NUR 257 Exam 1 | Concepts of Aging and Chronic Illness (2026)
Q&A | Galen College
1. A 72-year-old patient is being admitted to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after a hip
fracture. When planning care, the nurse's primary focus should be on which of the following?
A) Curing the underlying disease that caused the fall
B) Assisting the patient to achieve the highest possible level of wellness
C) Preparing the patient for long-term institutional care
D) Performing all activities of daily living for the patient
Correct Answer: B) Assisting the patient to achieve the highest possible level of wellness
Rationale: The role of the gerontological nurse is to assist the older person in achieving the
highest level of wellness in relation to their current situation, empowering and supporting them
to reach their goals. The focus is on optimizing function and quality of life, not just managing a
disease or preparing for institutionalization .
2. A nurse is caring for an 85-year-old patient who is a "super-centenarian." The nurse
understands that this term refers to an individual who is at least which age?
A) 100 years old
B) 105 years old
C) 110 years old
D) 115 years old
Correct Answer: C) 110 years old
,Rationale: A super-centenarian is defined as a person who has lived to at least 110 years of age.
This group emerged in the 1960s and represents the oldest segment of the aging population .
3. The nurse is assessing a 78-year-old patient. Which of the following age-related skin changes
is expected?
A) Increased skin thickness and elasticity
B) Increased oiliness and moisture
C) Thinner, less elastic, and drier skin
D) Increased melanin production
Correct Answer: C) Thinner, less elastic, and drier skin
Rationale: Normal age-related skin changes include thinning of the skin, loss of elasticity,
decreased oil production leading to dryness, and lighter skin color due to reduced melanin.
These changes increase the risk of skin tears and injury .
4. An older adult patient has a lower baseline body temperature. Which of the following is an
important nursing implication of this age-related change?
A) The patient is less likely to develop a fever
B) The patient's temperature should be monitored more frequently
C) The patient may have an infection without a significant fever
D) The patient's temperature should be maintained at a higher baseline
Correct Answer: C) The patient may have an infection without a significant fever
,Rationale: In older adults, the immune system is less responsive, and baseline body
temperature tends to be lower. Therefore, a normal or slightly elevated temperature may not
indicate an infection. If an older patient has a change in level of consciousness or other signs of
infection without a fever, the nurse should still evaluate for a potential infection .
5. The nurse is teaching a group of older adults about health-promoting behaviors. Which of the
following recommendations is most appropriate?
A) Avoid all sun exposure to prevent skin cancer
B) Reduce dietary fat to not more than 30% of calories
C) Exercise 1-2 times a week
D) Limit calcium intake to 500 mg daily
Correct Answer: B) Reduce dietary fat to not more than 30% of calories
Rationale: Health-promoting behaviors for older adults include reducing dietary fat to no more
than 30% of total calories, with saturated fat to less than 10%. Other recommendations include
increasing calcium intake to 1,000-1,500 mg daily, exercising 3-5 times a week, and spending 10-
15 minutes in the sun 2-3 times weekly for vitamin D .
6. A nurse is providing care to an older adult from a different cultural background. Which of the
following actions best demonstrates cultural proficiency?
A) Treating all patients the same way regardless of their culture
B) Learning about the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
C) Assuming the patient shares the nurse's own cultural values
D) Focusing only on the patient's medical condition
Correct Answer: B) Learning about the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
, Rationale: Cultural proficiency requires a willingness to become self-aware, learn the
perspectives of others, and apply new skills to support their personal and cultural strengths.
This includes becoming familiar with one's own cultural perspectives, examining personal
biases, remaining open to viewpoints that are different, and appreciating the worth of all
persons .
7. The nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about normal age-related changes in the
cardiovascular system. Which physiological change is considered a NORMAL part of aging?
A) Decreased systolic blood pressure
B) Increased cardiac output at rest
C) Increased vascular stiffness and decreased arterial compliance
D) Decreased left ventricular wall thickness
Correct Answer: C) Increased vascular stiffness and decreased arterial compliance
Rationale: With normal aging, there is increased vascular stiffness and decreased arterial
compliance due to changes in the elastin and collagen content of vessel walls. This leads to
increased systolic blood pressure, not decreased. Cardiac output typically decreases with age,
and left ventricular wall thickness often increases, not decreases .
8. An 82-year-old patient asks the nurse why she feels colder than when she was younger. The
nurse's best response is based on the understanding that age-related changes include which of
the following?
