NCLEX Exam Practice Question of the Week - 05/11/11

Elsevier NCLEX Exam Review

Question: The nurse is providing an educational session to new employees, and the topic is abuse of the older client. The nurse helps the employees identify that which client is most typical of a victim of abuse?

1. A 75-year-old man with moderate hypertension.
2. A 68-year-old man with newly diagnosed cataracts
3. A 90-year-old woman with advanced Parkinson's disease
4. A 70-year-old woman with early diagnosed Lyme disease

Answer: 3

Rationale: Elder abuse includes physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, misuse of property, and violation of rights. The typical abuse victim is a woman of advanced age with few social contacts and at least one physical or mental impairment that limits her ability to perform activities of daily living. In addition, the client usually lives alone or with the abuser and depends on the abuser for care.

Test-Taking Strategy: Read each option carefully and identify the client who is most defenseless as the result of the disease process. This will direct you to option 3. If you had difficulty with this question review the characteristics associated with elder abuse.

Level of Cognitive Ability: Applying
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
Integrated Process: Teaching and Learning
Content Area: Mental health

Reference: Ebersole, P., Hess, P., Touhy, T., Jett, K., & Luggen, A. (2008). Toward Healthy Aging (7th ed., p. 453). St. Louis: Mosby.

This week’s NCLEX exam practice question came from:
Silvestri: Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination, 5th edition, Chapter 35, Question 360


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