NUR 326 Gerontological Nursing

Study Guide Exam 1

Ch. 7 Assessment
Assessment of the older adult requires these skills?
• Special skills for older adult assessment:
• Listen patiently
• Allow for pauses
• Ask questions that are not often asked
• Observe for minute details
• Use all available sources for data
• Recognize normal changes of aging from abnormal

What are key elements of the geriatric assessment?

-the collection of physical data as well as integration of biological, psychosocial, and functional information

- cultural and spiritual assessments

-cognitive abilities, psychological well-being; caregiver stress or burden; and patterns of health and health care

- sexual function, depression, alcoholism, hearing loss, oral health, and environmental safety.

-genetic background

-gait and balance

-advanced care planning

What is FANCAPES? What is SPICES?

• FANCAPES
• Fluids
• Aeration
• Nutrition
• Communication
• Activity
• Pain
 • Elimination
• Socialization and social skills
• Fulmer SPICES
• Sleep disorders
• Problems eating
• Incontinence
• Confusion
• Evidence of falls
• Skin breakdown

Name the assessment tool developed because of the atypical way disease presents in the older
adult?
KATz Index? FAST tool?
*Assessment Exemplar: You are caring for an older adult client with COPD. When creating a
holistic plan of care for this client, which of the following would be included in the plan of care?
*
Ch. 11 Vision-
Nursing Care for a person with Age-Related Macular Degeneration & common visual changes in
older adults, presbyopia.
Know the clinical manifestations and/or behaviors that indicate vision problems and warrant
follow-up.
Know interventions for visual impairment. Example: Arranging items within reach and/or
orienting the client to the location of items or plate of food at lunch.
Ch. 12 Hearing
Consequences of Hearing Impairment
Hearing aids-Client education
Hearing aid Care and Use-See the scanned box in module resources.
Ch. 9 Pharmacology
Issues in Medication Use-Polypharmacy
Medication Interactions--*Medication & Food Interactions *Medication-Medication Interaction
Adverse Drug Interactions
Psychoactive Medications
Include in your review the "Ten Medications to Avoid" (link in the online module), (Slide 18 of
PowerPoints) and the specific and most common anticholinergic side effects as well as key
reasons for adverse drug effects and polypharmacy in older adults.
*BEERS Criteria

Ch. 5, 23 & 29 (Cognition/Delirium/ Neurocognitive disorders/ and nursing care -

assessments and communication)
Adult Cognition-neuroplasticity, fluid and crystallized intelligence, memory, cognitive health
Delirium
Parkinson’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Neurocognitive Dementia with Lewy Bodies
*Complications for clients in the late stages of neurodegenerative diseases* Nursing care and
communication.
Include in your review key differences in the way delirium and neurocognitive disorders present
as well as key causes of delirium and key pathologies and similarities and differences for
Parkinson disease, Lewy body dementia, and Alzheimer disease; principles of person-centered
care and models for delivering care to persons with dementia (e.g. Progressively lowered stress
threshold, Validation Therapy, and Need Driven Dementia Compromised Behavior). Also be
able to describe how communication and priorities of care differ between delirium and
neurocognitive disorders.
Assessment and Care for Caregivers of client with Neurocognitive Disorder* See scanned
supplemental chapter on Reggienet and Important points discussed in class*