,Jersey College NUR202 Geriatric Nursing Exam 2 |26/27
| Qs&As & Detailed Rationales
1. Which statement best describes functional ability in an older adult?
A) The absence of all chronic illness
B) The capacity to perform activities necessary for health and daily living
C) The ability to live without any assistance
D) The ability to walk without an assistive device
Correct Answer: The capacity to perform activities necessary for health and daily living
Rationale: Functional ability refers to what an individual can do in daily life, including self-
care, mobility, communication, cognition, household activities, and participation in
personally meaningful roles. An older adult may have several chronic conditions yet retain
excellent function. Likewise, the use of an assistive device does not necessarily indicate poor
function if the device allows safe independence.
2. Which outcome best reflects successful aging?
A) Complete absence of disease
B) High physical and cognitive function with meaningful engagement
C) Withdrawal from all social activities
D) Dependence on others for all ADLs
Correct Answer: High physical and cognitive function with meaningful engagement
Rationale: Models of successful aging generally emphasize minimizing disability,
maintaining cognitive and physical function, and remaining meaningfully engaged with
life. Successful aging does not require absolute absence of chronic disease; many older
adults live well despite chronic conditions when those conditions are effectively managed
and function is preserved.
3. Which intervention is most effective for maintaining function in a hospitalized older
adult?
A) Encourage mobility and self-care as tolerated
B) Maintain strict bed rest
C) Perform all ADLs for the patient
D) Limit oral intake
Correct Answer: Encourage mobility and self-care as tolerated
Rationale: Hospital-associated deconditioning can develop rapidly in older adults. Early
mobility and participation in self-care help preserve muscle strength, balance, confidence,
continence, respiratory function, and independence. Excessive assistance can
unintentionally promote dependency and functional decline.
, 4. Which finding most strongly suggests frailty?
A) Unintentional weight loss and slowed gait
B) Stable weight and regular exercise
C) High grip strength
D) Independent hiking
Correct Answer: Unintentional weight loss and slowed gait
Rationale: Frailty is characterized by reduced physiologic reserve and vulnerability to
stress. Common indicators include unintentional weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slow
walking speed, and low physical activity. Frailty is not synonymous with chronological age
and may be partially modifiable with exercise, nutrition, and management of contributing
illness.
5. Which assessment best evaluates basic activities of daily living?
A) Katz Index
B) Glasgow Coma Scale
C) APGAR score
D) NIH Stroke Scale
Correct Answer: Katz Index
Rationale: The Katz Index evaluates basic self-care activities such as bathing, dressing,
toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. These tasks are important indicators of
functional independence in older adults.
6. Which task is an instrumental activity of daily living?
A) Managing medications
B) Feeding oneself
C) Toileting
D) Bathing
Correct Answer: Managing medications
Rationale: Instrumental activities of daily living are more complex tasks necessary for
independent community living, including medication management, finances, shopping,
meal preparation, transportation, housekeeping, and communication. Basic ADLs refer to
personal self-care.
7. Which change is most concerning for declining functional status?
A) New inability to manage finances
B) Gray hair
C) Presbyopia
D) Reduced skin elasticity
Correct Answer: New inability to manage finances
| Qs&As & Detailed Rationales
1. Which statement best describes functional ability in an older adult?
A) The absence of all chronic illness
B) The capacity to perform activities necessary for health and daily living
C) The ability to live without any assistance
D) The ability to walk without an assistive device
Correct Answer: The capacity to perform activities necessary for health and daily living
Rationale: Functional ability refers to what an individual can do in daily life, including self-
care, mobility, communication, cognition, household activities, and participation in
personally meaningful roles. An older adult may have several chronic conditions yet retain
excellent function. Likewise, the use of an assistive device does not necessarily indicate poor
function if the device allows safe independence.
2. Which outcome best reflects successful aging?
A) Complete absence of disease
B) High physical and cognitive function with meaningful engagement
C) Withdrawal from all social activities
D) Dependence on others for all ADLs
Correct Answer: High physical and cognitive function with meaningful engagement
Rationale: Models of successful aging generally emphasize minimizing disability,
maintaining cognitive and physical function, and remaining meaningfully engaged with
life. Successful aging does not require absolute absence of chronic disease; many older
adults live well despite chronic conditions when those conditions are effectively managed
and function is preserved.
3. Which intervention is most effective for maintaining function in a hospitalized older
adult?
A) Encourage mobility and self-care as tolerated
B) Maintain strict bed rest
C) Perform all ADLs for the patient
D) Limit oral intake
Correct Answer: Encourage mobility and self-care as tolerated
Rationale: Hospital-associated deconditioning can develop rapidly in older adults. Early
mobility and participation in self-care help preserve muscle strength, balance, confidence,
continence, respiratory function, and independence. Excessive assistance can
unintentionally promote dependency and functional decline.
, 4. Which finding most strongly suggests frailty?
A) Unintentional weight loss and slowed gait
B) Stable weight and regular exercise
C) High grip strength
D) Independent hiking
Correct Answer: Unintentional weight loss and slowed gait
Rationale: Frailty is characterized by reduced physiologic reserve and vulnerability to
stress. Common indicators include unintentional weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slow
walking speed, and low physical activity. Frailty is not synonymous with chronological age
and may be partially modifiable with exercise, nutrition, and management of contributing
illness.
5. Which assessment best evaluates basic activities of daily living?
A) Katz Index
B) Glasgow Coma Scale
C) APGAR score
D) NIH Stroke Scale
Correct Answer: Katz Index
Rationale: The Katz Index evaluates basic self-care activities such as bathing, dressing,
toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. These tasks are important indicators of
functional independence in older adults.
6. Which task is an instrumental activity of daily living?
A) Managing medications
B) Feeding oneself
C) Toileting
D) Bathing
Correct Answer: Managing medications
Rationale: Instrumental activities of daily living are more complex tasks necessary for
independent community living, including medication management, finances, shopping,
meal preparation, transportation, housekeeping, and communication. Basic ADLs refer to
personal self-care.
7. Which change is most concerning for declining functional status?
A) New inability to manage finances
B) Gray hair
C) Presbyopia
D) Reduced skin elasticity
Correct Answer: New inability to manage finances
