NR 601 Midterm Exam: Primary Care for the Aging Population 2026
Chamberlain College
1. Which of the following is considered an Instrumental Activity of Daily Living
(IADL)?
A. Bathing and showering
B. Managing personal finances
C. Toileting and continence
D. Feeding oneself
Answer: B
Rationale: IADLs are more complex tasks necessary for living independently in the
community, such as managing money, shopping, and cooking. Bathing, feeding, and
toileting are basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
2. A 75-year-old patient presents with a sudden onset of confusion that
fluctuates throughout the day. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Delirium
B. Vascular Dementia
C. Alzheimer’s Disease
D. Major Depressive Disorder
Answer: A
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset and a fluctuating course of impaired
consciousness and cognition, often caused by an underlying medical condition.
,3. According to the Beers Criteria, which class of medications should be avoided
in older adults due to the high risk of falls and fractures?
A. ACE Inhibitors
B. Beta-blockers
C. Statins
D. Benzodiazepines
Answer: D
Rationale: Benzodiazepines increase the risk of falls, syncope, and fractures in the elderly
due to their sedative and psychomotor effects.
4. Which physiological change of aging contributes to the increased half-life of
lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs?
A. Decreased total body water
B. Increased percentage of body fat
C. Decreased serum albumin levels
D. Increased gastric pH
Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults typically have an increased percentage of body fat. Since lipophilic
drugs distribute into fat, a higher fat mass increases the volume of distribution and
prolongs the drug’s half-life.
5. The ‘Mini-Cog’ assessment tool consists of which two primary tasks?
A. Animal naming and serial 7s
B. 3-word recall and clock drawing test
C. Orientation to time and place
D. Sentence repetition and reading comprehension
Answer: B
Rationale: The Mini-Cog is a rapid screening tool for dementia consisting of a 3-item word
recall and a clock drawing test (CDT).
, 6. What is the primary characteristic of ‘Presbycusis’ in older adults?
A. Loss of low-frequency sound perception
B. Bilateral sensorineural high-frequency hearing loss
C. Conductive hearing loss due to cerumen impaction
D. Unilateral tinnitus and dizziness
Answer: B
Rationale: Presbycusis is age-related hearing loss that is typically bilateral, progressive,
and involves high-frequency sounds.
7. A T-score of -2.6 on a Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan
indicates:
A. Osteoporosis
B. Osteopenia
C. Normal bone density
D. Osteoarthritis
Answer: A
Rationale: According to the WHO, a T-score of -2.5 or lower defines osteoporosis.
8. Which of the following is the most common type of urinary incontinence in
older women, characterized by leakage during coughing or sneezing?
A. Stress incontinence
B. Urge incontinence
C. Overflow incontinence
D. Functional incontinence
Answer: A
Rationale: Stress incontinence occurs when physical movement or activity (coughing,
sneezing, lifting) puts pressure (stress) on your bladder, causing leakage.
Chamberlain College
1. Which of the following is considered an Instrumental Activity of Daily Living
(IADL)?
A. Bathing and showering
B. Managing personal finances
C. Toileting and continence
D. Feeding oneself
Answer: B
Rationale: IADLs are more complex tasks necessary for living independently in the
community, such as managing money, shopping, and cooking. Bathing, feeding, and
toileting are basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
2. A 75-year-old patient presents with a sudden onset of confusion that
fluctuates throughout the day. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Delirium
B. Vascular Dementia
C. Alzheimer’s Disease
D. Major Depressive Disorder
Answer: A
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset and a fluctuating course of impaired
consciousness and cognition, often caused by an underlying medical condition.
,3. According to the Beers Criteria, which class of medications should be avoided
in older adults due to the high risk of falls and fractures?
A. ACE Inhibitors
B. Beta-blockers
C. Statins
D. Benzodiazepines
Answer: D
Rationale: Benzodiazepines increase the risk of falls, syncope, and fractures in the elderly
due to their sedative and psychomotor effects.
4. Which physiological change of aging contributes to the increased half-life of
lipophilic (fat-soluble) drugs?
A. Decreased total body water
B. Increased percentage of body fat
C. Decreased serum albumin levels
D. Increased gastric pH
Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults typically have an increased percentage of body fat. Since lipophilic
drugs distribute into fat, a higher fat mass increases the volume of distribution and
prolongs the drug’s half-life.
5. The ‘Mini-Cog’ assessment tool consists of which two primary tasks?
A. Animal naming and serial 7s
B. 3-word recall and clock drawing test
C. Orientation to time and place
D. Sentence repetition and reading comprehension
Answer: B
Rationale: The Mini-Cog is a rapid screening tool for dementia consisting of a 3-item word
recall and a clock drawing test (CDT).
, 6. What is the primary characteristic of ‘Presbycusis’ in older adults?
A. Loss of low-frequency sound perception
B. Bilateral sensorineural high-frequency hearing loss
C. Conductive hearing loss due to cerumen impaction
D. Unilateral tinnitus and dizziness
Answer: B
Rationale: Presbycusis is age-related hearing loss that is typically bilateral, progressive,
and involves high-frequency sounds.
7. A T-score of -2.6 on a Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan
indicates:
A. Osteoporosis
B. Osteopenia
C. Normal bone density
D. Osteoarthritis
Answer: A
Rationale: According to the WHO, a T-score of -2.5 or lower defines osteoporosis.
8. Which of the following is the most common type of urinary incontinence in
older women, characterized by leakage during coughing or sneezing?
A. Stress incontinence
B. Urge incontinence
C. Overflow incontinence
D. Functional incontinence
Answer: A
Rationale: Stress incontinence occurs when physical movement or activity (coughing,
sneezing, lifting) puts pressure (stress) on your bladder, causing leakage.
