NR 509/ NR509 FINAL EXAM: (NEW
2026/ 2027 UPDATE) ADVANCED
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT REVIEW|
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
You are asked to perform a home safety assessment for an 87-year-old retired
farmer who lives by himself. Which of the following is not considered to be an
increased risk for falls?
A) Loose electrical cords
B) Slippery or irregular surfaces
C) Chairs at awkward angles
D) Bright lighting CORRECT ANSWER: : D
Bright lighting is a recommendation to improve an older person's ability to see all
possible things that could result in a fall.
A 73-year-old retired accountant comes to your office for her annual
examination. She has incontinence of urine when she coughs or sneezes. She
takes several medications for control of hypertension and diabetes. You use the
DIAPERS mnemonic to assess the cause of her incontinence. All of the following
are items represented by the mnemonic except for:
A) Atrophic vaginitis
B) Depression
C) Pharmaceuticals
D) Restricted mobility CORRECT ANSWER: : B
Depression is not a risk factor for incontinence. The D in the mnemonic stands
for delirium.
Which of the following brief screening measures is useful in assessing memory?
A) Three-item recall
B) Serial 7s
, 2
C) Spelling "world" backward
D) Copying intersecting pentagrams CORRECT ANSWER: : A
If the patient is unable to remember three items after 1 minute has passed, then
this is a positive screening test and indicates a need for further testing. This is
part of the "10-Minute Geriatric Screener."
Which of the following questions is part of the screening for physical disability?
A) Are you able to go shopping for groceries or clothes?
B) Are you able to walk one block?
C) Are you able to pass the driver's license test?
D) Are you able to perform light dusting and pick up after yourself around the
house? CORRECT ANSWER: : A
This is part of the Physical Disability screening portion of the 10-Minute Geriatric
Screener.
It is summer and an 82-year-old woman is brought to you from her home after
seeing her primary care doctor 2 days ago. She was started on an antibiotic at
that time. Today, she comes to the emergency room not knowing where she is or
what year it is. What could be a likely cause of this?
A) Alzheimer's dementia
B) Stroke
C) Delirium
D) Meningitis CORRECT ANSWER: : C
These are not signs of normal aging and seem to be of acute onset. This makes
Alzheimer's less likely. Stroke and meningitis could cause these symptoms as well,
but the combination of the heat and a recent infection make delirium much more
likely. Though she was prescribed an antibiotic, she may not have improved
because of bacterial resistance or because of noncompliance due to cost,
depression, or even an underlying mild dementia. Dementia should not result in
an acute mental status change, although illness may cause a worsening of
dementia.
Blood pressure abnormalities found more commonly in Western elderly include
which of the following?
A) Isolated elevation of the diastolic BP
B) Narrow pulse pressure
C) Elevation of the systolic BP