The home health nurse cares for an older adult patient who lives alone and takes several different prescribed medications for chronic health problems. Which intervention, if implemented by the nurse, would best encourage medication compliance?
a. Use a marked pillbox to set up the patient's medications.
b. Discuss the option of moving to an assisted living facility.
c. Remind the patient about the importance of taking medications.
d. Visit the patient daily to administer the prescribed medications.
Question 2The nurse cares for an alert, homeless older adult patient who was admitted to the hospital with a chronic foot infection. Which intervention is the most appropriate for the nurse to include in the discharge plan for this patient?
a. Refer the patient to social services for further assessment.
b. Teach the patient how to assess and care for the foot infection.
c. Schedule the patient to return to outpatient services for foot care.
d. Give the patient written information about shelters and meal sites.
Question 3The nurse admits an acutely ill, older patient to the hospital. Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Speak slowly and loudly while facing the patient.
b. Obtain a detailed medical history from the patient.
c. Perform the physical assessment before interviewing the patient.
d. Ask a family member to go home and retrieve the patient's cane.
Question 4A patient who has just moved to a long-term care facility has a nursing diagnosis of relocation stress syndrome. Which action should the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Remind the patient that making changes is usually stressful.
b. Discuss the reason for the move to the facility with the patient.
c. Restrict family visits until the patient is accustomed to the facility.
d. Have staff members write notes welcoming the patient to the facility.
Question 5Which nursing action will be most helpful in decreasing the risk for drug-drug interactions in an older adult?
a. Teach the patient to have all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy.
b. Instruct the patient to avoid taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
c. Make a schedule for the patient as a reminder of when to take each medication.
d. Have the patient bring all medications, supplements, and herbs to each appointment.
Question 6An older patient complains of having no energy and feeling increasingly weak. The patient has had a 12-pound weight loss over the last year. Which action should the nurse take initially?
a. Ask the patient about daily dietary intake.
b. Schedule regular range-of-motion exercise.
c. Discuss long-term care placement with the patient.
d. Describe normal changes associated with aging to the patient.
Question 7The nurse cares for an older adult patient who lives in a rural area. Which intervention should the nurse plan to implement to best meet this patient's needs?
a. Suggest that the patient move to an urban area.
b. Assess the patient for chronic diseases that are unique to rural areas.
c. Ensure transportation to appointments with the health care provider.
d. Obtain adequate medications for the patient to last for 4 to 6 months.
Question 8An older patient is hospitalized with pneumonia. Which intervention should the nurse implement to provide optimal care for this patient?
a. Use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan.
b. Minimize activity level during hospitalization.
c. Plan for transfer to a long-term care facility upon discharge.
d. Consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient goals.