Galen College of Nursing NUR 257 Exam 3 (docx) |
2026/2027 | Aging & Chronic Illness Q&A | Nursing
1. For an alert older adult with blood glucose 58 mg/dL, what immediate action is appropriate?
A) Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
B) Give a long-acting insulin dose
C) Restrict oral fluids
D) Wait for the next meal
Correct Answer: Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
Rationale: An alert person who can swallow should receive a rapidly absorbed carbohydrate for mild
hypoglycemia. Recheck glucose after 15 minutes and repeat treatment if it remains low. Long-acting
insulin would worsen the low glucose, while waiting delays treatment. Follow with a snack when
indicated to prevent recurrence.
2. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: for an alert older adult with blood glucose 58 mg/dL, what
immediate action is appropriate?
A) Give a long-acting insulin dose
B) Restrict oral fluids
C) Wait for the next meal
D) Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
Correct Answer: Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
Rationale: An alert person who can swallow should receive a rapidly absorbed carbohydrate for mild
hypoglycemia. Recheck glucose after 15 minutes and repeat treatment if it remains low. Long-acting
insulin would worsen the low glucose, while waiting delays treatment. Follow with a snack when
indicated to prevent recurrence.
3. During illness, what diabetes self-management instruction is most important?
A) Stop all diabetes medicines automatically
B) Avoid fluids until appetite returns
C) Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
D) Check glucose only after symptoms resolve
,Correct Answer: Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
Rationale: Illness can raise glucose through stress hormones even when food intake decreases.
Frequent monitoring and an individualized medication plan help detect hyperglycemia or
hypoglycemia early. Adequate fluids reduce dehydration risk when not contraindicated. Automatic
medication cessation or delayed testing can permit preventable deterioration.
4. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: during illness, what diabetes self-management instruction is most
important?
A) Stop all diabetes medicines automatically
B) Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
C) Avoid fluids until appetite returns
D) Check glucose only after symptoms resolve
Correct Answer: Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
Rationale: Illness can raise glucose through stress hormones even when food intake decreases.
Frequent monitoring and an individualized medication plan help detect hyperglycemia or
hypoglycemia early. Adequate fluids reduce dehydration risk when not contraindicated. Automatic
medication cessation or delayed testing can permit preventable deterioration.
5. Which finding most strongly suggests diabetic ketoacidosis rather than uncomplicated
hyperglycemia?
A) Ketones with metabolic acidosis
B) Normal anion gap and absent ketones
C) Isolated mildly elevated fasting glucose
,D) Normal breathing and normal bicarbonate
Correct Answer: Ketones with metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis combines insulin deficiency, ketone production, and metabolic
acidosis. It may cause abdominal pain and deep respirations and requires urgent treatment.
Hyperglycemia alone does not establish ketoacidosis. Ketone and acid-base assessment
differentiates this emergency from uncomplicated glucose elevation.
6. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: which finding most strongly suggests diabetic ketoacidosis rather
than uncomplicated hyperglycemia?
A) Normal anion gap and absent ketones
B) Isolated mildly elevated fasting glucose
C) Normal breathing and normal bicarbonate
D) Ketones with metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: Ketones with metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis combines insulin deficiency, ketone production, and metabolic
acidosis. It may cause abdominal pain and deep respirations and requires urgent treatment.
Hyperglycemia alone does not establish ketoacidosis. Ketone and acid-base assessment
differentiates this emergency from uncomplicated glucose elevation.
7. For an older adult with diabetes, which foot-care teaching reduces injury risk?
A) Walk barefoot to strengthen the feet
B) Use heating pads on numb areas
, C) Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
D) Trim calluses with a razor
Correct Answer: Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
Rationale: Neuropathy can impair protective sensation, allowing minor injuries to progress
unnoticed. Daily inspection and prompt reporting support early treatment and prevent ulcer
complications. Barefoot walking and heating pads increase trauma or burn risk. Sharp home callus
removal can cause wounds, especially with poor circulation.
8. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: for an older adult with diabetes, which foot-care teaching reduces
injury risk?
A) Walk barefoot to strengthen the feet
B) Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
C) Use heating pads on numb areas
D) Trim calluses with a razor
Correct Answer: Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
Rationale: Neuropathy can impair protective sensation, allowing minor injuries to progress
unnoticed. Daily inspection and prompt reporting support early treatment and prevent ulcer
complications. Barefoot walking and heating pads increase trauma or burn risk. Sharp home callus
removal can cause wounds, especially with poor circulation.
