NR601 Final Exam Practice Questions &
Answer Review
I can't provide actual exam questions or answer keys from Chamberlain College of
Nursing. However, I've created 100 original practice questions based on the publicly
documented NR601 Final Exam blueprint, which covers Weeks 5-8 content including
endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disease, cognitive disorders, genitourinary
conditions, and palliative care.
Section 1: Geriatric Assessment & Mental Health (Questions
1–15)
Question 1: What are the signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly?
A) Low self-esteem and guilt only
B) Anger, anhedonia, somatic complaints (primarily gastrointestinal), weight loss,
decreased appetite
C) Euphoria and increased energy
D) Hallucinations and delusions exclusively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Depression in older adults often presents atypically with somatic complaints,
anhedonia, anger, and appetite changes rather than classic low self-esteem or guilt,
which are more common in younger populations .
Question 2: Risk factors for developing depression in the elderly include:
,A) Strong social support and active lifestyle
B) Chronic illness, functional decline, social isolation, and bereavement
C) Young age and high income
D) Absence of medical comorbidities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults face unique depression risk factors including chronic medical
conditions, loss of independence, death of loved ones, and social isolation. Protective
factors include strong social support and engagement .
Question 3: When treating depression associated with dementia, which of the following
would be a poor choice and should not be prescribed?
A) Sertraline
B) Escitalopram
C) Amitriptyline
D) Venlafaxine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant with significant anticholinergic
effects, increasing risks of falls, cognitive impairment, and delirium in older adults with
dementia. SSRIs are preferred .
Question 4: When assessing an older client for indications of depression, the nurse
practitioner bases the intervention on the knowledge that:
,A) Depression presents the same way in all age groups
B) The older client's symptoms may be atypical for the disorder
C) Older adults cannot develop depression
D) Depression is a normal part of aging
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Depression in older adults frequently presents with somatic complaints,
cognitive changes, and less prominent mood symptoms. This "masked depression"
requires a high index of suspicion for accurate diagnosis .
Question 5: Which characteristic of delirium helps to distinguish it from dementia?
A) Progressive decline over years
B) Abrupt or acute onset
C) Memory loss is the first symptom
D) Patients are always alert
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium has an acute onset (hours to days) and fluctuating course, while
dementia has a gradual onset and progressive decline over months to years. This
temporal distinction is key for differential diagnosis .
Question 6: Which of the following is the most appropriate screening tool for delirium?
A) St Louis University Mental Status Exam (SLUMS)
B) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
, C) Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
D) Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The CAM is the validated screening instrument specifically designed to
detect delirium by assessing acute onset, fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized
thinking, and altered consciousness. SLUMS and MoCA screen for dementia, not
delirium .
Question 7: The elderly are at high risk for delirium because of:
A) Multiple medical problems
B) Multisensory deficits
C) Polypharmacy
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Delirium risk factors in older adults include baseline cognitive impairment,
sensory deficits (vision/hearing loss), multiple comorbidities, and polypharmacy
(especially anticholinergics, benzodiazepines). The multifactorial nature requires
comprehensive prevention strategies .
Question 8: The first step in treating delirium is to:
A) Start an antipsychotic immediately
B) Identify and treat the underlying cause
Answer Review
I can't provide actual exam questions or answer keys from Chamberlain College of
Nursing. However, I've created 100 original practice questions based on the publicly
documented NR601 Final Exam blueprint, which covers Weeks 5-8 content including
endocrine disorders, cardiovascular disease, cognitive disorders, genitourinary
conditions, and palliative care.
Section 1: Geriatric Assessment & Mental Health (Questions
1–15)
Question 1: What are the signs and symptoms of depression in the elderly?
A) Low self-esteem and guilt only
B) Anger, anhedonia, somatic complaints (primarily gastrointestinal), weight loss,
decreased appetite
C) Euphoria and increased energy
D) Hallucinations and delusions exclusively
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Depression in older adults often presents atypically with somatic complaints,
anhedonia, anger, and appetite changes rather than classic low self-esteem or guilt,
which are more common in younger populations .
Question 2: Risk factors for developing depression in the elderly include:
,A) Strong social support and active lifestyle
B) Chronic illness, functional decline, social isolation, and bereavement
C) Young age and high income
D) Absence of medical comorbidities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Older adults face unique depression risk factors including chronic medical
conditions, loss of independence, death of loved ones, and social isolation. Protective
factors include strong social support and engagement .
Question 3: When treating depression associated with dementia, which of the following
would be a poor choice and should not be prescribed?
A) Sertraline
B) Escitalopram
C) Amitriptyline
D) Venlafaxine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant with significant anticholinergic
effects, increasing risks of falls, cognitive impairment, and delirium in older adults with
dementia. SSRIs are preferred .
Question 4: When assessing an older client for indications of depression, the nurse
practitioner bases the intervention on the knowledge that:
,A) Depression presents the same way in all age groups
B) The older client's symptoms may be atypical for the disorder
C) Older adults cannot develop depression
D) Depression is a normal part of aging
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Depression in older adults frequently presents with somatic complaints,
cognitive changes, and less prominent mood symptoms. This "masked depression"
requires a high index of suspicion for accurate diagnosis .
Question 5: Which characteristic of delirium helps to distinguish it from dementia?
A) Progressive decline over years
B) Abrupt or acute onset
C) Memory loss is the first symptom
D) Patients are always alert
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Delirium has an acute onset (hours to days) and fluctuating course, while
dementia has a gradual onset and progressive decline over months to years. This
temporal distinction is key for differential diagnosis .
Question 6: Which of the following is the most appropriate screening tool for delirium?
A) St Louis University Mental Status Exam (SLUMS)
B) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
, C) Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
D) Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The CAM is the validated screening instrument specifically designed to
detect delirium by assessing acute onset, fluctuating course, inattention, disorganized
thinking, and altered consciousness. SLUMS and MoCA screen for dementia, not
delirium .
Question 7: The elderly are at high risk for delirium because of:
A) Multiple medical problems
B) Multisensory deficits
C) Polypharmacy
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Delirium risk factors in older adults include baseline cognitive impairment,
sensory deficits (vision/hearing loss), multiple comorbidities, and polypharmacy
(especially anticholinergics, benzodiazepines). The multifactorial nature requires
comprehensive prevention strategies .
Question 8: The first step in treating delirium is to:
A) Start an antipsychotic immediately
B) Identify and treat the underlying cause
