NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers |
Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness
Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers |
Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
50 100% 2026/2027
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS EDITION
TOPICS COVERED
Physiologic Changes of Aging Cognitive & Functional Decline
Chronic Disease Management Polypharmacy & Medication Safety
Geriatric Syndromes & Falls Palliative & End-of-Life Care
COVER PAGE - 1
, SECTION 1 | Physiologic Changes of Aging | Q1-Q13 | NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026
Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 50
An 82-year-old woman visits the clinic reporting difficulty reading restaurant menus and threading
needles despite having 20/20 distance vision. Pupillary response is intact. Which age-related change
best explains her complaint?
A. Loss of lens elasticity (presbyopia)
B. Nuclear sclerosis of the lens
C. Macular degeneration
D. Increased vitreous floaters
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Presbyopia, caused by loss of lens elasticity and reduced ciliary muscle function, impairs near accommodation
while leaving distance vision intact. Nuclear sclerosis would cloud vision at all distances; macular degeneration
affects central acuity; floaters cause spot-like visual disturbances rather than reading difficulty.
Q2 Question 2 of 50
A 75-year-old male reports gradually needing the television volume louder and having more trouble
understanding speech in noisy restaurants. Audiometry shows symmetric high-frequency sensorineural
loss. Which age-related auditory change is most likely responsible?
A. Cerumen impaction in the external canal
B. Otosclerosis of the stapes
C. Degeneration of hair cells at the cochlear base
D. Recurrent otitis media with effusion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Presbycusis involves progressive loss of cochlear hair cells, particularly at the base where high frequencies are
processed, producing symmetric high-frequency sensorineural loss. Cerumen impaction and otitis media cause
conductive loss; otosclerosis is not an age-related change.
NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 27
, SECTION 1 | Physiologic Changes of Aging | Q1-Q13 | NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026
Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam 2026/2027
Q3 Question 3 of 50
A nurse notes a 78-year-old patient's skin appears paper-thin with multiple ecchymoses on the dorsal
hands despite no trauma. Which age-related skin change most directly accounts for this finding?
A. Decreased melanocyte production
B. Thinning of the dermis and subcutaneous fat
C. Increased sebaceous gland activity
D. Reduced eccrine sweat gland density
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Aging causes dermal thinning and loss of subcutaneous fat, making blood vessels more fragile and prone to
tearing with minor trauma (senile purpura). Decreased melanocytes affect pigmentation; sebaceous changes
cause dryness; sweat gland decline affects thermoregulation.
Q4 Question 4 of 50
An 80-year-old patient becomes lightheaded when moving from supine to standing during a hospital
stay. Vital signs show a 25 mmHg drop in systolic pressure. Which physiologic change of aging
contributes most to orthostatic hypotension in older adults?
A. Increased venous compliance
B. Reduced afterload
C. Enhanced sympathetic response
D. Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Aging reduces baroreceptor sensitivity, blunting the tachycardic and vasoconstrictive response to positional
change and producing measurable orthostatic drops. The other options are either incorrect directions or do not
directly explain the hemodynamic finding.
NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 27
Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT - EXAM
NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness
Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers |
Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
50 100% 2026/2027
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS EDITION
TOPICS COVERED
Physiologic Changes of Aging Cognitive & Functional Decline
Chronic Disease Management Polypharmacy & Medication Safety
Geriatric Syndromes & Falls Palliative & End-of-Life Care
COVER PAGE - 1
, SECTION 1 | Physiologic Changes of Aging | Q1-Q13 | NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026
Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam 2026/2027
Q1 Question 1 of 50
An 82-year-old woman visits the clinic reporting difficulty reading restaurant menus and threading
needles despite having 20/20 distance vision. Pupillary response is intact. Which age-related change
best explains her complaint?
A. Loss of lens elasticity (presbyopia)
B. Nuclear sclerosis of the lens
C. Macular degeneration
D. Increased vitreous floaters
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Presbyopia, caused by loss of lens elasticity and reduced ciliary muscle function, impairs near accommodation
while leaving distance vision intact. Nuclear sclerosis would cloud vision at all distances; macular degeneration
affects central acuity; floaters cause spot-like visual disturbances rather than reading difficulty.
Q2 Question 2 of 50
A 75-year-old male reports gradually needing the television volume louder and having more trouble
understanding speech in noisy restaurants. Audiometry shows symmetric high-frequency sensorineural
loss. Which age-related auditory change is most likely responsible?
A. Cerumen impaction in the external canal
B. Otosclerosis of the stapes
C. Degeneration of hair cells at the cochlear base
D. Recurrent otitis media with effusion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Presbycusis involves progressive loss of cochlear hair cells, particularly at the base where high frequencies are
processed, producing symmetric high-frequency sensorineural loss. Cerumen impaction and otitis media cause
conductive loss; otosclerosis is not an age-related change.
NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 2 of 27
, SECTION 1 | Physiologic Changes of Aging | Q1-Q13 | NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026
Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam 2026/2027
Q3 Question 3 of 50
A nurse notes a 78-year-old patient's skin appears paper-thin with multiple ecchymoses on the dorsal
hands despite no trauma. Which age-related skin change most directly accounts for this finding?
A. Decreased melanocyte production
B. Thinning of the dermis and subcutaneous fat
C. Increased sebaceous gland activity
D. Reduced eccrine sweat gland density
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Aging causes dermal thinning and loss of subcutaneous fat, making blood vessels more fragile and prone to
tearing with minor trauma (senile purpura). Decreased melanocytes affect pigmentation; sebaceous changes
cause dryness; sweat gland decline affects thermoregulation.
Q4 Question 4 of 50
An 80-year-old patient becomes lightheaded when moving from supine to standing during a hospital
stay. Vital signs show a 25 mmHg drop in systolic pressure. Which physiologic change of aging
contributes most to orthostatic hypotension in older adults?
A. Increased venous compliance
B. Reduced afterload
C. Enhanced sympathetic response
D. Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
Aging reduces baroreceptor sensitivity, blunting the tachycardic and vasoconstrictive response to positional
change and producing measurable orthostatic drops. The other options are either incorrect directions or do not
directly explain the hemodynamic finding.
NUR 257 / NUR257 Exam 4: Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Review | 2026 Update | Galen College | Verified Correct Answers | Grade A Guide 2026/2027 - 2026/2027 Official Exam
- 2026/2027 | Passing Score: 80% | Page 3 of 27
