NUR 258 Exam 2 V2 | NUR 258 Concepts
of Aging & Chronic Illness | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (NUR258 Exam 2) | Galen
1. A nurse is providing care for a patient with terminal cancer. The family asks what the
primary goal of palliative care is compared to hospice. What is the best response?
A. Palliative care is only for patients with less than six months to live.
B. Palliative care is only provided in a hospital setting, whereas hospice is at home.
C. Palliative care requires the patient to sign a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order.
D. Palliative care focuses on symptom management while still allowing for curative
treatment.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Palliative care can be initiated at any stage of a serious illness and can be
provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. Hospice is specifically for those
with a prognosis of six months or less and usually involves the cessation of curative efforts.
2. An older adult patient with osteoarthritis (OA) reports increased stiffness in the morning.
Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Avoid movement for at least 2 hours after waking up.
B. Apply ice packs to the joints for 30 minutes every morning.
C. Take a warm shower or use warm compresses shortly after waking.
,D. Use high-impact aerobic exercise to loosen the joints.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Heat therapy, such as warm showers or compresses, helps reduce the
stiffness associated with OA, which typically lasts less than 30 minutes in the morning. Ice
is usually for acute inflammation.
3. A patient is diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Which assessment finding is most
characteristic of RA rather than Osteoarthritis?
A. Unilateral joint involvement.
B. Symmetrical joint swelling and systemic fatigue.
C. Crepitus with joint movement.
D. Pain that improves with activity.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: RA is an autoimmune, systemic disease characterized by
bilateral/symmetrical joint involvement and systemic symptoms like fatigue and fever. OA
is localized and often asymmetrical.
4. A nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient who is 1-day post-op from a total hip
arthroplasty. Which action is the priority for preventing pulmonary complications?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics.
B. Keeping the patient on strict bed rest for 48 hours.
, C. Applying sequential compression devices (SCDs).
D. Encouraging frequent use of the incentive spirometer.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Incentive spirometry and deep breathing are essential post-operatively to
prevent atelectasis and pneumonia, common complications in the elderly. SCDs prevent
DVT, not primary pulmonary issues.
5. Which clinical manifestation would the nurse expect to find in a patient with late-stage
Alzheimer’s disease?
A. Occasional forgetfulness of names.
B. Total incontinence and loss of verbal communication.
C. Ability to perform complex tasks like balancing a checkbook.
D. Difficulty with short-term memory only.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Late-stage (severe) Alzheimer’s is characterized by the loss of most
functional abilities, including bladder/bowel control and the ability to speak or recognize
family.
6. An elderly patient with Type 2 Diabetes has an HbA1c of 8.2%. The nurse understands that
for this population, this value might be acceptable because:
A. Elderly patients cannot metabolize metformin.
of Aging & Chronic Illness | Actual Q&A
with Rationale (NUR258 Exam 2) | Galen
1. A nurse is providing care for a patient with terminal cancer. The family asks what the
primary goal of palliative care is compared to hospice. What is the best response?
A. Palliative care is only for patients with less than six months to live.
B. Palliative care is only provided in a hospital setting, whereas hospice is at home.
C. Palliative care requires the patient to sign a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order.
D. Palliative care focuses on symptom management while still allowing for curative
treatment.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Palliative care can be initiated at any stage of a serious illness and can be
provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments. Hospice is specifically for those
with a prognosis of six months or less and usually involves the cessation of curative efforts.
2. An older adult patient with osteoarthritis (OA) reports increased stiffness in the morning.
Which instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Avoid movement for at least 2 hours after waking up.
B. Apply ice packs to the joints for 30 minutes every morning.
C. Take a warm shower or use warm compresses shortly after waking.
,D. Use high-impact aerobic exercise to loosen the joints.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Heat therapy, such as warm showers or compresses, helps reduce the
stiffness associated with OA, which typically lasts less than 30 minutes in the morning. Ice
is usually for acute inflammation.
3. A patient is diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Which assessment finding is most
characteristic of RA rather than Osteoarthritis?
A. Unilateral joint involvement.
B. Symmetrical joint swelling and systemic fatigue.
C. Crepitus with joint movement.
D. Pain that improves with activity.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: RA is an autoimmune, systemic disease characterized by
bilateral/symmetrical joint involvement and systemic symptoms like fatigue and fever. OA
is localized and often asymmetrical.
4. A nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient who is 1-day post-op from a total hip
arthroplasty. Which action is the priority for preventing pulmonary complications?
A. Administering prophylactic antibiotics.
B. Keeping the patient on strict bed rest for 48 hours.
, C. Applying sequential compression devices (SCDs).
D. Encouraging frequent use of the incentive spirometer.
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Incentive spirometry and deep breathing are essential post-operatively to
prevent atelectasis and pneumonia, common complications in the elderly. SCDs prevent
DVT, not primary pulmonary issues.
5. Which clinical manifestation would the nurse expect to find in a patient with late-stage
Alzheimer’s disease?
A. Occasional forgetfulness of names.
B. Total incontinence and loss of verbal communication.
C. Ability to perform complex tasks like balancing a checkbook.
D. Difficulty with short-term memory only.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Late-stage (severe) Alzheimer’s is characterized by the loss of most
functional abilities, including bladder/bowel control and the ability to speak or recognize
family.
6. An elderly patient with Type 2 Diabetes has an HbA1c of 8.2%. The nurse understands that
for this population, this value might be acceptable because:
A. Elderly patients cannot metabolize metformin.
