, NSG 300 Exam 4 – Foundations of
Nursing Actual Questions & Answers
(GCU) 100% Guarantee Pass
Q1. A 78-year-old patient is admitted with sudden confusion, disorientation, and
fluctuating attention that developed over the past 24 hours. The patient's family
reports this is "not like him." The nurse suspects which condition?
A. Dementia
B. Delirium
C. Depression
D. Normal aging
Answer: B. Delirium
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute, fluctuating onset of confusion with
impaired attention. It is typically reversible and often triggered by underlying medical
conditions such as infection, electrolyte imbalance, or medication effects. Onset of
delirium should prompt the nurse to assess for pneumonia or UTI.
Q2. Which statement about cognitive changes in older adults is accurate?
A. Forgetfulness is a normal and expected consequence of aging
B. Disorientation is a normal part of aging
C. Structural changes in the brain occur with aging, but forgetfulness is NOT a normal
expectation
D. Loss of calculation ability is a normal part of aging
Answer: C. Structural changes in the brain occur with aging, but forgetfulness is
NOT a normal expectation
Rationale: While structural and physiological changes occur in the aging brain,
forgetfulness is a myth about aging. Disorientation, poor judgment, and loss of ability to
calculate are NOT normal symptoms of cognitive impairment.
,Q3. Which of the following is a standard assessment tool used to determine a
patient's mental status? (Select all that apply)
A. Mini-Mental State Exam-2 (MMSE-2)
B. Mini-Cog
C. Clock Drawing Test
D. Glasgow Coma Scale
Answer: A, B, & C
Rationale: The MMSE-2, Mini-Cog, and Clock Drawing Test are standard assessment
tools for evaluating a patient's mental status. The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to assess
level of consciousness in acute neurological conditions.
Q4. A patient with Alzheimer's disease is exhibiting a gradual, progressive decline
in cognitive function. The nurse understands that this is characteristic of:
A. Delirium
B. Depression
C. Dementia
D. Normal aging
Answer: C. Dementia
Rationale: Dementia is characterized by a gradual, progressive, and irreversible decline
in cerebral function. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.
Q5. A patient with new-onset confusion is found to have a urinary tract infection.
The nurse recognizes that the confusion is most likely due to:
A. Dementia
B. Delirium secondary to infection
C. Depression
D. Normal aging
Answer: B. Delirium secondary to infection
, Rationale: New-onset confusion in an older adult should trigger an assessment for
infection, particularly pneumonia and UTI. Delirium is often reversible once the
underlying cause is treated.
Q6. Which clinical feature is most consistent with delirium?
A. Gradual, progressive decline over years
B. Duration of hours to less than 1 month with fluctuating attention
C. Consistent and stable cognitive deficits
D. Irreversible brain changes
Answer: B. Duration of hours to less than 1 month with fluctuating attention
Rationale: Delirium typically has an acute onset (hours to days), duration of hours to
less than 1 month, and attention that is impaired and fluctuates. It is often reversible.
Q7. The nurse is assessing an older adult with suspected depression. Which
screening tool is most appropriate?
A. Mini-Mental State Exam
B. Geriatric Depression Scale
C. Clock Drawing Test
D. Mini-Cog
Answer: B. Geriatric Depression Scale
Rationale: The Geriatric Depression Scale is a screening tool specifically designed to
detect depression in older adults. Depression is the most common yet most undetected
and untreated condition in older adults.
Q8. A patient with dementia is exhibiting behaviors that interfere with safe
performance of ADLs. The nurse understands that:
A. The patient should be placed in a nursing home immediately
B. Cognitive impairments interfere with safe performance of ADLs even if the patient is
physically capable
Nursing Actual Questions & Answers
(GCU) 100% Guarantee Pass
Q1. A 78-year-old patient is admitted with sudden confusion, disorientation, and
fluctuating attention that developed over the past 24 hours. The patient's family
reports this is "not like him." The nurse suspects which condition?
A. Dementia
B. Delirium
C. Depression
D. Normal aging
Answer: B. Delirium
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute, fluctuating onset of confusion with
impaired attention. It is typically reversible and often triggered by underlying medical
conditions such as infection, electrolyte imbalance, or medication effects. Onset of
delirium should prompt the nurse to assess for pneumonia or UTI.
Q2. Which statement about cognitive changes in older adults is accurate?
A. Forgetfulness is a normal and expected consequence of aging
B. Disorientation is a normal part of aging
C. Structural changes in the brain occur with aging, but forgetfulness is NOT a normal
expectation
D. Loss of calculation ability is a normal part of aging
Answer: C. Structural changes in the brain occur with aging, but forgetfulness is
NOT a normal expectation
Rationale: While structural and physiological changes occur in the aging brain,
forgetfulness is a myth about aging. Disorientation, poor judgment, and loss of ability to
calculate are NOT normal symptoms of cognitive impairment.
,Q3. Which of the following is a standard assessment tool used to determine a
patient's mental status? (Select all that apply)
A. Mini-Mental State Exam-2 (MMSE-2)
B. Mini-Cog
C. Clock Drawing Test
D. Glasgow Coma Scale
Answer: A, B, & C
Rationale: The MMSE-2, Mini-Cog, and Clock Drawing Test are standard assessment
tools for evaluating a patient's mental status. The Glasgow Coma Scale is used to assess
level of consciousness in acute neurological conditions.
Q4. A patient with Alzheimer's disease is exhibiting a gradual, progressive decline
in cognitive function. The nurse understands that this is characteristic of:
A. Delirium
B. Depression
C. Dementia
D. Normal aging
Answer: C. Dementia
Rationale: Dementia is characterized by a gradual, progressive, and irreversible decline
in cerebral function. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.
Q5. A patient with new-onset confusion is found to have a urinary tract infection.
The nurse recognizes that the confusion is most likely due to:
A. Dementia
B. Delirium secondary to infection
C. Depression
D. Normal aging
Answer: B. Delirium secondary to infection
, Rationale: New-onset confusion in an older adult should trigger an assessment for
infection, particularly pneumonia and UTI. Delirium is often reversible once the
underlying cause is treated.
Q6. Which clinical feature is most consistent with delirium?
A. Gradual, progressive decline over years
B. Duration of hours to less than 1 month with fluctuating attention
C. Consistent and stable cognitive deficits
D. Irreversible brain changes
Answer: B. Duration of hours to less than 1 month with fluctuating attention
Rationale: Delirium typically has an acute onset (hours to days), duration of hours to
less than 1 month, and attention that is impaired and fluctuates. It is often reversible.
Q7. The nurse is assessing an older adult with suspected depression. Which
screening tool is most appropriate?
A. Mini-Mental State Exam
B. Geriatric Depression Scale
C. Clock Drawing Test
D. Mini-Cog
Answer: B. Geriatric Depression Scale
Rationale: The Geriatric Depression Scale is a screening tool specifically designed to
detect depression in older adults. Depression is the most common yet most undetected
and untreated condition in older adults.
Q8. A patient with dementia is exhibiting behaviors that interfere with safe
performance of ADLs. The nurse understands that:
A. The patient should be placed in a nursing home immediately
B. Cognitive impairments interfere with safe performance of ADLs even if the patient is
physically capable
