Author Question: An 81-year-old client was diagnosed with colon cancer several months ago. Both the patient and the ... (Read 145 times)

itsmyluck · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

An 81-year-old client was diagnosed with colon cancer several months ago. Both the patient and the family have been made aware of the potential for metastasis and the poor prognosis associated with this disease.

At what point in the client's disease trajectory should the principles of palliative care be implemented?

A) After chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been proven unsuccessful
B) Early in the course of the client's cancer and before symptoms become unmanageable
C) Soon after the client has made a decision to change her code status to do not resuscitate
D) When the client's care team determines that there is less than 2 months to live

Question 2

Which of the following statements by the new nurse best conveys an understanding of diabetes in older adults?

A) A combination of lifestyle factors and age-related changes contributes to high rates of diabetes among older adults.
B) Development of diabetes later in life is considered a normal, age-related change.
C) Health care providers should avoid drawing conclusions about diabetes risk based on ethnicity.
D) The diagnosis of diabetes in older adults is complicated by subtle signs and symptoms.

Sierray · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Ans: B
The principles and practices of palliative care should not be exclusively reserved for late in a disease trajectory. It is applicable early in the course of an illness and should be offered as needs develop and before they become unmanageable. Palliative care can be provided concurrently with life-prolonging therapies or as a main focus of care.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: A
The high prevalence and incidence of diabetes among older adults is attributable to lifestyle, genetic, and age-related factors. Ethnicity is a valid variable that needs to be considered, given that some minority groups have significantly higher rates of diabetes. Some symptoms of hypoglycemia are subtle in the older adult, but diagnosis is based on laboratory data that do not change with aging. While age-related changes contribute to a susceptibility to diabetes, the development of the disease should not be considered a normal, age-related change in and of itself.