,NUR 257 | Exam 1 | Original Aging & Chronic Illness Practice
NUR 257 exam 1 | Concepts of Aging and Chronic Illness|
2026 Update |100% Correct – Galen College
1. Which statement best reflects the concept of functional status in nursing care of older adults?
A) Only diagnoses matter in geriatric assessment
B) Functional status is unrelated to illness
C) Ability to perform daily activities is a key measure of health in older adults.
D) Function cannot change during hospitalization
Correct Answer: Ability to perform daily activities is a key measure of health in older adults.
Rationale: Ability to perform daily activities is a key measure of health in older adults. The distractors conflict with person-
centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic illness care.
2. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best applies
baselinefunction?
A) Acute illness never changes function
B) A sudden decline from baseline function may be an early sign of acute illness.
C) Older adults always show textbook symptoms
D) Baseline function is irrelevant after admission
Correct Answer: A sudden decline from baseline function may be an early sign of acute illness.
Rationale: A sudden decline from baseline function may be an early sign of acute illness. In clinical practice, this principle
helps preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that older adults may present atypically.
3. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best
appliesmedication reconciliation?
A) Medication reconciliation removes the need for teaching
B) Medication reconciliation replaces allergy assessment
C) Medication reconciliation helps identify omissions, duplications, interactions, and discrepancies at transitions
ofcare.
D) Only controlled drugs require reconciliation
Correct Answer: Medication reconciliation helps identify omissions, duplications, interactions, and
discrepancies at transitions of care.
Rationale: Medication reconciliation helps identify omissions, duplications, interactions, and discrepancies at transitions of
care. In clinical practice, this principle helps preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that
older adults may present atypically.
4. Which statement best reflects the concept of healthy aging in nursing care of older adults?
A) Healthy aging requires complete absence of disease
B) Healthy aging emphasizes function, adaptation, participation, and quality of life even when chronic conditionsare
present.
C) Healthy aging requires complete independence in every task
D) Healthy aging means avoiding physical activity
Correct Answer: Healthy aging emphasizes function, adaptation, participation, and quality of life even when
chronic conditions are present.
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, NUR 257 | Exam 1 | Original Aging & Chronic Illness Practice
Rationale: Healthy aging emphasizes function, adaptation, participation, and quality of life even when chronic conditions are
present. The distractors conflict with person-centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic
illness care.
5. Which statement best reflects the concept of sedatives in nursing care of older adults?
A) Sedative-hypnotics can increase falls, confusion, and daytime impairment in older adults.
B) Sedatives improve balance
C) Sedatives eliminate fall risk
D) Sedatives never affect cognition
Correct Answer: Sedative-hypnotics can increase falls, confusion, and daytime impairment in older adults.
Rationale: Sedative-hypnotics can increase falls, confusion, and daytime impairment in older adults. The distractors conflict
with person-centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic illness care.
6. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best
appliesdelirium?
A) Delirium produces stable attention throughout the day
B) Delirium is always irreversible
C) Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
D) Delirium always progresses slowly over years
Correct Answer: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
Rationale: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness. In clinical practice, this principle helps
preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that older adults may present atypically.
7. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best
appliesdementia communication?
A) Every memory error should be corrected forcefully
B) Several questions should be asked at once
C) Abstract directions are preferred
D) Simple one-step directions, a calm tone, and adequate response time support communication.
Correct Answer: Simple one-step directions, a calm tone, and adequate response time support communication.
Rationale: Simple one-step directions, a calm tone, and adequate response time support communication. In clinical practice,
this principle helps preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that older adults may present
atypically.
8. Which statement best reflects the concept of delirium in nursing care of older adults?
A) Delirium always progresses slowly over years
B) Delirium produces stable attention throughout the day
C) Delirium is always irreversible
D) Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
Correct Answer: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
Rationale: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness. The distractors conflict with person-
centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic illness care.
