CARE OF OLDER ADULTS NCLEX UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A PLUS
CARE OF Older Adults Nclex Questions
Certification Evaluation TEST Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest Update 2026/2027
Question:
● When developing the plan of care for an older adult who is hospitalized for an acute illness, the
nurse should A. use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan. B. plan for likely long-term-care
transfer to allow additional time for recovery. C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when
setting patient goals. D. minimize activity level during hospitalization.
Answer:
C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient goals. Rationale: The plan of
care for older adults should be individualized and based on the patients current functional abilities.
A standardized geriatric nursing care plan is unlikely to address individual patient needs and
strengths. A patients need for discharge to a long-term-care facility is variable. Activity level should
be designed to allow the patient to retain functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any
additional rest needed for recovery from the acute process.
Question:
● Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making a visit to an 88-year-old with
mild forgetfulness is of the most concern? A. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the
patient's medications weekly. B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month. C.
The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a son at night. D. The patient
tells the nurse that a close friend recently died.
Answer:
B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month. Rationale: A 10-pound weight loss
may be an indication of elder neglect or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse.
Question:
● A 70-year-old client asks the nurse to explain to her about hypertension. An appropriate response
by the nurse as to why older clients often have hypertension is due to: A. Myocardial muscle
damage B. Reduction in physical activity C. Ingestion of foods high in sodium D. Accumulation of
plaque on arterial walls
,Answer:
D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
Question:
● In reviewing changes in the older adult, the nurse recognizes that which of the following
statements related to cognitive functioning in the older client is true? A. Delirium is usually easily
distinguished from irreversible dementia. B. Therapeutic drug intoxication is a common cause of
senile dementia. C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of delirium. D.
Cognitive deterioration is an inevitable outcome of the human aging process.
Answer:
C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of delirium. Rationale: Delirium is
a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that is often due to a physiological cause such as an
electrolyte imbalance, cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medications, tumors, cerebrovascular
infection, or hemorrhage.
Question:
● Which of the following interventions should be taken to help an older client to prevent
osteoporosis? A. Decrease dietary calcium intake. B. Increase sedentary lifestyles C. Increase
dietary protein intake. D. Encourage regular exercise.
Answer:
D. Encourage regular exercise. Rationale: Key word in question is prevent Weight-bearing exercises
helps to fight off degeneration of bone in osteoporosis
Question:
● Which of the following statements accurately reflects data that the nurse should use in planning
care to meet the needs of the older adult? A. 50% of older adults have two chronic health problems.
B. Cancer is the most common cause of death among older adults. C. Nutritional needs for both
younger and older adults are essentially the same. D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the
greatest users of prescription medications.
Answer:
D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of prescription medications. Rationale:
Approximately two thirds of older adults use prescription and nonprescription drugs with one third
, of all prescriptions being written for older adults
Question:
● The nurse is aware that the majority of older adults: A. Live alone B. Live in institutional settings
C. Are unable to care for themselves D. Are actively involved in their community
Answer:
D. Are actively involved in their community
Question:
● The nurse works with elderly clients in a wellness screening clinic on a weekly basis. Which of
the following statements made by the nurse is the most therapeutic regarding their mobility? A.
"Your shoulder pain is normal for your age." B. "Continue to exercise your joints regularly to your
tolerance level." C. "Why don't you begin walking 3 to 4 miles a day, and we'll evaluate how you
feel next week." D. "Don't worry about taking that combination of medications since your doctor
has prescribed them."
Answer:
B. "Continue to exercise your joints regularly to your tolerance level."
Question:
● A long-term care facility sponsors a discussion group on the administration of medications. The
participants have a number of questions concerning their medications. The nurse responds most
appropriately by saying: A. "Don't worry about the medication's name if you can identify it by its
color and shape." B. "Unless you have severe side affects, don't worry about the minor changes in
the way you feel." C. "Feel free to ask your physician why you are receiving the medications that are
prescribed for you." D. "Remember that the hepatic system is primarily responsible for the
pharmacotherapeutics of your medications."
Answer:
C. "Feel free to ask your physician why you are receiving the medications that are prescribed for
you." Rationale: The nurse should encourage the older adult to question the physician and/or
pharmacist about all prescribed drugs and over-the- counter drugs. The older adult should be taught
the names of all drugs being taken, when and how to take them, and the desirable and undesirable
effects of the drugs.
