Geriatrics NUR 225 Practice Questions
and Correct Answers
Geriatric/older adult age range? ✅65+
Leading causes of hospitalizations? ✅-CVD
-community-acquired pneumonia
What makes older adults more vulnerable to hospitalizations? ✅comorbid chronic
illnesses, disability
Normal Changes: Sensory ✅-presbyopia
-decreased vision night acuity
-presbycusis
-decreased thirst drive
-alerted/diminished smell and taste
Presbyopia ✅vision impairment caused by diminished power of accommodation from
loss of elasticity of lens
Presbycusis ✅age related hearing loss
What are normal parts of aging that may cause nutrition impairment? ✅-decreased
thirst drive
-alerted/diminished smell and taste
Normal changes: Neurological ✅-decrease in # and size of neurons
-alterations in sleep wake cycle
What happens when there is a decrease in number and size of neurons? ✅-voluntary
reflexes are slower
-less ability to respond to multiple stimuli
What are the implications of an altered sleep-wake cycle in the older adult? ✅-difficulty
falling asleep
-difficulty staying asleep
-waking too early
-excessive daytime napping
Normal Changes: Cardiovascular ✅-decreased CO, SV, and venous return
-↑ rates of HTN, syncope, MI, Stroke, Renal failure
, Normal Changes: Respiratory ✅-decreased lung expansion
-dry and fragile mucous membranes
-a diminished cough reflex
-decrease in immunity
-calcification of the costal cartilage →stiffer chest wall, harder to expand
What are the implications of the normal changes in the respiratory system? ✅-more
susceptible to infection
-worse outcomes in recovery
Normal Changes: MS ✅-decreased tone and strength
-degeneration of joints and bones
-decreased intervertebral disc spaces leading to height loss
Normal Changes: Renal and Hepatic function ✅-decreased renal size, blood supply,
creatinine clearance, glomerular functioning, tubular functioning
-decreased hepatic blood flow in the liver
What is important to note about changes in renal and hepatic function? ✅Medication
safety!
-drug metabolism is affected by the efficiency of the liver and kidneys
-know what dose to give and monitor for toxicity
Normal Changes: Integumentary ✅-loss of skin tugor and elasticity
-thinning and fragility
-dry skin and hair
-wrinkles and age spots
-grey hair
-thicker ear and nasal hair
-thicker nails
-diminished sweat glands
Normal Changes: Sexual Health ✅- monitor for stis, Dyspareunia (pain during sex), ED
-Libido (sex drive) is NOT diminished in normal aging
True or False: Cognitive impairment in the older adult is never normal ✅TRUE
What are three common cognitive impairments seen in the hospitalized older adult?
✅Delirium, Dementia, Depression
Which of the following is not reversible: delirium, dementia, depression ✅Dementia
Out of the three d's, which is more common? ✅Depression
-1/3 experience symptoms
and Correct Answers
Geriatric/older adult age range? ✅65+
Leading causes of hospitalizations? ✅-CVD
-community-acquired pneumonia
What makes older adults more vulnerable to hospitalizations? ✅comorbid chronic
illnesses, disability
Normal Changes: Sensory ✅-presbyopia
-decreased vision night acuity
-presbycusis
-decreased thirst drive
-alerted/diminished smell and taste
Presbyopia ✅vision impairment caused by diminished power of accommodation from
loss of elasticity of lens
Presbycusis ✅age related hearing loss
What are normal parts of aging that may cause nutrition impairment? ✅-decreased
thirst drive
-alerted/diminished smell and taste
Normal changes: Neurological ✅-decrease in # and size of neurons
-alterations in sleep wake cycle
What happens when there is a decrease in number and size of neurons? ✅-voluntary
reflexes are slower
-less ability to respond to multiple stimuli
What are the implications of an altered sleep-wake cycle in the older adult? ✅-difficulty
falling asleep
-difficulty staying asleep
-waking too early
-excessive daytime napping
Normal Changes: Cardiovascular ✅-decreased CO, SV, and venous return
-↑ rates of HTN, syncope, MI, Stroke, Renal failure
, Normal Changes: Respiratory ✅-decreased lung expansion
-dry and fragile mucous membranes
-a diminished cough reflex
-decrease in immunity
-calcification of the costal cartilage →stiffer chest wall, harder to expand
What are the implications of the normal changes in the respiratory system? ✅-more
susceptible to infection
-worse outcomes in recovery
Normal Changes: MS ✅-decreased tone and strength
-degeneration of joints and bones
-decreased intervertebral disc spaces leading to height loss
Normal Changes: Renal and Hepatic function ✅-decreased renal size, blood supply,
creatinine clearance, glomerular functioning, tubular functioning
-decreased hepatic blood flow in the liver
What is important to note about changes in renal and hepatic function? ✅Medication
safety!
-drug metabolism is affected by the efficiency of the liver and kidneys
-know what dose to give and monitor for toxicity
Normal Changes: Integumentary ✅-loss of skin tugor and elasticity
-thinning and fragility
-dry skin and hair
-wrinkles and age spots
-grey hair
-thicker ear and nasal hair
-thicker nails
-diminished sweat glands
Normal Changes: Sexual Health ✅- monitor for stis, Dyspareunia (pain during sex), ED
-Libido (sex drive) is NOT diminished in normal aging
True or False: Cognitive impairment in the older adult is never normal ✅TRUE
What are three common cognitive impairments seen in the hospitalized older adult?
✅Delirium, Dementia, Depression
Which of the following is not reversible: delirium, dementia, depression ✅Dementia
Out of the three d's, which is more common? ✅Depression
-1/3 experience symptoms
