NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026 | Adult Gerontology Advanced Practice Nursing
NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026
Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest Update 2026/2027
Adult Gerontology Management Across the Continuum of Care
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
60 Questions | 6 Sections | Scenario-Based & Clinical Judgment
Table of Contents
Section 1: Nutritional and Metabolic Assessment in the Elderly (Q1-Q15)
Section 2: Anemia and Hematologic Disorders (Q16-Q25)
Section 3: Genetics and Genetic Disorders (Q26-Q35)
Section 4: Cognitive and Neurodegenerative Disorders (Q36-Q45)
Section 5: Geriatric Syndromes and Polypharmacy (Q46-Q55)
Section 6: Integrated Clinical Scenarios (Q56-Q60)
Page 1
,NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026 | Adult Gerontology Advanced Practice Nursing
Section 1: Nutritional and Metabolic Assessment in the
Elderly (Q1-Q15)
Q1. The advanced practice nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a 72-year-old patient admitted for
malnutrition. Which laboratory value most rapidly reflects changes in nutritional status and has a
normal reference range of 15 mg/dL?
A. Albumin
B. Prealbumin (transthyretin) [CORRECT]
C. Transferrin
D. Total protein
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prealbumin (transthyretin) is the most sensitive marker for acute nutritional changes because of its short half-life of
approximately 2 days, allowing rapid detection of improvements or declines in nutritional status. The normal value is 15 mg/dL.
Albumin has a half-life of 20 days and reflects chronic nutritional changes rather than acute shifts. Transferrin has a half-life of
8-10 days and is less responsive than prealbumin. Total protein is a nonspecific marker influenced by multiple factors including
hydration status.
Q2. An 80-year-old patient presents with low albumin and a serum cholesterol level of 140 mg/dL. The
advanced practice nurse recognizes this combination as an indicator of which clinical condition?
A. Mild dehydration requiring fluid replacement
B. Well-controlled metabolic syndrome
C. Poor health status with increased mortality risk [CORRECT]
D. Normal aging changes requiring no intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Low albumin combined with low cholesterol (less than 160 mg/dL) is a recognized indicator of poor health status and
significantly increased mortality risk in older adults. This combination reflects protein-calorie malnutrition and is a more
powerful predictor of mortality than either marker alone. Mild dehydration would not specifically cause both low albumin and
low cholesterol. Well-controlled metabolic syndrome typically presents with elevated, not low, cholesterol. These findings are
not normal aging changes and require clinical intervention.
Q3. A 68-year-old patient has a transferrin level of 120 mg/dL. The nurse practitioner classifies this as
which severity of protein depletion?
A. Mild protein depletion (150-200 mg/dL)
B. Moderate protein depletion (100-149 mg/dL) [CORRECT]
C. Severe protein depletion (less than 100 mg/dL)
D. Normal protein status (200-300 mg/dL)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A transferrin level of 120 mg/dL falls within the moderate protein depletion range of 100-149 mg/dL. Transferrin is a
sensitive marker for protein status: 150-200 mg/dL indicates mild depletion, 100-149 mg/dL indicates moderate depletion, and
less than 100 mg/dL indicates severe protein depletion. The nurse should implement targeted nutritional interventions including
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, NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026 | Adult Gerontology Advanced Practice Nursing
protein supplementation and monitor serial transferrin levels to assess response to therapy.
Q4. The geriatric nurse practitioner is assessing an 85-year-old patient who reports an unintentional
8-pound weight loss over the past month. According to evidence-based criteria, how should this weight
loss be classified?
A. Within normal limits for age
B. Not meeting the threshold for nutritional risk
C. Meeting criteria for nutritional risk (5% in 1 month) [CORRECT]
D. Indicating end-stage cachexia requiring hospice referral
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nutritional risk is defined as 5% weight loss in 1 month or 10% weight loss in 6 months. An 8-pound loss in one
month likely exceeds 5% of body weight for most older adults, meeting the criteria for nutritional risk. This warrants a
comprehensive nutritional assessment including laboratory markers (prealbumin, transferrin, albumin), dietary evaluation, and
investigation of underlying causes. Unintentional weight loss in the elderly is never considered normal and requires prompt
clinical evaluation.
Q5. What is the recommended daily caloric requirement for maintenance in a healthy older adult (ages
30-80 years)?
A. 15-20 kcal/kg/day
B. 25-30 kcal/kg/day [CORRECT]
C. 35-40 kcal/kg/day
D. 40-50 kcal/kg/day
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maintenance caloric requirements for older adults are 25-30 kcal/kg/day. Older adults experience a 22% decrease in
caloric needs compared to younger adults due to decreased lean body mass, reduced metabolic rate, and lower physical activity
levels. The range of 15-20 kcal/kg/day would be insufficient for maintenance and could lead to further weight loss. Values of
35-50 kcal/kg/day exceed maintenance needs and would be appropriate only for stressed states such as severe illness or major
wound healing.
Q6. A 74-year-old patient is hospitalized with sepsis. What is the recommended caloric requirement for
this level of stress?
A. 30 kcal/kg/day (mild stress)
B. 35 kcal/kg/day (moderate stress)
C. 40 kcal/kg/day (severe stress) [CORRECT]
D. 25-30 kcal/kg/day (maintenance)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe stress conditions such as sepsis increase caloric requirements to approximately 40 kcal/kg/day. The stress
hierarchy includes mild stress (such as UTI) at 30 kcal/kg/day, moderate stress (such as stage 3 pressure ulcer) at 35 kcal/kg/day,
and severe stress (such as sepsis, major burns, or trauma) at 40 kcal/kg/day. Accurate calculation of caloric needs during stress is
essential to prevent catabolism, promote wound healing, and support immune function in critically ill older adults.
