,NU176/NU 176 Exam 1 | Geriatric Nursing |
Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition
(PDF)
1. Which cardiovascular change is a normal age-related finding in older adults?
A) Increased baroreceptor sensitivity
B) Orthostatic hypotension
C) Increased maximal heart rate
D) Decreased arterial stiffness
Correct Answer: Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity and increased arterial stiffness with aging lead to
orthostatic hypotension, a common finding. Increased maximal heart rate and sensitivity do not occur;
arterial stiffness increases. This predisposes older adults to falls.
2. An older adult patient is admitted with suspected pneumonia but has no fever or cough. Which
presentation is most likely?
A) Productive cough with green sputum
B) Altered mental status and lethargy
C) Chest pain and tachypnea
D) Hypertension and tachycardia
Correct Answer: Altered mental status and lethargy
Rationale: Older adults often present with atypical symptoms of infection, such as confusion, lethargy,
and falls, rather than classic fever and cough. This is due to a blunted immune response and decreased
physiologic reserve.
,3. A nursing student asks why older adults are at higher risk for medication toxicity. The nurse's best
response is based on which physiological change?
A) Increased liver blood flow
B) Decreased glomerular filtration rate
C) Enhanced cytochrome P450 activity
D) Increased lean body mass
Correct Answer: Decreased glomerular filtration rate
Rationale: Reduced GFR slows renal drug excretion, causing drug accumulation. Liver metabolism also
slows, but renal decline is a primary factor for many drugs. Lean mass decreases, not increases.
4. The nurse is asked to explain the different theories of aging. Which physiological theory should the
nurse include?
A) Developmental theory
B) Wear and tear theory
C) Personality theory
D) Sociocultural theory
Correct Answer: Wear and tear theory
Rationale: The wear and tear theory is a physiological theory of aging that proposes the body simply
wears out over time. Other physiological theories include the free radical and immunological theories.
5. The nurse assesses an older adult and notes a barrel-shaped chest and increased anteroposterior
diameter. This finding is due to:
A) Increased lung elasticity
B) Decreased lung elasticity and stiffer chest wall
C) Increased alveolar surface area
D) Stronger cough reflex
, Correct Answer: Decreased lung elasticity and stiffer chest wall
Rationale: Loss of elastic recoil and calcification of costal cartilage increase residual volume and AP
diameter, a normal age-related change. Cough weakens, and alveolar surface area decreases.
6. An older adult is found to have difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, such as consonants. The nurse
documents this as:
A) Presbyopia
B) Presbycusis
C) Presbyphagia
D) Presbyvertigo
Correct Answer: Presbycusis
Rationale: Presbycusis is the age-related loss of hearing, especially high-frequency sounds. Presbyopia is
age-related farsightedness. Presbyphagia is age-related swallowing difficulty. Presbyvertigo is age-
related dizziness.
7. True or False: The speed of processing new information in older people is slower.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Normal aging is associated with a slight slowing in the speed of processing new information. It
does not necessarily indicate a pathological condition like dementia.
8. True or False: Older people have an incline in short-term memory.
A) True
Galen College | Q & A | 2026/2027 Edition
(PDF)
1. Which cardiovascular change is a normal age-related finding in older adults?
A) Increased baroreceptor sensitivity
B) Orthostatic hypotension
C) Increased maximal heart rate
D) Decreased arterial stiffness
Correct Answer: Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Decreased baroreceptor sensitivity and increased arterial stiffness with aging lead to
orthostatic hypotension, a common finding. Increased maximal heart rate and sensitivity do not occur;
arterial stiffness increases. This predisposes older adults to falls.
2. An older adult patient is admitted with suspected pneumonia but has no fever or cough. Which
presentation is most likely?
A) Productive cough with green sputum
B) Altered mental status and lethargy
C) Chest pain and tachypnea
D) Hypertension and tachycardia
Correct Answer: Altered mental status and lethargy
Rationale: Older adults often present with atypical symptoms of infection, such as confusion, lethargy,
and falls, rather than classic fever and cough. This is due to a blunted immune response and decreased
physiologic reserve.
,3. A nursing student asks why older adults are at higher risk for medication toxicity. The nurse's best
response is based on which physiological change?
A) Increased liver blood flow
B) Decreased glomerular filtration rate
C) Enhanced cytochrome P450 activity
D) Increased lean body mass
Correct Answer: Decreased glomerular filtration rate
Rationale: Reduced GFR slows renal drug excretion, causing drug accumulation. Liver metabolism also
slows, but renal decline is a primary factor for many drugs. Lean mass decreases, not increases.
4. The nurse is asked to explain the different theories of aging. Which physiological theory should the
nurse include?
A) Developmental theory
B) Wear and tear theory
C) Personality theory
D) Sociocultural theory
Correct Answer: Wear and tear theory
Rationale: The wear and tear theory is a physiological theory of aging that proposes the body simply
wears out over time. Other physiological theories include the free radical and immunological theories.
5. The nurse assesses an older adult and notes a barrel-shaped chest and increased anteroposterior
diameter. This finding is due to:
A) Increased lung elasticity
B) Decreased lung elasticity and stiffer chest wall
C) Increased alveolar surface area
D) Stronger cough reflex
, Correct Answer: Decreased lung elasticity and stiffer chest wall
Rationale: Loss of elastic recoil and calcification of costal cartilage increase residual volume and AP
diameter, a normal age-related change. Cough weakens, and alveolar surface area decreases.
6. An older adult is found to have difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, such as consonants. The nurse
documents this as:
A) Presbyopia
B) Presbycusis
C) Presbyphagia
D) Presbyvertigo
Correct Answer: Presbycusis
Rationale: Presbycusis is the age-related loss of hearing, especially high-frequency sounds. Presbyopia is
age-related farsightedness. Presbyphagia is age-related swallowing difficulty. Presbyvertigo is age-
related dizziness.
7. True or False: The speed of processing new information in older people is slower.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: True
Rationale: Normal aging is associated with a slight slowing in the speed of processing new information. It
does not necessarily indicate a pathological condition like dementia.
8. True or False: Older people have an incline in short-term memory.
A) True
