The nurse is teaching an elderly patient about nail care and hygiene. The nurse should instruct the patient to do which of the following?
(Select all that apply.).
Trim nails straight across and file edges smoothly.
Soak nails in warm water before trimming to soften them.
Use a metal nail file or scissors to cut nails.
Apply a clear nail polish to protect nails from cracking.
Report any signs of infection or inflammation around nails.
Correct Answer : A,B,E
The correct answer is A, B, and E.
The nurse should instruct the patient to do the following:.
• Trim nails straight across and file edges smoothly.
• Soak nails in warm water before trimming to soften them.
• Report any signs of infection or inflammation around nails.
These are good practices for nail hygiene and health, especially for the elderly who may have dry, brittle or thickened nails. Trimming nails straight across and filing them prevents ingrown nails and reduces the risk of injury or infection. Soaking nails in warm water makes them easier to cut and less likely to crack or split. Reporting any signs of infection or inflammation around nails is important to prevent complications and get appropriate treatment.
Choice C is wrong because using a metal nail file or scissors to cut nails can damage the nail plate and cause splitting or tearing. Choice D is wrong because applying a clear nail polish to protect nails from cracking is unnecessary and may worsen nail health by trapping moisture and bacteria under the polish.
To maintain healthy nails, the elderly should also scrub the underside of their nails with soap and water, moisturize their nails and cuticles, avoid biting or chewing their nails, eat nutritious foods rich in calcium and vitamins B and C, and use sterilized nail grooming tools.
: Fingernail Care for the Elderly - assisting hands-il-wi.com: Fingernails: Do’s and don’ts for healthy nails - Mayo Clinic: Nail Hygiene | CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is C.
Living arrangements and social support.
This is because living arrangements and social support are some of the environmental factors that can influence the psychosocial changes in older adults.Psychosocial changes refer to the changes in mental and emotional well-being, social relationships, and roles that occur as people age.Environmental factors are the external conditions or circumstances that affect a person’s life.
Choice A is wrong because physical health and functional status are not environmental factors, but rather biological factors that affect the aging process.Physical health and functional status can influence the psychosocial changes in older adults, but they are not part of the environment.
Choice B is wrong because cognitive conditions and memory loss are also not environmental factors, but rather neurological factors that affect the brain function of older adults.Cognitive conditions and memory loss can also influence the psychosocial changes in older adults, but they are not part of the environment.
Choice D is wrong because hormonal changes and sensory impairments are also not environmental factors, but rather physiological factors that affect the body function of older adults.Hormonal changes and sensory impairments can also influence the psychosocial changes in older adults, but they are not part of the environment.
Living arrangements and social support are environmental factors because they depend on the availability, accessibility, and quality of housing, transportation, community services, family networks, and social interactions that older adults have in their surroundings.Living arrangements and social support can influence the psychosocial changes in older adults by affecting their sense of independence, identity, belonging, security, and satisfaction.
Therefore, living arrangements and social support are some of the environmental factors that can influence the psychosocial changes in older adults.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
The correct answer is D.
Digit Span Test (DST).
The DST is a tool that can be used to assess the client’s attention span and concentration by asking them to repeat a series of digits forward and backward (Martin, 1990).
The DST is part of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which is a broader tool that covers other domains of cognitive functioning, such as orientation, memory, language, and visuospatial skills (Folstein et al., 1975).
Choice A is wrong because the MMSE is not a specific tool for attention span and concentration, but rather a general screening tool for cognitive impairment.
Choice B is wrong because the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is a tool that can be used to diagnose delirium, but not to assess attention span and concentration.
The CAM focuses on four features of delirium: acute onset and fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered level of consciousness (Inouye et al., 1990).
Choice C is wrong because the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a tool that can be used to assess visuospatial skills and executive function, but not attention span and concentration.
The CDT requires the client to draw a clock face with numbers and hands indicating a specific time (Shulman et al., 1986).
Normal ranges for the DST vary depending on the age and education level of the client, but generally a score of 5 or more digits forward and 4 or more digits backward is considered normal (Martin, 1990).
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