9. What does hemoglobin A1c primarily reflect?
A) Average glycemia over roughly the preceding two to three months
2026/2027 | Aging & Chronic Illness Q&A | Nursing
1. For an alert older adult with blood glucose 58 mg/dL, what immediate action is appropriate?
A) Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
B) Give a long-acting insulin dose
C) Restrict oral fluids
D) Wait for the next meal
Correct Answer: Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
Rationale: An alert person who can swallow should receive a rapidly absorbed carbohydrate for mild
hypoglycemia. Recheck glucose after 15 minutes and repeat treatment if it remains low. Long-acting
insulin would worsen the low glucose, while waiting delays treatment. Follow with a snack when
indicated to prevent recurrence.
2. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: for an alert older adult with blood glucose 58 mg/dL, what
immediate action is appropriate?
A) Give a long-acting insulin dose
B) Restrict oral fluids
C) Wait for the next meal
D) Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
Correct Answer: Give 15 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate
Rationale: An alert person who can swallow should receive a rapidly absorbed carbohydrate for mild
hypoglycemia. Recheck glucose after 15 minutes and repeat treatment if it remains low. Long-acting
insulin would worsen the low glucose, while waiting delays treatment. Follow with a snack when
indicated to prevent recurrence.
3. During illness, what diabetes self-management instruction is most important?
A) Stop all diabetes medicines automatically
B) Avoid fluids until appetite returns
C) Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
D) Check glucose only after symptoms resolve
,Correct Answer: Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
Rationale: Illness can raise glucose through stress hormones even when food intake decreases.
Frequent monitoring and an individualized medication plan help detect hyperglycemia or
hypoglycemia early. Adequate fluids reduce dehydration risk when not contraindicated. Automatic
medication cessation or delayed testing can permit preventable deterioration.
4. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: during illness, what diabetes self-management instruction is most
important?
A) Stop all diabetes medicines automatically
B) Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
C) Avoid fluids until appetite returns
D) Check glucose only after symptoms resolve
Correct Answer: Monitor glucose more frequently and follow the individualized sick-day plan
Rationale: Illness can raise glucose through stress hormones even when food intake decreases.
Frequent monitoring and an individualized medication plan help detect hyperglycemia or
hypoglycemia early. Adequate fluids reduce dehydration risk when not contraindicated. Automatic
medication cessation or delayed testing can permit preventable deterioration.
5. Which finding most strongly suggests diabetic ketoacidosis rather than uncomplicated
hyperglycemia?
A) Ketones with metabolic acidosis
B) Normal anion gap and absent ketones
C) Isolated mildly elevated fasting glucose
,D) Normal breathing and normal bicarbonate
Correct Answer: Ketones with metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis combines insulin deficiency, ketone production, and metabolic
acidosis. It may cause abdominal pain and deep respirations and requires urgent treatment.
Hyperglycemia alone does not establish ketoacidosis. Ketone and acid-base assessment
differentiates this emergency from uncomplicated glucose elevation.
6. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: which finding most strongly suggests diabetic ketoacidosis rather
than uncomplicated hyperglycemia?
A) Normal anion gap and absent ketones
B) Isolated mildly elevated fasting glucose
C) Normal breathing and normal bicarbonate
D) Ketones with metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: Ketones with metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Diabetic ketoacidosis combines insulin deficiency, ketone production, and metabolic
acidosis. It may cause abdominal pain and deep respirations and requires urgent treatment.
Hyperglycemia alone does not establish ketoacidosis. Ketone and acid-base assessment
differentiates this emergency from uncomplicated glucose elevation.
7. For an older adult with diabetes, which foot-care teaching reduces injury risk?
A) Walk barefoot to strengthen the feet
B) Use heating pads on numb areas
, C) Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
D) Trim calluses with a razor
Correct Answer: Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
Rationale: Neuropathy can impair protective sensation, allowing minor injuries to progress
unnoticed. Daily inspection and prompt reporting support early treatment and prevent ulcer
complications. Barefoot walking and heating pads increase trauma or burn risk. Sharp home callus
removal can cause wounds, especially with poor circulation.
8. In a care-plan review focused on diabetes, which statement is the safest evidence-based
conclusion about this situation: for an older adult with diabetes, which foot-care teaching reduces
injury risk?
A) Walk barefoot to strengthen the feet
B) Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
C) Use heating pads on numb areas
D) Trim calluses with a razor
Correct Answer: Inspect feet daily and report new sores promptly
Rationale: Neuropathy can impair protective sensation, allowing minor injuries to progress
unnoticed. Daily inspection and prompt reporting support early treatment and prevent ulcer
complications. Barefoot walking and heating pads increase trauma or burn risk. Sharp home callus
removal can cause wounds, especially with poor circulation.
9. What does hemoglobin A1c primarily reflect?
A) Average glycemia over roughly the preceding two to three months
