1
NURS6540 Exam Study
Guide 2025 – Actual
Advanced Practice Care of
Frail Elders | Verified Walden
University Prep
Question 1
An 82-year-old patient with frailty presents with new-onset confusion. Which assessment tool is
most appropriate to evaluate delirium?
A. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
B. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
C. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
D. Clock Drawing Test
Correct Answer: B. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
Rationale: The CAM is the gold standard for assessing delirium in frail elders, focusing on acute
onset, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered consciousness, per Walden University
guidelines for geriatric assessment.
Question 2
A 78-year-old frail elder with heart failure reports increased dyspnea. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Bilateral crackles in lung bases
B. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
C. Peripheral edema
D. Weight gain of 1 kg in a week
Correct Answer: A. Bilateral crackles in lung bases
Rationale: Bilateral crackles indicate pulmonary edema, a life-threatening complication of heart
, 2
failure in frail elders, requiring urgent intervention to prevent respiratory failure, per Walden
University cardiac care standards.
Question 3
A nurse practitioner is prescribing medication for an 85-year-old with polypharmacy. Which tool
should be used to assess medication appropriateness?
A. Beers Criteria
B. STOPP/START Criteria
C. Charlson Comorbidity Index
D. FRAIL Scale
Correct Answer: B. STOPP/START Criteria
Rationale: The STOPP/START Criteria identify potentially inappropriate medications and
omissions in older adults, reducing polypharmacy risks in frail elders, per Walden University
pharmacology guidelines.
Question 4
An 80-year-old patient with frailty falls at home. Which risk factor is most likely to contribute to
recurrent falls?
A. Hypertension
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: B. Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a common cause of falls in frail elders due to impaired
blood pressure regulation, requiring assessment and management, per Walden University fall
prevention standards.
Question 5
A 76-year-old frail elder with osteoarthritis reports increased joint pain. Which non-
pharmacologic intervention is most appropriate?
A. High-impact exercise
B. Tai Chi
C. Bed rest
D. Cold compress application
, 3
Correct Answer: B. Tai Chi
Rationale: Tai Chi improves balance, strength, and joint mobility in frail elders with
osteoarthritis, reducing pain and fall risk, per Walden University non-pharmacologic care
guidelines.
Question 6
A 90-year-old patient with dementia exhibits agitation. Which intervention should the nurse
practitioner prioritize?
A. Administer haloperidol immediately
B. Assess for underlying causes
C. Restrain the patient
D. Increase environmental noise
Correct Answer: B. Assess for underlying causes
Rationale: Agitation in frail elders with dementia may stem from pain, infection, or
environmental factors. Assessing for causes is the priority to guide treatment, per Walden
University dementia care standards.
Question 7
An 84-year-old frail elder is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which electrolyte imbalance
should the nurse practitioner monitor?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, causes potassium loss, increasing the risk of
hypokalemia in frail elders, which can lead to arrhythmias, per Walden University pharmacology
standards.
Question 8
A 79-year-old patient with frailty presents with weight loss and anorexia. Which assessment is
most important?
A. Comprehensive geriatric assessment
B. Blood pressure measurement
NURS6540 Exam Study
Guide 2025 – Actual
Advanced Practice Care of
Frail Elders | Verified Walden
University Prep
Question 1
An 82-year-old patient with frailty presents with new-onset confusion. Which assessment tool is
most appropriate to evaluate delirium?
A. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
B. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
C. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
D. Clock Drawing Test
Correct Answer: B. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
Rationale: The CAM is the gold standard for assessing delirium in frail elders, focusing on acute
onset, inattention, disorganized thinking, and altered consciousness, per Walden University
guidelines for geriatric assessment.
Question 2
A 78-year-old frail elder with heart failure reports increased dyspnea. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Bilateral crackles in lung bases
B. Heart rate of 88 beats/min
C. Peripheral edema
D. Weight gain of 1 kg in a week
Correct Answer: A. Bilateral crackles in lung bases
Rationale: Bilateral crackles indicate pulmonary edema, a life-threatening complication of heart
, 2
failure in frail elders, requiring urgent intervention to prevent respiratory failure, per Walden
University cardiac care standards.
Question 3
A nurse practitioner is prescribing medication for an 85-year-old with polypharmacy. Which tool
should be used to assess medication appropriateness?
A. Beers Criteria
B. STOPP/START Criteria
C. Charlson Comorbidity Index
D. FRAIL Scale
Correct Answer: B. STOPP/START Criteria
Rationale: The STOPP/START Criteria identify potentially inappropriate medications and
omissions in older adults, reducing polypharmacy risks in frail elders, per Walden University
pharmacology guidelines.
Question 4
An 80-year-old patient with frailty falls at home. Which risk factor is most likely to contribute to
recurrent falls?
A. Hypertension
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: B. Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a common cause of falls in frail elders due to impaired
blood pressure regulation, requiring assessment and management, per Walden University fall
prevention standards.
Question 5
A 76-year-old frail elder with osteoarthritis reports increased joint pain. Which non-
pharmacologic intervention is most appropriate?
A. High-impact exercise
B. Tai Chi
C. Bed rest
D. Cold compress application
, 3
Correct Answer: B. Tai Chi
Rationale: Tai Chi improves balance, strength, and joint mobility in frail elders with
osteoarthritis, reducing pain and fall risk, per Walden University non-pharmacologic care
guidelines.
Question 6
A 90-year-old patient with dementia exhibits agitation. Which intervention should the nurse
practitioner prioritize?
A. Administer haloperidol immediately
B. Assess for underlying causes
C. Restrain the patient
D. Increase environmental noise
Correct Answer: B. Assess for underlying causes
Rationale: Agitation in frail elders with dementia may stem from pain, infection, or
environmental factors. Assessing for causes is the priority to guide treatment, per Walden
University dementia care standards.
Question 7
An 84-year-old frail elder is prescribed furosemide for heart failure. Which electrolyte imbalance
should the nurse practitioner monitor?
A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Furosemide, a loop diuretic, causes potassium loss, increasing the risk of
hypokalemia in frail elders, which can lead to arrhythmias, per Walden University pharmacology
standards.
Question 8
A 79-year-old patient with frailty presents with weight loss and anorexia. Which assessment is
most important?
A. Comprehensive geriatric assessment
B. Blood pressure measurement
