,NU 176/NU176 Exam 1 | Geriatric Nursing (2026) Q&A |
Galen College
1. Which age range is commonly used to describe the "young - old" population?
A) 55 - 64 years
B) 65 - 74 years
C) 75 - 84 years
D) 85 - 94 years
Correct Answer: 65- 74 years
Rationale: The "young - old" category commonly refers to adults approximately 65 to
74 years of age. This group is often characterized as active and relatively healthy,
distinguishing them from older cohorts with more complex health needs.
2. Which term is commonly used for adults age 85 years and older?
A) Young - old
B) Middle - old
C) Old - old
D) Early - old
Correct Answer: Old- old
Rationale: The old - old category commonly begins at approximately age 85 and
includes older adults with increasing diversity in health and functional status. This
group often experiences more frailty and complex chronic conditions.
3. Which statement about aging is most accurate?
A) Aging is a disease
,B) All older adults experience the same changes
C) Aging is a normal developmental process
D) Functional decline is inevitable
Correct Answer: Aging is a normal developmental process
Rationale: Aging is a normal lifelong process, and older adults vary widely in health,
function, cognition, and independence. Chronologic age alone does not determine an
individual's health or quality of life.
4. An older adult client reports dizziness upon standing. The nurse attributes this to
which age - related cardiovascular change?
A) Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
B) Increased baroreceptor sensitivity
C) Decreased cardiac contractility
D) Increased peripheral resistance
Correct Answer: Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
Rationale: Baroreceptors in the carotid arteries and aorta lose sensitivity with age,
delaying vasoconstriction and heart rate adjustments upon standing. This causes a
transient drop in blood pressure, resulting in dizziness or orthostatic hypotension.
5. Which cardiovascular change is a normal age - related finding in older adults?
A) Increased baroreceptor sensitivity
B) Orthostatic hypotension
C) Increased maximal heart rate
D) Decreased arterial stiffness
Correct Answer: Orthostatic hypotension
, Rationale: Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity and arterial stiffness with aging lead
to orthostatic hypotension, a common finding in older adults. This predisposes older
adults to falls and requires careful monitoring during position changes.
6. An older adult is at higher risk for medication toxicity. The nurse recognizes that
this is primarily due to which physiological change?
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate
B) Decreased glomerular filtration rate
C) Enhanced hepatic metabolism
D) Increased lean body mass
Correct Answer: Decreased glomerular filtration rate
Rationale: Renal function declines with age, reducing the clearance of many drugs.
Decreased GFR prolongs drug half - lives, increasing accumulation and toxicity risk.
Hepatic metabolism also decreases, but reduced renal excretion is the most
significant factor.
7. Which age - related change in the renal system increases the risk of drug toxicity?
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate
B) Decreased renal blood flow
C) Increased bladder capacity
D) Enhanced drug excretion
Correct Answer: Decreased renal blood flow
Rationale: Renal blood flow declines with age, which decreases glomerular filtration
rate and impairs drug clearance. This prolongs the half - life of medications and
increases the risk of toxicity, particularly for drugs excreted renally.
Galen College
1. Which age range is commonly used to describe the "young - old" population?
A) 55 - 64 years
B) 65 - 74 years
C) 75 - 84 years
D) 85 - 94 years
Correct Answer: 65- 74 years
Rationale: The "young - old" category commonly refers to adults approximately 65 to
74 years of age. This group is often characterized as active and relatively healthy,
distinguishing them from older cohorts with more complex health needs.
2. Which term is commonly used for adults age 85 years and older?
A) Young - old
B) Middle - old
C) Old - old
D) Early - old
Correct Answer: Old- old
Rationale: The old - old category commonly begins at approximately age 85 and
includes older adults with increasing diversity in health and functional status. This
group often experiences more frailty and complex chronic conditions.
3. Which statement about aging is most accurate?
A) Aging is a disease
,B) All older adults experience the same changes
C) Aging is a normal developmental process
D) Functional decline is inevitable
Correct Answer: Aging is a normal developmental process
Rationale: Aging is a normal lifelong process, and older adults vary widely in health,
function, cognition, and independence. Chronologic age alone does not determine an
individual's health or quality of life.
4. An older adult client reports dizziness upon standing. The nurse attributes this to
which age - related cardiovascular change?
A) Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
B) Increased baroreceptor sensitivity
C) Decreased cardiac contractility
D) Increased peripheral resistance
Correct Answer: Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity
Rationale: Baroreceptors in the carotid arteries and aorta lose sensitivity with age,
delaying vasoconstriction and heart rate adjustments upon standing. This causes a
transient drop in blood pressure, resulting in dizziness or orthostatic hypotension.
5. Which cardiovascular change is a normal age - related finding in older adults?
A) Increased baroreceptor sensitivity
B) Orthostatic hypotension
C) Increased maximal heart rate
D) Decreased arterial stiffness
Correct Answer: Orthostatic hypotension
, Rationale: Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity and arterial stiffness with aging lead
to orthostatic hypotension, a common finding in older adults. This predisposes older
adults to falls and requires careful monitoring during position changes.
6. An older adult is at higher risk for medication toxicity. The nurse recognizes that
this is primarily due to which physiological change?
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate
B) Decreased glomerular filtration rate
C) Enhanced hepatic metabolism
D) Increased lean body mass
Correct Answer: Decreased glomerular filtration rate
Rationale: Renal function declines with age, reducing the clearance of many drugs.
Decreased GFR prolongs drug half - lives, increasing accumulation and toxicity risk.
Hepatic metabolism also decreases, but reduced renal excretion is the most
significant factor.
7. Which age - related change in the renal system increases the risk of drug toxicity?
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate
B) Decreased renal blood flow
C) Increased bladder capacity
D) Enhanced drug excretion
Correct Answer: Decreased renal blood flow
Rationale: Renal blood flow declines with age, which decreases glomerular filtration
rate and impairs drug clearance. This prolongs the half - life of medications and
increases the risk of toxicity, particularly for drugs excreted renally.