9. Which statement best reflects the concept of polypharmacy in nursing care of older adults?
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NUR 257 exam 1 | Concepts of Aging and Chronic Illness|
2026 Update |100% Correct – Galen College
1. Which statement best reflects the concept of functional status in nursing care of older adults?
A) Only diagnoses matter in geriatric assessment
B) Functional status is unrelated to illness
C) Ability to perform daily activities is a key measure of health in older adults.
D) Function cannot change during hospitalization
Correct Answer: Ability to perform daily activities is a key measure of health in older adults.
Rationale: Ability to perform daily activities is a key measure of health in older adults. The distractors conflict with person-
centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic illness care.
2. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best applies
baselinefunction?
A) Acute illness never changes function
B) A sudden decline from baseline function may be an early sign of acute illness.
C) Older adults always show textbook symptoms
D) Baseline function is irrelevant after admission
Correct Answer: A sudden decline from baseline function may be an early sign of acute illness.
Rationale: A sudden decline from baseline function may be an early sign of acute illness. In clinical practice, this principle
helps preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that older adults may present atypically.
3. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best
appliesmedication reconciliation?
A) Medication reconciliation removes the need for teaching
B) Medication reconciliation replaces allergy assessment
C) Medication reconciliation helps identify omissions, duplications, interactions, and discrepancies at transitions
ofcare.
D) Only controlled drugs require reconciliation
Correct Answer: Medication reconciliation helps identify omissions, duplications, interactions, and
discrepancies at transitions of care.
Rationale: Medication reconciliation helps identify omissions, duplications, interactions, and discrepancies at transitions of
care. In clinical practice, this principle helps preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that
older adults may present atypically.
4. Which statement best reflects the concept of healthy aging in nursing care of older adults?
A) Healthy aging requires complete absence of disease
B) Healthy aging emphasizes function, adaptation, participation, and quality of life even when chronic conditionsare
present.
C) Healthy aging requires complete independence in every task
D) Healthy aging means avoiding physical activity
Correct Answer: Healthy aging emphasizes function, adaptation, participation, and quality of life even when
chronic conditions are present.
Page 2
, NUR 257 | Exam 1 | Original Aging & Chronic Illness Practice
Rationale: Healthy aging emphasizes function, adaptation, participation, and quality of life even when chronic conditions are
present. The distractors conflict with person-centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic
illness care.
5. Which statement best reflects the concept of sedatives in nursing care of older adults?
A) Sedative-hypnotics can increase falls, confusion, and daytime impairment in older adults.
B) Sedatives improve balance
C) Sedatives eliminate fall risk
D) Sedatives never affect cognition
Correct Answer: Sedative-hypnotics can increase falls, confusion, and daytime impairment in older adults.
Rationale: Sedative-hypnotics can increase falls, confusion, and daytime impairment in older adults. The distractors conflict
with person-centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic illness care.
6. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best
appliesdelirium?
A) Delirium produces stable attention throughout the day
B) Delirium is always irreversible
C) Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
D) Delirium always progresses slowly over years
Correct Answer: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
Rationale: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness. In clinical practice, this principle helps
preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that older adults may present atypically.
7. During care of an older adult with chronic illness, which action or interpretation best
appliesdementia communication?
A) Every memory error should be corrected forcefully
B) Several questions should be asked at once
C) Abstract directions are preferred
D) Simple one-step directions, a calm tone, and adequate response time support communication.
Correct Answer: Simple one-step directions, a calm tone, and adequate response time support communication.
Rationale: Simple one-step directions, a calm tone, and adequate response time support communication. In clinical practice,
this principle helps preserve safety, function, autonomy, and quality of life while recognizing that older adults may present
atypically.
8. Which statement best reflects the concept of delirium in nursing care of older adults?
A) Delirium always progresses slowly over years
B) Delirium produces stable attention throughout the day
C) Delirium is always irreversible
D) Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
Correct Answer: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness.
Rationale: Delirium usually has acute onset with fluctuating attention and awareness. The distractors conflict with person-
centered gerontologic nursing principles or misinterpret normal aging and chronic illness care.
9. Which statement best reflects the concept of polypharmacy in nursing care of older adults?
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