Page 3
NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026
Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Verified | Latest Update 2026/2027
Adult Gerontology Management Across the Continuum of Care
University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
60 Questions | 6 Sections | Scenario-Based & Clinical Judgment
Table of Contents
Section 1: Nutritional and Metabolic Assessment in the Elderly (Q1-Q15)
Section 2: Anemia and Hematologic Disorders (Q16-Q25)
Section 3: Genetics and Genetic Disorders (Q26-Q35)
Section 4: Cognitive and Neurodegenerative Disorders (Q36-Q45)
Section 5: Geriatric Syndromes and Polypharmacy (Q46-Q55)
Section 6: Integrated Clinical Scenarios (Q56-Q60)
Page 1
,NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026 | Adult Gerontology Advanced Practice Nursing
Section 1: Nutritional and Metabolic Assessment in the
Elderly (Q1-Q15)
Q1. The advanced practice nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a 72-year-old patient admitted for
malnutrition. Which laboratory value most rapidly reflects changes in nutritional status and has a
normal reference range of 15 mg/dL?
A. Albumin
B. Prealbumin (transthyretin) [CORRECT]
C. Transferrin
D. Total protein
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Prealbumin (transthyretin) is the most sensitive marker for acute nutritional changes because of its short half-life of
approximately 2 days, allowing rapid detection of improvements or declines in nutritional status. The normal value is 15 mg/dL.
Albumin has a half-life of 20 days and reflects chronic nutritional changes rather than acute shifts. Transferrin has a half-life of
8-10 days and is less responsive than prealbumin. Total protein is a nonspecific marker influenced by multiple factors including
hydration status.
Q2. An 80-year-old patient presents with low albumin and a serum cholesterol level of 140 mg/dL. The
advanced practice nurse recognizes this combination as an indicator of which clinical condition?
A. Mild dehydration requiring fluid replacement
B. Well-controlled metabolic syndrome
C. Poor health status with increased mortality risk [CORRECT]
D. Normal aging changes requiring no intervention
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Low albumin combined with low cholesterol (less than 160 mg/dL) is a recognized indicator of poor health status and
significantly increased mortality risk in older adults. This combination reflects protein-calorie malnutrition and is a more
powerful predictor of mortality than either marker alone. Mild dehydration would not specifically cause both low albumin and
low cholesterol. Well-controlled metabolic syndrome typically presents with elevated, not low, cholesterol. These findings are
not normal aging changes and require clinical intervention.
Q3. A 68-year-old patient has a transferrin level of 120 mg/dL. The nurse practitioner classifies this as
which severity of protein depletion?
A. Mild protein depletion (150-200 mg/dL)
B. Moderate protein depletion (100-149 mg/dL) [CORRECT]
C. Severe protein depletion (less than 100 mg/dL)
D. Normal protein status (200-300 mg/dL)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A transferrin level of 120 mg/dL falls within the moderate protein depletion range of 100-149 mg/dL. Transferrin is a
sensitive marker for protein status: 150-200 mg/dL indicates mild depletion, 100-149 mg/dL indicates moderate depletion, and
less than 100 mg/dL indicates severe protein depletion. The nurse should implement targeted nutritional interventions including
Page 2
, NURS 5461 Quiz 1 Exam 2026 | Adult Gerontology Advanced Practice Nursing
protein supplementation and monitor serial transferrin levels to assess response to therapy.
Q4. The geriatric nurse practitioner is assessing an 85-year-old patient who reports an unintentional
8-pound weight loss over the past month. According to evidence-based criteria, how should this weight
loss be classified?
A. Within normal limits for age
B. Not meeting the threshold for nutritional risk
C. Meeting criteria for nutritional risk (5% in 1 month) [CORRECT]
D. Indicating end-stage cachexia requiring hospice referral
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nutritional risk is defined as 5% weight loss in 1 month or 10% weight loss in 6 months. An 8-pound loss in one
month likely exceeds 5% of body weight for most older adults, meeting the criteria for nutritional risk. This warrants a
comprehensive nutritional assessment including laboratory markers (prealbumin, transferrin, albumin), dietary evaluation, and
investigation of underlying causes. Unintentional weight loss in the elderly is never considered normal and requires prompt
clinical evaluation.
Q5. What is the recommended daily caloric requirement for maintenance in a healthy older adult (ages
30-80 years)?
A. 15-20 kcal/kg/day
B. 25-30 kcal/kg/day [CORRECT]
C. 35-40 kcal/kg/day
D. 40-50 kcal/kg/day
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maintenance caloric requirements for older adults are 25-30 kcal/kg/day. Older adults experience a 22% decrease in
caloric needs compared to younger adults due to decreased lean body mass, reduced metabolic rate, and lower physical activity
levels. The range of 15-20 kcal/kg/day would be insufficient for maintenance and could lead to further weight loss. Values of
35-50 kcal/kg/day exceed maintenance needs and would be appropriate only for stressed states such as severe illness or major
wound healing.
Q6. A 74-year-old patient is hospitalized with sepsis. What is the recommended caloric requirement for
this level of stress?
A. 30 kcal/kg/day (mild stress)
B. 35 kcal/kg/day (moderate stress)
C. 40 kcal/kg/day (severe stress) [CORRECT]
D. 25-30 kcal/kg/day (maintenance)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Severe stress conditions such as sepsis increase caloric requirements to approximately 40 kcal/kg/day. The stress
hierarchy includes mild stress (such as UTI) at 30 kcal/kg/day, moderate stress (such as stage 3 pressure ulcer) at 35 kcal/kg/day,
and severe stress (such as sepsis, major burns, or trauma) at 40 kcal/kg/day. Accurate calculation of caloric needs during stress is
essential to prevent catabolism, promote wound healing, and support immune function in critically ill older adults.
Page 3
