A nurse is caring for an older adult client who reports feeling cold most of the time.
The nurse knows that this is most likely due to which of the following physiological changes with aging?
Decreased metabolic rate
Increased blood pressure
Increased sweat gland activity.
Decreased body fat.
The Correct Answer is A
The correct answer is A.
Decreased metabolic rate. This is because the metabolic rate is the amount of energy that the body uses to maintain its functions, and it tends to decline with age due to various factors, such as loss of muscle mass, reduced activity, hormonal changes, and decreased thyroid function.
A lower metabolic rate means that the body produces less heat and therefore feels colder more easily.
Choice B is wrong because increased blood pressure is not a normal physiological change with aging, but rather a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that can be influenced by lifestyle, genetics, and other factors.
Choice C is wrong because increased sweat gland activity is not a normal physiological change with aging, but rather a sign of hyperhidrosis, which is a condition that causes excessive sweating due to overactive sweat glands. Sweat glands actually decrease in number and function with age, which can impair thermoregulation and increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Choice D is wrong because decreased body fat is not a normal physiological change with aging, but rather a result of malnutrition, illness, or other causes. Body fat actually tends to increase with age, especially in the abdominal region, due to hormonal changes, reduced physical activity, and lower metabolic rate.
Body fat can act as an insulator and help maintain body temperature.
Normal ranges for metabolic rate vary depending on age, sex, body size, activity level, and other factors.
A general estimate for resting metabolic rate (RMR) is 10 calories per kilogram of body weight per day for men and 9 calories per kilogram of body weight per day for women.
However, this may not reflect the actual metabolic rate of an individual, as it does not account for the effects of food intake, exercise, or environmental factors.
Therefore, it is better to measure metabolic rate using indirect calorimetry or other methods that can capture these variables.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is C.
Ego integrity vs despair.
According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory, older adults face the challenge of looking back on their lives and evaluating their accomplishments and failures.
If they feel satisfied with their life course, they achieve a sense of ego integrity, which is a feeling of wholeness and coherence.
If they feel regretful or dissatisfied, they experience despair, which is a sense of hopelessness and bitterness.
Choice A is wrong because trust vs mistrust is the first stage of Erikson’s theory, which occurs in infancy.
It involves developing a basic sense of trust in oneself and others based on the quality of caregiving.
Choice B is wrong because generativity vs stagnation is the seventh stage of Erikson’s theory, which occurs in middle adulthood.
It involves contributing to society and the next generation through work, parenting, or other activities.
Choice D is wrong because identity vs role confusion is the fifth stage of Erikson’s theory, which occurs in adolescence.
It involves developing a stable and coherent sense of self and one’s role in society.
Normal ranges for Erikson’s stages are:.
• Trust vs mistrust: birth to 18 months.
• Autonomy vs shame and doubt: 18 months to 3 years.
• Initiative vs guilt: 3 to 6 years.
• Industry vs inferiority: 6 to 12 years.
• Identity vs role confusion: 12 to 18 years.
• Intimacy vs isolation: 18 to 40 years.
• Generativity vs stagnation: 40 to 65 years.
• Ego integrity vs despair: 65 years and older.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is D.
Delirium.
The nurse should monitor the client for delirium, which is a state of acute mental confusion that can be caused by fever, infection, dehydration, or medications.
Delirium can affect the client’s cognition, attention, orientation, memory, and behavior.It can also increase the risk of falls, complications, and mortality.
Choice A is wrong because dehydration is not a complication of fever, but rather a possible cause of fever.
Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, and it can impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature.Dehydration is more common and dangerous in older adults because they have a lower volume of water in their bodies, a weaker thirst response, and may have conditions or medications that increase fluid loss.
Choice B is wrong because hypothermia is not a complication of fever, but rather a condition of abnormally low body temperature.
Hypothermia can occur when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, such as in cold weather or water exposure.Hypothermia can affect the brain, heart, and other organs, and can lead to death if not treated promptly.
Choice C is wrong because seizures are not a common complication of fever in older adults.
Seizures are sudden episodes of abnormal electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in movement, sensation, behavior, or consciousness.
Seizures can have various causes, such as head injury, stroke, infection, or epilepsy.
Fever-induced seizures are more likely to occur in young children than in older adults.
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