NUR 257 – Concepts of Aging and Chronic Illness Exam 4
10-Point Exam Coverage
1. Normal aging and comprehensive gerontological assessment
2. Chronic illness trajectories and self-management
3. Medication safety, polypharmacy, and adverse effects
4. Cognitive impairment, delirium, and dementia
5. Mobility, falls, frailty, and functional decline
6. Nutrition, hydration, swallowing, and continence
7. Chronic cardiovascular and respiratory disease management
8. Diabetes, renal disease, and metabolic conditions
9. Palliative care, advance care planning, and end-of-life decisions
10. Psychosocial wellbeing, caregivers, health literacy, and community resources
,1. How should a practitioner interpret dysphagia during the described situation and why the
concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. increased bone density
B. loss of hearing
C. difficulty swallowing
D. means difficulty swallowing and can increase aspiration and nutrition risks
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This choice is correct because means difficulty swallowing and can increase
aspiration and nutrition risks.
2. A practitioner checking the procedure should know depression screening during the described
situation and why the concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. can identify symptoms requiring further assessment rather than assuming depression is
normal aging
B. proof of dementia
C. assessment for depressive symptoms
D. a replacement for suicide assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The key point is that can identify symptoms requiring further assessment rather than
assuming depression is normal aging.
,3. Under the stated conditions, which option best explains polypharmacy during the described
situation and why the concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. a dietary pattern
B. refers to use of multiple medications and increases the need for medication review
C. use of multiple medications
D. use of one medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This is the best answer because refers to use of multiple medications and increases
the need for medication review.
4. Under the stated conditions, which option best explains heart failure for the stated
professional purpose during troubleshooting situation?
A. normal aging
B. a syndrome of impaired cardiac function
C. is a syndrome in which cardiac function cannot adequately meet body demands without
compensatory responses
D. a temporary appetite change
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This is the best answer because is a syndrome in which cardiac function cannot
adequately meet body demands without compensatory responses.
, 5. A common field situation requires recognizing depression screening during the described
situation and why the concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. assessment for depressive symptoms
B. can identify symptoms requiring further assessment rather than assuming depression is
normal aging
C. a replacement for suicide assessment
D. proof of dementia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This choice is correct because can identify symptoms requiring further assessment
rather than assuming depression is normal aging.
6. How should a practitioner interpret chronic pain during the described situation and why the
concept matters for safe and correct professional practice during safety decision?
A. pain that always means emergency disease
B. pain persisting beyond expected healing
C. pain experienced by every older adult
D. persists beyond expected healing and can affect function, sleep, mood, and quality of life
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This choice is correct because persists beyond expected healing and can affect
function, sleep, mood, and quality of life.
10-Point Exam Coverage
1. Normal aging and comprehensive gerontological assessment
2. Chronic illness trajectories and self-management
3. Medication safety, polypharmacy, and adverse effects
4. Cognitive impairment, delirium, and dementia
5. Mobility, falls, frailty, and functional decline
6. Nutrition, hydration, swallowing, and continence
7. Chronic cardiovascular and respiratory disease management
8. Diabetes, renal disease, and metabolic conditions
9. Palliative care, advance care planning, and end-of-life decisions
10. Psychosocial wellbeing, caregivers, health literacy, and community resources
,1. How should a practitioner interpret dysphagia during the described situation and why the
concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. increased bone density
B. loss of hearing
C. difficulty swallowing
D. means difficulty swallowing and can increase aspiration and nutrition risks
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This choice is correct because means difficulty swallowing and can increase
aspiration and nutrition risks.
2. A practitioner checking the procedure should know depression screening during the described
situation and why the concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. can identify symptoms requiring further assessment rather than assuming depression is
normal aging
B. proof of dementia
C. assessment for depressive symptoms
D. a replacement for suicide assessment
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The key point is that can identify symptoms requiring further assessment rather than
assuming depression is normal aging.
,3. Under the stated conditions, which option best explains polypharmacy during the described
situation and why the concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. a dietary pattern
B. refers to use of multiple medications and increases the need for medication review
C. use of multiple medications
D. use of one medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This is the best answer because refers to use of multiple medications and increases
the need for medication review.
4. Under the stated conditions, which option best explains heart failure for the stated
professional purpose during troubleshooting situation?
A. normal aging
B. a syndrome of impaired cardiac function
C. is a syndrome in which cardiac function cannot adequately meet body demands without
compensatory responses
D. a temporary appetite change
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This is the best answer because is a syndrome in which cardiac function cannot
adequately meet body demands without compensatory responses.
, 5. A common field situation requires recognizing depression screening during the described
situation and why the concept matters for safe and correct professional practice?
A. assessment for depressive symptoms
B. can identify symptoms requiring further assessment rather than assuming depression is
normal aging
C. a replacement for suicide assessment
D. proof of dementia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: This choice is correct because can identify symptoms requiring further assessment
rather than assuming depression is normal aging.
6. How should a practitioner interpret chronic pain during the described situation and why the
concept matters for safe and correct professional practice during safety decision?
A. pain that always means emergency disease
B. pain persisting beyond expected healing
C. pain experienced by every older adult
D. persists beyond expected healing and can affect function, sleep, mood, and quality of life
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: This choice is correct because persists beyond expected healing and can affect
function, sleep, mood, and quality of life.
