,NU 176 Final Exam | Geriatric Nursing |
Comprehensive Questions & Verified Answers |
2026 Edition | Galen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of gerontological nursing?
A) Promoting maximum independence and quality of life through comprehensive assessment and
intervention
B) Curing all chronic illnesses in the older adult population
C) Providing only palliative care at the end of life
D) Focusing exclusively on the medical management of acute illnesses
Correct Answer: Promoting maximum independence and quality of life through comprehensive
assessment and intervention
Rationale: Gerontological nursing emphasizes holistic care that enhances function, prevents
complications, and optimizes well-being, not just cure. It spans health promotion, maintenance, and
end-of-life care across multiple settings.
2. The nurse is caring for an older adult who was admitted for pneumonia and is now experiencing acute
confusion. Which factor most likely contributed to this change?
A) Age-related dementia
B) Hospital environment, medications, and underlying infection
C) Decreased hearing
D) Inadequate staffing
Correct Answer: Hospital environment, medications, and underlying infection
Rationale: Delirium in hospitalized elders often results from multiple factors including medications,
infection, environmental changes, and sensory deprivation. Dementia is chronic; acute change suggests
delirium.
,3. According to the free radical theory of aging, cellular damage is caused by
A) Telomere shortening
B) Accumulation of lipofuscin
C) Unstable molecules that damage DNA and cellular structures
D) Autoimmune responses
Correct Answer: Unstable molecules that damage DNA and cellular structures
Rationale: Free radical theory posits that aging results from oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen
species that accumulate over time, damaging proteins, lipids, and DNA. Telomere shortening is the
cellular senescence theory.
4. The nurse is assessing a 78-year-old client who reports urinary incontinence when laughing or
coughing. The nurse identifies this as
A) Urge incontinence
B) Overflow incontinence
C) Functional incontinence
D) Stress incontinence
Correct Answer: Stress incontinence
Rationale: Stress incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine with increased intra-abdominal pressure,
such as laughing, coughing, or lifting. Urge incontinence involves urgency; overflow is due to bladder
overdistension; functional is inability to reach toilet.
5. Which assessment tool is specifically designed to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults and
takes about 3 minutes?
A) Mini-Cog
B) MMSE
C) MoCA
D) Clock drawing test alone
, Correct Answer: Mini-Cog
Rationale: The Mini-Cog combines 3-item recall and clock drawing, taking 3 minutes, and is highly
sensitive for dementia. MMSE and MoCA take longer; clock drawing alone is less sensitive.
6. The nurse is evaluating an older adult's functional status. The Katz Index assesses which type of
activities?
A) Instrumental activities of daily living such as managing finances
B) Basic activities of daily living such as bathing and toileting
C) Cognitive function
D) Gait and balance
Correct Answer: Basic activities of daily living such as bathing and toileting
Rationale: Katz Index measures independence in six basic ADLs: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring,
continence, and feeding. Instrumental ADLs are assessed by Lawton Scale.
7. Which of the following physiological changes is associated with normal aging of the cardiovascular
system?
A) Decreased systolic blood pressure
B) Increased cardiac output
C) Stiffening of the aorta and reduced baroreceptor sensitivity
D) Increased heart rate variability
Correct Answer: Stiffening of the aorta and reduced baroreceptor sensitivity
Rationale: Aging causes large artery stiffness, leading to isolated systolic hypertension and reduced
baroreflex sensitivity, increasing risk for orthostatic hypotension. Cardiac output at rest is unchanged;
heart rate variability decreases.
Comprehensive Questions & Verified Answers |
2026 Edition | Galen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of gerontological nursing?
A) Promoting maximum independence and quality of life through comprehensive assessment and
intervention
B) Curing all chronic illnesses in the older adult population
C) Providing only palliative care at the end of life
D) Focusing exclusively on the medical management of acute illnesses
Correct Answer: Promoting maximum independence and quality of life through comprehensive
assessment and intervention
Rationale: Gerontological nursing emphasizes holistic care that enhances function, prevents
complications, and optimizes well-being, not just cure. It spans health promotion, maintenance, and
end-of-life care across multiple settings.
2. The nurse is caring for an older adult who was admitted for pneumonia and is now experiencing acute
confusion. Which factor most likely contributed to this change?
A) Age-related dementia
B) Hospital environment, medications, and underlying infection
C) Decreased hearing
D) Inadequate staffing
Correct Answer: Hospital environment, medications, and underlying infection
Rationale: Delirium in hospitalized elders often results from multiple factors including medications,
infection, environmental changes, and sensory deprivation. Dementia is chronic; acute change suggests
delirium.
,3. According to the free radical theory of aging, cellular damage is caused by
A) Telomere shortening
B) Accumulation of lipofuscin
C) Unstable molecules that damage DNA and cellular structures
D) Autoimmune responses
Correct Answer: Unstable molecules that damage DNA and cellular structures
Rationale: Free radical theory posits that aging results from oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen
species that accumulate over time, damaging proteins, lipids, and DNA. Telomere shortening is the
cellular senescence theory.
4. The nurse is assessing a 78-year-old client who reports urinary incontinence when laughing or
coughing. The nurse identifies this as
A) Urge incontinence
B) Overflow incontinence
C) Functional incontinence
D) Stress incontinence
Correct Answer: Stress incontinence
Rationale: Stress incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine with increased intra-abdominal pressure,
such as laughing, coughing, or lifting. Urge incontinence involves urgency; overflow is due to bladder
overdistension; functional is inability to reach toilet.
5. Which assessment tool is specifically designed to screen for cognitive impairment in older adults and
takes about 3 minutes?
A) Mini-Cog
B) MMSE
C) MoCA
D) Clock drawing test alone
, Correct Answer: Mini-Cog
Rationale: The Mini-Cog combines 3-item recall and clock drawing, taking 3 minutes, and is highly
sensitive for dementia. MMSE and MoCA take longer; clock drawing alone is less sensitive.
6. The nurse is evaluating an older adult's functional status. The Katz Index assesses which type of
activities?
A) Instrumental activities of daily living such as managing finances
B) Basic activities of daily living such as bathing and toileting
C) Cognitive function
D) Gait and balance
Correct Answer: Basic activities of daily living such as bathing and toileting
Rationale: Katz Index measures independence in six basic ADLs: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring,
continence, and feeding. Instrumental ADLs are assessed by Lawton Scale.
7. Which of the following physiological changes is associated with normal aging of the cardiovascular
system?
A) Decreased systolic blood pressure
B) Increased cardiac output
C) Stiffening of the aorta and reduced baroreceptor sensitivity
D) Increased heart rate variability
Correct Answer: Stiffening of the aorta and reduced baroreceptor sensitivity
Rationale: Aging causes large artery stiffness, leading to isolated systolic hypertension and reduced
baroreflex sensitivity, increasing risk for orthostatic hypotension. Cardiac output at rest is unchanged;
heart rate variability decreases.
