Geriatric & Long-Term Care Flashcards
7 cards from real LVN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Geriatric & Long-Term Care flashcards as text
Which finding is considered a normal physiological change of aging that the LVN should recognize?
Answer: Decreased lung capacity and reduced cough reflex
Normal aging includes decreased lung elasticity, reduced vital capacity, and a diminished cough reflex, increasing aspiration and pneumonia risk.
An elderly resident with Alzheimer's disease is found wandering at night. What is the most appropriate intervention?
Answer: Calmly guide the resident back to a safe area and assess for unmet needs
Calmly guiding the resident while assessing for unmet needs (pain, hunger, need to toilet) is the safest, most therapeutic approach to nighttime wandering.
A resident in long-term care is prescribed digoxin. Which assessment is most critical before administration?
Answer: Apical pulse for one full minute
Digoxin can cause bradycardia; the apical pulse must be assessed for one full minute before administration, and the drug should be withheld if the pulse is below 60 bpm.
Which nutritional concern is most prevalent in elderly long-term care residents?
Answer: Dehydration and malnutrition
Dehydration and malnutrition are among the most common and serious nutritional problems in long-term care residents due to reduced thirst sensation and poor appetite.
A resident with Parkinson's disease is at greatest risk for which complication during mealtimes?
Answer: Aspiration due to dysphagia
Parkinson's disease impairs the swallowing mechanism, placing residents at high risk for aspiration and aspiration pneumonia during eating.
Which approach best promotes dignity for a cognitively impaired resident during personal care?
Answer: Explain each step of care using simple language even if the resident seems unaware
Explaining each step of care maintains dignity, reduces anxiety, and supports person-centered care even when cognitive impairment is severe.
What is the primary goal of restorative nursing in long-term care?
Answer: To maintain or improve the resident's functional independence
Restorative nursing focuses on helping residents achieve and maintain the highest possible level of functional independence in activities of daily living.