define Geriatrics.
Answer: Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with old age and the diseases arising from it.
2) What is old age?
Answer: Old when is the final stage of the final cycle of man.
3) The state of being old physically and mentally____.
Answer: Senility
4) Who is a hypostatic patient?
Answer: A bed ridden patient.
5) List three common physical changes in the elderly under the following:
Nervous System, Integumentary System, Urinary System, Muscle System, Cardiovascular System,
Respiratory System and Skeleton System.
Answer: Nervous System- Decrease vision perception, Loss of taste buds, Decrease of smell.
Integumentary System- Decrease elasticity of skin, Decrease pigmentation, Decrease fat cells.
Urinary System- Decrease kidney function, Decrease Urinary Output, Decrease bladder tone.
Muscle System- Decrease elasticity of tendons and ligaments, Decrease muscle tone, Reduce
Coordination.
Cardiovascular System- Decrease cardio output, Decrease blood vessel, Sudden movement may reduce
blood pressure causing the person to faint or feel dizzy.
Respiratory System- Increase risk of upper respiratory disease, Decrease lung capacity, Weakens
diaphragm.
Skeleton System- Change in vertebrae and feet, Ostioporosis, Arthritis.
6) State the nursing care under the following:
Rest, Comfort and Activity, Safety and Security, Nutrition.
Answer: Rest, Comfort and Activity- Allow recreational activities, Allow exercise, Ensure patients have a
clean environment, add accessories to bed if necessary, Ensure privacy.
Safety and Security- Ensure bed rails are up, Put away medications, Put away dangerous object, Build rails
and ramps.
Nutrition- Less Calories, Less Carbohydrates, More fruits and vegetables, More proteins.
7) List four factors that affects nutritional needs of the elderly.
Answer: Dental problem—Sustainability to food, Shopping problems, Reduce Income, Loss of taste buds.
8) List four assistant programs for the elderly.
Answer: Pension, Daycare for the elderly, Reduce bus fare, Food stamps.
9) What should be reduce in the elderly diet and why?
Answer: Calories should be reduced in order to maintain weight.
10) What can vitamin A,B,C&K deficiency lead to?
Answer: A reduce vision sensitivity
B -stomatitis
, 12) Explain two observable and non observable changes in the elderly.
Answer: Hair- Thins and whitens.
Vision- 3-5 in the age group 75+, more females than males develop vision problems.
Immune system- Become less efficient and higher the risk of getting respiratory disease.
Muscle- Becomes weak, reduce coordination. Muscles become saggy.
13) List the equipment and explain the procedure of foot and nail care.
Answer: •Soil bin •Gloves • Sterile nail clippers • Towel • Sterile adhesive gauze •Sterile nail nipper •Cotton
tip applicator •Lotion or oil •Antiseptic •Band-Aid •Emery board
Explain procedure to the patient, this will prevent apprehension and anxiety. Soak nails in warm water for
10-15 minutes with antibacterial skin cleanser. Scrape feet gently and cut nail straight across. Do not cut if
force is required, because gangrenous might be under nails. Dry feet with towel and apply lotion or oil.
Clean work area and collect equipment.
Geriatric nursing review questions Part I
1. In assessing the aging client, it is important for the nurse to recognize:
a) The client's ability to perform ADLs
b) The financial status of the client
c) The job that the client held prior to aging
d) All components of well-being, including biological function, psychological function, and
socialfunction
2. Medications, slower mobility, lack of proper fluid intake, and poor diet can contribute to
whatcommon symptom in the elder population?
a) Urinary incontinence
b) Skin changes
c) Mental changes
d) Depression
3. The nurse assessing the older population needs to have a basic understanding of which of the
following?
a) The economic status of the area
b) The difference between normal and abnormal for the older age group
c) The signs of sexual dysfunction
d) The signs of cardiac disease
4. Which statement would be most appropriate to ask when assessing an aging adult for cognitive
function?
a) What is today's date?
b) Can you count to 10 for me?
c) Have you noticed anything different about your memory or thinking in the past few months?
d) Who is the president of the United States?
5. Which disease or ailment is often under diagnosed and undertreated in the aging population?
a) Schizophrenia
b) Depression
c) Associative disorders
d) Attention deficit disorder
6. Which statement demonstrates normal cognitive function for an aging adult?
a) Occasional memory lapses
b) Unable to recall the names of their children or siblings
c) Unable to recall current address or phone number
d) Unable to count to 10 or repeat a series of consecutive numbers
7. Dementia and depression are strongly related to:
, a) The rate of absorption is slowed
b) The rate of absorption is faster due to thinning of the mucosa
c) The percentage of the medication that is absorbed is decreased
d) There is a decrease in gastric pH as we age
9. The absorption of medication in the geriatric client is most often affected by:
a) A decrease in body fat
b) An increase in serum albumin
c) A decrease in body water and lean body weight
d) An increase in body water
10. Which organ is responsible for drug metabolism and must be considered when prescribing
medicaiton for an older adult?
a) Kidneys
b) Pancreas
c) Intestines
d) Liver
, 11. An older adult on digoxin and furosemide is showing signs of toxicity. The gerontology
nurseunderstands that:
a) Digoxin and furosemide are excreted by the kidneys, and the doses may need to be
decreased due to impaired kidney function
b) Digoxin and furosemide are excreted through the intestinal tract, and dose changes would be
ineffective
c) An increase in fluid intake will fix the symptoms, and no change in dose is needed
d) How a drug is excreted is not a consideration when dosing an older adult
12. Which statement is true regarding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in older adults?
a) The rate of ADRs in geriatric clients is seven times that of younger adults and poses serious
health problems
b) Older adults rarely have adverse reactions to prescribed medications becuase they are
monitored
c) Adverse reactions are minimal in older adults and require no intervention
d) Only about 1% of older adults require hospitalization for ADRs
13. Which substance(s) show changes through aging by becoming less pliable and stiffer?
a) Lipofuscin
b) Collagen and elastin
c) Epithelial tissue
d) Cytoplasm
14. Which factor is NOT a normal part of aging and needs to be addressed to promote nutrition
inthe older adult client?
a) Loss of teeth
b) Increase in gastric pH
c) Xerostoma or dry mouth
d) Decline in basal metabolic rate
15. An 80-year-old female asks the nurse about over-the-counter vitamin supplements. The most
appropriate advice would include:
a) No vitamin supplements are needed with a balanced diet
b) Any multivitamin will do
c) Take only a calcium supplement
d) Take a multivitamin for those over the age of 50, which should include the recommended
vitamins for the aging adult
16. Which theories on aging were introduced in the early 1900s?
a) Wear-and-tear theory and autointoxication theory
b) Evolution theory
c) Molecular theory
d) Cellular theory
17. Systems theory includes which components about aging?
a) Gene regulation ideas
b) Nutation accumulation on aging
c) Neuroendocrine and immunological ideas
d) Free radical ideas
18. What is the most noticeable change in tissue as it ages?
a) Decrease in lipids
b) Increase in subcutaneous tissue
c) Decrease in wrinkles
d) Accumulation of pigmented material called lipofuscin
19. What is the most significant change in vital organs in the aging client?
