How does dehydration impact older adults more than younger adults?

Questions 44

ATI RN

ATI RN Test Bank

basic geriatric nursing 8th edition test bank Questions

Question 1 of 9

How does dehydration impact older adults more than younger adults?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because older adults have reduced kidney function, which impairs their ability to concentrate urine and retain water. Additionally, they may have a diminished thirst sensation, making them less likely to drink enough fluids. This combination of factors makes older adults more vulnerable to dehydration compared to younger adults. Choice A is incorrect because older adults actually have a lower percentage of body water due to age-related changes in body composition. Choice C is incorrect as dehydration can indeed have a more significant impact on older adults due to their physiological changes. Choice D is incorrect as older adults are actually more prone to dehydration due to various age-related factors.

Question 2 of 9

The term health disparity is defined as

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because health disparity refers to variations in health outcomes among different groups due to factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, etc. This definition accurately captures the essence of health disparity as it highlights the unequal distribution of health outcomes. Choice A is incorrect because it refers to cultural elimination, which is not the definition of health disparity. Choice C is incorrect as it talks about differences in expected and actual incidence, not health outcomes among groups. Choice D is incorrect as it focuses on values and perspectives rather than health outcomes.

Question 3 of 9

How does dehydration impact older adults more than younger adults?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because older adults have reduced kidney function, which impairs their ability to concentrate urine and retain water. Additionally, they may have a diminished thirst sensation, making them less likely to drink enough fluids. This combination of factors makes older adults more vulnerable to dehydration compared to younger adults. Choice A is incorrect because older adults actually have a lower percentage of body water due to age-related changes in body composition. Choice C is incorrect as dehydration can indeed have a more significant impact on older adults due to their physiological changes. Choice D is incorrect as older adults are actually more prone to dehydration due to various age-related factors.

Question 4 of 9

Nursing interventions for the client with CHF include all of the following except_____

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because assisting with upper endoscopy is not a standard nursing intervention for CHF. Nursing interventions for CHF focus on managing symptoms, medication adherence, and lifestyle modifications. Choices A, B, and C are correct as they address important aspects of CHF management such as monitoring symptoms, educating on medications, and promoting a low-sodium diet. Helping with an upper endoscopy is unrelated to the management of CHF and falls outside the scope of nursing care for this condition.

Question 5 of 9

Providing information about diet & exercise for a healthy diabetic client is best described as which nursing activity?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Promoting wellness. Providing information about diet and exercise for a healthy diabetic client falls under promoting wellness because it focuses on proactive measures to maintain health and prevent complications. It aims to empower the client to make healthy lifestyle choices. B: Preventing illness is not the best description as the client is already diabetic, so the focus is on managing the condition rather than solely preventing it. C: Treating disease is not accurate because the client is already diabetic and the goal is not to treat the disease, but rather manage it effectively. D: Restoring health is not applicable in this scenario as the client is not in a state of compromised health that needs to be restored.

Question 6 of 9

An older women tells the nurse that her husband seldom brushes his teeth as he did in the past. A reason why older clients stop participating in daily oral hygiene, such as brushing the teeth, include:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Decreased manual dexterity and inability to hold a toothbrush. As people age, they may experience decreased hand strength and motor skills, making it difficult to hold and manipulate objects like a toothbrush. This can lead to a decline in oral hygiene practices. Malocclusion of teeth (B) does not directly impact the ability to brush teeth. Decrease in taste acuity (C) may affect appetite but not tooth brushing habits. Lack of dental insurance (D) is a financial barrier and may affect access to dental care, but it does not directly impact the physical ability to brush teeth.

Question 7 of 9

The home care nurse is performing an environmental assessment in the home of an older adult. Which of the following requires immediate nursing action?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Unsecured scattered rugs. This requires immediate nursing action as it poses a significant fall risk for the older adult. Rugs can cause tripping hazards, leading to potential injuries. The nurse should secure or remove the rugs to ensure the safety of the patient. Summary of other choices: B: Operable smoke detector - While important for safety, it does not require immediate nursing action as it is already in working condition. C: Prefilled medication cassette - This is not an immediate safety concern and can be addressed during routine medication management. D: Unsecured scattered rugs (repeated) - This choice is the same as the correct answer, so it is incorrect.

Question 8 of 9

________ is a factor that contributes to a high incidence of falls in the elderly.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: high likelihood of orthostatic hypotension upon rising quickly. Orthostatic hypotension is a common issue in the elderly, causing a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up quickly, leading to dizziness and falls. This factor directly contributes to the high incidence of falls in the elderly. Increased muscle mass and tone (A) actually reduce the risk of falls, while improving eyesight in dim light (C) would decrease the risk. Constipation (D) is not directly related to falls in the elderly.

Question 9 of 9

Which physiological change in the brain is the reason the nurse allows more time for answering questions with older adults?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Atrophy of dendrites in the cerebral cortex. With aging, there is a natural decline in brain volume and synaptic connections, leading to reduced dendritic branching and synaptic density in the cerebral cortex. This affects processing speed and cognitive functions, requiring more time for older adults to respond to questions. Rationale: A: Increased secretion of cholinesterase is not a physiological change associated with aging that would require more time for answering questions. B: Decreased secretion of neurotransmitters may occur with aging but is not the primary reason for slower processing speed in older adults. C: Loss of spinal cord and brainstem neurons is not the main factor influencing older adults' response time to questions compared to atrophy of dendrites in the cerebral cortex.

Access More Questions!

ATI RN Basic


$89/ 30 days

ATI RN Premium


$150/ 90 days