Author Question: A nurse cares for an older adult who is described as being frail. The nurse understands that in ... (Read 51 times)

fagboi · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

A nurse cares for an older adult who is described as being frail. The nurse understands that in order to be characterized as frail an individual must possess which of the following characteris-tics? (Select all that apply.)

a. Slow walking speed
b. Low activity level
c. Self-reported exhaustion
d. Taking at least five prescribed medications
e. A diagnosis of at least two chronic condi-tions

Question 2

An older man who is a smoker is hospitalized for orthopedic surgery. A nurse takes the oppor-tunity to provide smoking cessation education. The patient asks the nurse: I have been smoking for most of my life, and I am an old man.

Why are you wasting your time telling me to stop smoking? Isn't it too late? The nurse bases the response on the knowledge that:
a. smoking cessation as late as age 75 can reduce premature death by up to 50.
b. smoking cessation as late as age 75 can completely eliminate premature death.
c. smoking cessation at a late age will not impact the smoker but can reduce expo-sure of family members to second-hand smoke.
d. smoking cessation education is only effec-tive in individuals under age 75.

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

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, C
Frailty is defined as evidence of three of the following: unexplained weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weak grip strength, slow walking speed, and low activity.
Neither the number of medications that an individual is prescribed nor the number of chronic conditions is part of the diagnosis of frailty.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Smoking cessation as late as age 75 can reduce premature death by up to 50. The remaining op-tions are not true.