A) Increased metabolic rate
B) Decreased subcutaneous fat and diminished thermoregulatory efficiency
C) Enhanced peripheral circulation
Q&A | Galen College
1. A 72-year-old patient is being admitted to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after a hip
fracture. When planning care, the nurse's primary focus should be on which of the following?
A) Curing the underlying disease that caused the fall
B) Assisting the patient to achieve the highest possible level of wellness
C) Preparing the patient for long-term institutional care
D) Performing all activities of daily living for the patient
Correct Answer: B) Assisting the patient to achieve the highest possible level of wellness
Rationale: The role of the gerontological nurse is to assist the older person in achieving the
highest level of wellness in relation to their current situation, empowering and supporting them
to reach their goals. The focus is on optimizing function and quality of life, not just managing a
disease or preparing for institutionalization .
2. A nurse is caring for an 85-year-old patient who is a "super-centenarian." The nurse
understands that this term refers to an individual who is at least which age?
A) 100 years old
B) 105 years old
C) 110 years old
D) 115 years old
Correct Answer: C) 110 years old
,Rationale: A super-centenarian is defined as a person who has lived to at least 110 years of age.
This group emerged in the 1960s and represents the oldest segment of the aging population .
3. The nurse is assessing a 78-year-old patient. Which of the following age-related skin changes
is expected?
A) Increased skin thickness and elasticity
B) Increased oiliness and moisture
C) Thinner, less elastic, and drier skin
D) Increased melanin production
Correct Answer: C) Thinner, less elastic, and drier skin
Rationale: Normal age-related skin changes include thinning of the skin, loss of elasticity,
decreased oil production leading to dryness, and lighter skin color due to reduced melanin.
These changes increase the risk of skin tears and injury .
4. An older adult patient has a lower baseline body temperature. Which of the following is an
important nursing implication of this age-related change?
A) The patient is less likely to develop a fever
B) The patient's temperature should be monitored more frequently
C) The patient may have an infection without a significant fever
D) The patient's temperature should be maintained at a higher baseline
Correct Answer: C) The patient may have an infection without a significant fever
,Rationale: In older adults, the immune system is less responsive, and baseline body
temperature tends to be lower. Therefore, a normal or slightly elevated temperature may not
indicate an infection. If an older patient has a change in level of consciousness or other signs of
infection without a fever, the nurse should still evaluate for a potential infection .
5. The nurse is teaching a group of older adults about health-promoting behaviors. Which of the
following recommendations is most appropriate?
A) Avoid all sun exposure to prevent skin cancer
B) Reduce dietary fat to not more than 30% of calories
C) Exercise 1-2 times a week
D) Limit calcium intake to 500 mg daily
Correct Answer: B) Reduce dietary fat to not more than 30% of calories
Rationale: Health-promoting behaviors for older adults include reducing dietary fat to no more
than 30% of total calories, with saturated fat to less than 10%. Other recommendations include
increasing calcium intake to 1,000-1,500 mg daily, exercising 3-5 times a week, and spending 10-
15 minutes in the sun 2-3 times weekly for vitamin D .
6. A nurse is providing care to an older adult from a different cultural background. Which of the
following actions best demonstrates cultural proficiency?
A) Treating all patients the same way regardless of their culture
B) Learning about the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
C) Assuming the patient shares the nurse's own cultural values
D) Focusing only on the patient's medical condition
Correct Answer: B) Learning about the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
, Rationale: Cultural proficiency requires a willingness to become self-aware, learn the
perspectives of others, and apply new skills to support their personal and cultural strengths.
This includes becoming familiar with one's own cultural perspectives, examining personal
biases, remaining open to viewpoints that are different, and appreciating the worth of all
persons .
7. The nurse is teaching a group of nursing students about normal age-related changes in the
cardiovascular system. Which physiological change is considered a NORMAL part of aging?
A) Decreased systolic blood pressure
B) Increased cardiac output at rest
C) Increased vascular stiffness and decreased arterial compliance
D) Decreased left ventricular wall thickness
Correct Answer: C) Increased vascular stiffness and decreased arterial compliance
Rationale: With normal aging, there is increased vascular stiffness and decreased arterial
compliance due to changes in the elastin and collagen content of vessel walls. This leads to
increased systolic blood pressure, not decreased. Cardiac output typically decreases with age,
and left ventricular wall thickness often increases, not decreases .
8. An 82-year-old patient asks the nurse why she feels colder than when she was younger. The
nurse's best response is based on the understanding that age-related changes include which of
the following?
A) Increased metabolic rate
B) Decreased subcutaneous fat and diminished thermoregulatory efficiency
C) Enhanced peripheral circulation
