A nurse is teaching a class about expected physiological changes in older adult clients.
Which of the following changes should the nurse include?

Choice A rationale:

Administering a scheduled pain medication for a client who is in pain is an act of beneficence rather than autonomy. Beneficence focuses on doing good for the patient, while autonomy involves respecting the patient's right to make choices about their care.

Choice B rationale:

Fulfilling a promise to a client to return with their pain medication is related to veracity and accountability rather than autonomy. Autonomy pertains to the patient's ability to make choices regarding their care.

Choice D rationale:

Providing nonpharmacological pain interventions equally to all clients is related to justice and fairness rather than autonomy. Autonomy involves respecting an individual's right to make decisions about their treatment. Now, let's move on to the next question.

Choice A rationale:

Decreased thickness of tympanic membranes is not a typical physiological change in older adults. Tympanic membranes tend to become thinner and less flexible with age, leading to increased susceptibility to damage, not decreased thickness.

Choice B rationale:

Decreased tinnitus is not a physiological change related to aging. Tinnitus can occur in individuals of all ages and is often associated with various factors such as exposure to loud noises, ear infections, or underlying medical conditions.

Choice C rationale:

Decreased ear wax is not a typical physiological change in older adults. In fact, older adults may experience increased production of earwax, which can lead to hearing problems if not managed appropriately.

Choice D rationale:

Decreased ability to hear high-frequency sounds is a common physiological change in older adult clients. This change, known as presbycusis, is characterized by a reduced ability to hear high-pitched sounds due to changes in the inner ear, including damage to hair cells and changes in the auditory nerves. Presbycusis is a well-documented and expected age-related change in hearing.