A nurse is providing teaching about health promotion guidelines to a group of young adult male clients. Which of the following guidelines should the nurse include?

As individuals age, it is common for them to experience a decreased sense of balance. This can be attributed to age-related changes in the musculoskeletal system, sensory perception, and coordination. The inner ear, which plays a vital role in maintaining balance, undergoes natural degenerative changes over time. Additionally, age-related decline in muscle strength and flexibility can contribute to difficulties in maintaining balance. Therefore, a nurse assessing an older adult client should expect a decreased sense of balance as a common finding.

1. Nighttime urinary incontinence: While nighttime urinary incontinence can occur in some older adults, it is not a universal finding. It is important to avoid making assumptions or generalizations about older adults experiencing urinary incontinence. Each individual's urinary function can vary, and incontinence can be influenced by various factors such as overall health, bladder capacity, medication use, and underlying medical conditions.
2. Heightened sense of pain: Older adults may experience changes in pain perception due to age-related physiological changes and medical conditions. However, it is not a predictable or expected finding for all older adult clients. Pain perception can vary among individuals based on their overall health, chronic conditions, and individual pain thresholds. Therefore, while some older adults may experience heightened pain sensitivity, it is not a universal expectation.
3. Increased nighttime sleeping: Sleep patterns can change with age, and older adults may experience alterations in their sleep-wake cycles. However, increased nighttime sleeping is not a definitive finding that applies to all older adult clients. Sleep patterns can vary greatly among individuals, and some older adults may experience decreased sleep duration or disrupted sleep rather than increased nighttime sleeping.

In summary, the nurse should expect a decreased sense of balance as a common finding when assessing an older adult client. It is important to approach each individual as unique and recognize that other findings such as nighttime urinary incontinence, heightened sense of pain, or increased nighttime sleeping may or may not be present, as they can vary among older adults based on individual factors.

The nurse should ask a second nurse to record her signature when wasting any unused portion of the controlled substance. This is a standard procedure for the safe handling and documentation of controlled substances.

a. The nurse should report any discrepancy in the count total of the controlled substance before administration, not after.

b. The wasted portion of the controlled substance should be disposed of according to facility policy, which may not involve placing it in a sharps container.

c. The count total of the controlled substance should be verified before removing the amount needed, not after.