ANSWERS GRADED A PLUS
CARE OF Older Adults Nclex Questions
Certification Evaluation TEST Questions and
Answers Verified Solutions Latest Update 2026/2027
Question:
● When developing the plan of care for an older adult who is hospitalized for an acute illness, the
nurse should A. use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan. B. plan for likely long-term-care
transfer to allow additional time for recovery. C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when
setting patient goals. D. minimize activity level during hospitalization.
Answer:
C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient goals. Rationale: The plan of
care for older adults should be individualized and based on the patients current functional abilities.
A standardized geriatric nursing care plan is unlikely to address individual patient needs and
strengths. A patients need for discharge to a long-term-care facility is variable. Activity level should
be designed to allow the patient to retain functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any
additional rest needed for recovery from the acute process.
Question:
● Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making a visit to an 88-year-old with
mild forgetfulness is of the most concern? A. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the
patient's medications weekly. B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month. C.
The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a son at night. D. The patient
tells the nurse that a close friend recently died.
Answer:
B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month. Rationale: A 10-pound weight loss
may be an indication of elder neglect or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse.
Question:
● A 70-year-old client asks the nurse to explain to her about hypertension. An appropriate response
by the nurse as to why older clients often have hypertension is due to: A. Myocardial muscle
damage B. Reduction in physical activity C. Ingestion of foods high in sodium D. Accumulation of
plaque on arterial walls
,Answer:
D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
Question:
● In reviewing changes in the older adult, the nurse recognizes that which of the following
statements related to cognitive functioning in the older client is true? A. Delirium is usually easily
distinguished from irreversible dementia. B. Therapeutic drug intoxication is a common cause of
senile dementia. C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of delirium. D.
Cognitive deterioration is an inevitable outcome of the human aging process.
Answer:
C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of delirium. Rationale: Delirium is
a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that is often due to a physiological cause such as an
electrolyte imbalance, cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medications, tumors, cerebrovascular
infection, or hemorrhage.
Question:
● Which of the following interventions should be taken to help an older client to prevent
osteoporosis? A. Decrease dietary calcium intake. B. Increase sedentary lifestyles C. Increase
dietary protein intake. D. Encourage regular exercise.
Answer:
D. Encourage regular exercise. Rationale: Key word in question is prevent Weight-bearing exercises
helps to fight off degeneration of bone in osteoporosis
Question:
● Which of the following statements accurately reflects data that the nurse should use in planning
care to meet the needs of the older adult? A. 50% of older adults have two chronic health problems.
B. Cancer is the most common cause of death among older adults. C. Nutritional needs for both
younger and older adults are essentially the same. D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the
greatest users of prescription medications.
Answer:
D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of prescription medications. Rationale:
Approximately two thirds of older adults use prescription and nonprescription drugs with one third
, of all prescriptions being written for older adults
Question:
● The nurse is aware that the majority of older adults: A. Live alone B. Live in institutional settings
C. Are unable to care for themselves D. Are actively involved in their community
Answer:
D. Are actively involved in their community
Question:
● The nurse works with elderly clients in a wellness screening clinic on a weekly basis. Which of
the following statements made by the nurse is the most therapeutic regarding their mobility? A.
"Your shoulder pain is normal for your age." B. "Continue to exercise your joints regularly to your
tolerance level." C. "Why don't you begin walking 3 to 4 miles a day, and we'll evaluate how you
feel next week." D. "Don't worry about taking that combination of medications since your doctor
has prescribed them."
Answer:
B. "Continue to exercise your joints regularly to your tolerance level."
Question:
● A long-term care facility sponsors a discussion group on the administration of medications. The
participants have a number of questions concerning their medications. The nurse responds most
appropriately by saying: A. "Don't worry about the medication's name if you can identify it by its
color and shape." B. "Unless you have severe side affects, don't worry about the minor changes in
the way you feel." C. "Feel free to ask your physician why you are receiving the medications that are
prescribed for you." D. "Remember that the hepatic system is primarily responsible for the
pharmacotherapeutics of your medications."
Answer:
C. "Feel free to ask your physician why you are receiving the medications that are prescribed for
you." Rationale: The nurse should encourage the older adult to question the physician and/or
pharmacist about all prescribed drugs and over-the- counter drugs. The older adult should be taught
the names of all drugs being taken, when and how to take them, and the desirable and undesirable
effects of the drugs.
