The nurse is planning to teach an older patient about ...

[evelyn o bentley]

The nurse is planning to teach an older patient about diverticulitis. What topic does the nurse include?
 
  a. Dietary fiber and fluids will reduce the symptoms.
  b. It is unusual to see diverticula in older persons.
  c. Abdominal cramping and severe diarrhea should be reported.
  d. Diverticulosis rarely reoccurs once it has been treated.

Question 2

An older patient has been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. What action by the nurse takes priority?
 
  a. Educate the patient on medications.
  b. Teach lifestyle changes the patient can manage.
  c. Encourage 60 minutes of aerobic activity daily.
  d. Instruct the patient on a low-fat diet.

[briezy]

Answer to Question 1

A
Teaching should include the need to eat high-fiber foods and the importance of achieving and maintaining adequate fluid status. Patients should be encouraged to consume up to 2000 mL of fluids each day, unless contraindicated by cardiac status. Older people have diverticulitis com-monly. Abdominal cramping and diarrhea are expected findings. Diverticulitis usually reoccurs.

Answer to Question 2

B
Lifestyle changes are the mainstay of treatment for this disorder. Nurses have the primary re-sponsibility for teaching. The patient should be included in planning so that lifestyle changes are reasonable and doable for the older patient. Activity and diet are part of the changes needed, but activity does not need to be so extensive and diet should not be the only topic taught. Medi-cations are not generally used.

[evelyn o bentley]

Excellent

[isabelt_18]

TYSM