NR 601 Primary Care of the Maturing and Aged Family |
Comprehensive Exam 1-3 Review Questions and
Answers with Rationales 2026/2027
This practice bank is designed for graduate nursing students preparing for comprehensive
assessment and primary-care examinations involving older adults and the aging family. It
emphasizes health promotion, preventive care, geriatric syndromes, pharmacology, chronic
disease management, screening, functional assessment, cognitive and mental health, and
evidence-informed primary-care decision-making.
Topics covered:
Aging physiology and health promotion
Comprehensive geriatric assessment
Preventive care and screening
Cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders
Endocrine and metabolic disorders
Neurologic and cognitive disorders
Musculoskeletal conditions
Gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders
Dermatologic conditions
Mental health
Polypharmacy and medication safety
Falls and functional impairment
Nutrition and frailty
Palliative and end-of-life care
Health maintenance and patient education
,EXAM 1
1.
Which physiologic change is most characteristic of normal aging?
A. Increased total body water
B. Increased renal clearance
C. Decreased muscle mass
D. Increased lung elasticity
Answer: C
Rationale: Sarcopenia and declining muscle mass are common
physiologic changes of aging.
2.
Which cardiovascular change commonly occurs with aging?
A. Increased arterial stiffness
B. Increased maximal heart rate
C. Decreased left ventricular wall thickness
D. Increased vascular compliance
Answer: A
Rationale: Arterial stiffening contributes to increased systolic blood
pressure in older adults.
3.
Which finding should the clinician consider abnormal rather than an
inevitable consequence of aging?
A. Mild presbyopia
B. Reduced skin elasticity
C. New-onset confusion
D. Decreased muscle mass
,Answer: C
Rationale: Acute or new confusion requires evaluation for delirium,
medication effects, infection, metabolic abnormalities, or other
pathology.
4.
The most appropriate initial approach to a new complaint in an older
adult is to:
A. Attribute it to aging
B. Obtain a comprehensive history and examination
C. Immediately prescribe medication
D. Focus only on the chief complaint
Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults often have atypical presentations and multiple
interacting conditions.
5.
Which assessment best evaluates a patient's ability to bathe, dress, and
toilet independently?
A. Mini-Cog
B. Activities of daily living assessment
C. PHQ-9
D. Clock-drawing test
Answer: B
Rationale: ADLs include basic self-care activities such as bathing,
dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.
6.
Which is an instrumental activity of daily living?
, A. Feeding
B. Bathing
C. Medication management
D. Toileting
Answer: C
Rationale: IADLs include higher-level tasks such as medication
management, finances, transportation, shopping, and meal
preparation.
7.
Which finding is most suggestive of frailty?
A. Stable weight and normal gait
B. High physical activity
C. Unintentional weight loss and weakness
D. Increased muscle strength
Answer: C
Rationale: Frailty commonly involves weight loss, weakness,
exhaustion, reduced activity, and slow gait.
8.
Which factor is most strongly associated with falls in older adults?
A. Polypharmacy
B. Increased muscle strength
C. Regular exercise
D. Corrective lenses
Answer: A
Rationale: Multiple medications, particularly psychoactive and
antihypertensive drugs, increase fall risk.
9.
Comprehensive Exam 1-3 Review Questions and
Answers with Rationales 2026/2027
This practice bank is designed for graduate nursing students preparing for comprehensive
assessment and primary-care examinations involving older adults and the aging family. It
emphasizes health promotion, preventive care, geriatric syndromes, pharmacology, chronic
disease management, screening, functional assessment, cognitive and mental health, and
evidence-informed primary-care decision-making.
Topics covered:
Aging physiology and health promotion
Comprehensive geriatric assessment
Preventive care and screening
Cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders
Endocrine and metabolic disorders
Neurologic and cognitive disorders
Musculoskeletal conditions
Gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders
Dermatologic conditions
Mental health
Polypharmacy and medication safety
Falls and functional impairment
Nutrition and frailty
Palliative and end-of-life care
Health maintenance and patient education
,EXAM 1
1.
Which physiologic change is most characteristic of normal aging?
A. Increased total body water
B. Increased renal clearance
C. Decreased muscle mass
D. Increased lung elasticity
Answer: C
Rationale: Sarcopenia and declining muscle mass are common
physiologic changes of aging.
2.
Which cardiovascular change commonly occurs with aging?
A. Increased arterial stiffness
B. Increased maximal heart rate
C. Decreased left ventricular wall thickness
D. Increased vascular compliance
Answer: A
Rationale: Arterial stiffening contributes to increased systolic blood
pressure in older adults.
3.
Which finding should the clinician consider abnormal rather than an
inevitable consequence of aging?
A. Mild presbyopia
B. Reduced skin elasticity
C. New-onset confusion
D. Decreased muscle mass
,Answer: C
Rationale: Acute or new confusion requires evaluation for delirium,
medication effects, infection, metabolic abnormalities, or other
pathology.
4.
The most appropriate initial approach to a new complaint in an older
adult is to:
A. Attribute it to aging
B. Obtain a comprehensive history and examination
C. Immediately prescribe medication
D. Focus only on the chief complaint
Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults often have atypical presentations and multiple
interacting conditions.
5.
Which assessment best evaluates a patient's ability to bathe, dress, and
toilet independently?
A. Mini-Cog
B. Activities of daily living assessment
C. PHQ-9
D. Clock-drawing test
Answer: B
Rationale: ADLs include basic self-care activities such as bathing,
dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.
6.
Which is an instrumental activity of daily living?
, A. Feeding
B. Bathing
C. Medication management
D. Toileting
Answer: C
Rationale: IADLs include higher-level tasks such as medication
management, finances, transportation, shopping, and meal
preparation.
7.
Which finding is most suggestive of frailty?
A. Stable weight and normal gait
B. High physical activity
C. Unintentional weight loss and weakness
D. Increased muscle strength
Answer: C
Rationale: Frailty commonly involves weight loss, weakness,
exhaustion, reduced activity, and slow gait.
8.
Which factor is most strongly associated with falls in older adults?
A. Polypharmacy
B. Increased muscle strength
C. Regular exercise
D. Corrective lenses
Answer: A
Rationale: Multiple medications, particularly psychoactive and
antihypertensive drugs, increase fall risk.
9.
