LVN Geriatric & Long-Term Care 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which finding is considered a normal physiological change of aging that the LVN should recognize?
- Decreased lung capacity and reduced cough reflex (Correct answer)
- Increased kidney filtration rate
- Elevated basal metabolic rate
- Enhanced immune response to infection
Correct 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.
Question 2: An elderly resident with Alzheimer's disease is found wandering at night. What is the most appropriate intervention?
- Apply wrist restraints to prevent wandering
- Administer a sedative and return the resident to bed
- Calmly guide the resident back to a safe area and assess for unmet needs (Correct answer)
- Lock the resident's room door from the outside
Correct 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.
Question 3: A resident in long-term care is prescribed digoxin. Which assessment is most critical before administration?
- Blood glucose level
- Apical pulse for one full minute (Correct answer)
- Temperature
- Respiratory rate
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which nutritional concern is most prevalent in elderly long-term care residents?
- Excessive protein intake
- Dehydration and malnutrition (Correct answer)
- Hypervitaminosis from supplements
- Obesity due to inactivity
Correct 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.
Question 5: A resident with Parkinson's disease is at greatest risk for which complication during mealtimes?
- Hypoglycemia
- Aspiration due to dysphagia (Correct answer)
- Hypertensive crisis
- Allergic reaction to food
Correct answer: Aspiration due to dysphagia
Parkinson's disease impairs the swallowing mechanism, placing residents at high risk for aspiration and aspiration pneumonia during eating.
Question 6: Which approach best promotes dignity for a cognitively impaired resident during personal care?
- Perform all care quickly to minimize the resident's discomfort
- Explain each step of care using simple language even if the resident seems unaware (Correct answer)
- Perform care only when other staff are present to assist
- Skip oral hygiene if the resident resists to avoid agitation
Correct 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.
Question 7: What is the primary goal of restorative nursing in long-term care?
- To cure acute illness
- To maintain or improve the resident's functional independence (Correct answer)
- To increase medication compliance
- To prepare residents for surgical procedures
Correct 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.
LVN Geriatric & Long-Term Care 3
Which finding is considered a normal physiological change of aging that the LVN should recognize?