Factors Influencing Aging (Nursing)

00:01 Now you know, no matter what you studied in nursing, we always talk about modifiable risk factors and non-modifiable risk factors.

00:10 So we're going to take a look at the factors that influence aging.

00:13 Genetics is an example of a non-modifiable risk factor.

00:18 You get what you get genetically, right? So we can't really control these once you have it.

00:24 But there are factors that are modifiable.

00:27 These factors influence aging for all of us.

00:30 So we can control these.

00:32 And these can make a huge difference for all of us.

00:36 Now, honestly, you're not going to be surprised by what you see here because this is a common theme throughout all of health care.

00:43 These are things that we can control.

00:45 And the better choices we make in each one of these areas, the better our health will be.

00:50 So the first one up, that's a rough one, exercise.

00:55 I struggle with that myself.

00:57 There's times when I'm great and times when it's really, really tough to do it.

01:01 But our level of activity really plays an influence and a role in how our body ages.

01:07 Diet choices.

01:08 You see what we have there, healthy things you see fish and fruits, that's what you're looking for as far as a healthy lifestyle, choice and food.

01:17 Now, alcohol becomes a very personal subject.

01:21 I know.

01:22 But anything in excess is not a good thing for your body.

01:26 The last one is tobacco.

01:28 Hey, just know no judgment here.

01:31 If that's a habit that you or your patients struggle with, be kind.

01:36 It's a really tough habit to kick.

01:38 Nicotine is incredibly addictive.

01:42 So the most important thing you can do for any patient at any age they are is don't judge.

01:49 Be calm, be supportive, keep warm facial expression and eye contact and just talk to them about it.

01:58 You don't have to tell someone who smokes that it's not a good idea.

02:01 You don't have to tell someone who drinks excessively that it's not a good idea.

02:05 Someone who's overweight knows they're overweight.

02:08 Our job as nurses is to advocate for them and to help that patient become equipped with the motivation and the tools to make healthier choices.

02:17 Because Jose, he was able to make these choices.

02:20 He stayed very active, and he watched his diet.

02:23 So he really made healthy choices.

02:26 He also chose to stay away from excessive alcohol and he never smoked.

02:32 So those were things in his favor and his healthy habits paid off.

02:36 And we'll show you that system by system.

02:39 Now when it comes to Enrique unfortunately, he made some different choices and had a different outcome.

02:45 He was not active.

02:47 His diet choices involve more palatable foods, right? Those hyper palatable foods like burgers and french fries and high fat and high carb types of food.

02:58 Alcohol was a part of his daily life and not in a limited way.

03:04 He also smoked from a very early age on.

03:07 So we're going to show you that some of the diseases that developed with Enrique came from lifestyle choices.

03:14 Even though that's true, when patients come to us for treatment, it is not the place for judgment.

03:21 It's the time to just it is what it is, connect with them and help move them from where they are to the next step toward a healthier lifestyle.

03:32 Now let's talk about what all nurses need to know for your taking your NCLEX exam, you need to be able to recognize normal aging from pathological processes.

03:43 Because that will help you develop the appropriate interventions.

03:46 So you want to be able to know normal aging from the pathological processes and that means things that are associated with disease.

03:55 Second thing, you want to understand how age-related changes predispose older clients to certain diseases.

04:01 Now, that's a weird word I know predispose.

04:04 Really just what that means is you want to understand how the normal age related changes make an older client more susceptible or more vulnerable to specific diseases.

04:16 Third piece, I want you to recognize that the interactions of normal aging and symptoms response to treatment and outcomes.

04:24 Elderly people or geriatric clients don't respond to diseases, like people in their middle age.

04:31 They respond to infections differently, they respond to pneumonia differently.

04:35 We'll go over that in detail in the following sections.

04:39 So before we go on, there are 3 key things, 3 pieces that I want you to have in mind before we continue in the video series.

04:47 So do me a favor, pause the video, reword those three statements into your own words that make more sense to you.

04:55 And just jot a quick note on your notes.

04:59 Now if you're in nursing school which is probably why you're watching this video, you've already seen this model odds are.

05:07 This is the NCSBN.

05:08 Those are the people that write the NCLEX, Nursing Clinical Judgment Model.

05:14 It looks a little bit overwhelming.

05:16 And we'll go over this in other parts of the videos.

05:18 But here's what I want you to see.

05:20 One of the first steps in that 6-step process of the NCBSN Nursing Clinical Judgment Model is recognizing cues and analyzing cues and then you're going to formulate a hypothesis.

05:33 That's what we're going to teach you in this video series.

05:36 So hang with us when we talk about geriatric clients.

05:40 Remember who is your favorite elderly client.

05:43 And we'll walk through this steps with Enrique and Jose.