NUR 257 EXAM 2 –
CONCEPTS OF AGING &
CHRONIC ILLNESS –
(2026/2027) GALEN
ACTUAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS, 100%
GUARANTEE PASS
NUR 257 Exam 2 – Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness
Comprehensive Practice Exam | Questions with Bolded
Correct Answers & Rationales
Galen College of Nursing | 2026/2027 Curriculum Aligned
Section 1: Geriatric Assessment & Functional Status
(Questions 1–25)
,1. A nurse is assessing an older adult. Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Assume all abnormal findings are due to aging.
B. Compare findings with the individual's baseline and current health status.
C. Focus only on the chief complaint.
D. Avoid asking about functional ability.
Rationale: Older adults have substantial individual variation. Assessment must
distinguish expected aging changes from illness by considering baseline function and
current findings .
2. Which screening tool alerts the nurse to six common geriatric health problems:
Sleep disorders, Problems with eating, Incontinence, Confusion, Evidence of falls,
and Skin breakdown?
A. Katz Index
B. Mini-Mental State Examination
C. SPICES tool
D. Lawton IADL Scale
Rationale: The SPICES tool (Fulmer) is designed as an alert system for these six
frequently occurring health problems in older adults .
3. Which activities are considered basic activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A. Managing finances and shopping
B. Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
C. Using a computer and telephone
D. Managing investments and transportation
Rationale: Basic ADLs include fundamental self-care tasks: bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring, continence, and eating .
4. Managing medications, shopping, and preparing meals are examples of which
type of functional activity?
A. Basic ADLs
B. Instrumental ADLs (IADLs)
C. Advanced ADLs
D. Functional mobility
Rationale: IADLs are complex skills needed for independent community living, including
medication management, finances, shopping, and transportation .
5. An older adult can bathe and dress independently but cannot manage
medications or finances. How should the nurse interpret this?
,A. The client is completely dependent.
B. Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired.
C. The client has no functional limitations.
D. The client necessarily has dementia.
Rationale: IADL impairment can occur before basic self-care abilities are lost and does
not by itself establish a dementia diagnosis .
6. Which question best assesses an older adult's functional status?
A. "What is your favorite food?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What television programs do you watch?"
D. "What was your previous occupation?"
Rationale: Functional assessment determines the person's ability to perform activities
necessary for independent living .
7. Which assessment tool is most appropriate for evaluating basic ADLs?
A. Lawton IADL Scale
B. Katz Index of Independence in ADLs
C. Braden Scale
D. Mini-Cog
Rationale: The Katz Index evaluates six basic ADLs: bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring, continence, and feeding .
8. Which assessment tool evaluates IADLs?
A. Katz Index
B. MMSE
C. Lawton IADL Scale
D. Braden Scale
Rationale: The Lawton IADL Scale measures complex skills for independent community
living .
9. Which finding requires further assessment rather than being attributed to
normal aging?
A. Mildly slower movement
B. Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
C. Gray hair
D. Decreased skin elasticity
, Rationale: Progressive functional decline may indicate illness or cognitive impairment
and warrants further assessment .
10. A nurse is performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Which
components should be included? (Select all that apply)
A. Functional status
B. Cognitive abilities
C. Caregiver stress
D. Advance care preferences
E. Only current diagnosis
Rationale: Comprehensive assessment includes biological, psychosocial, functional,
cultural, spiritual, cognitive, and caregiver information .
11. The nurse is assessing an older adult's ability to live independently. Which
IADL is most critical to assess?
A. Bathing
B. Medication management
C. Toileting
D. Feeding
Rationale: Medication management is an IADL essential for independent community
living and a common area of impairment .
12. Which statement best describes the purpose of a comprehensive geriatric
assessment?
A. To diagnose acute illness only
B. To evaluate multiple domains of health and function to guide care planning
C. To replace the physician's examination
D. To assess only physical health
Rationale: Comprehensive geriatric assessment evaluates biological, psychosocial,
functional, and spiritual domains to guide holistic care .
13. An older adult reports difficulty with driving and running errands. Which
functional domain is affected?
A. Basic ADLs
B. IADLs
C. Mobility only
D. Cognition only
Rationale: Driving and shopping are IADLs requiring complex executive function .
CONCEPTS OF AGING &
CHRONIC ILLNESS –
(2026/2027) GALEN
ACTUAL QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS, 100%
GUARANTEE PASS
NUR 257 Exam 2 – Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness
Comprehensive Practice Exam | Questions with Bolded
Correct Answers & Rationales
Galen College of Nursing | 2026/2027 Curriculum Aligned
Section 1: Geriatric Assessment & Functional Status
(Questions 1–25)
,1. A nurse is assessing an older adult. Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Assume all abnormal findings are due to aging.
B. Compare findings with the individual's baseline and current health status.
C. Focus only on the chief complaint.
D. Avoid asking about functional ability.
Rationale: Older adults have substantial individual variation. Assessment must
distinguish expected aging changes from illness by considering baseline function and
current findings .
2. Which screening tool alerts the nurse to six common geriatric health problems:
Sleep disorders, Problems with eating, Incontinence, Confusion, Evidence of falls,
and Skin breakdown?
A. Katz Index
B. Mini-Mental State Examination
C. SPICES tool
D. Lawton IADL Scale
Rationale: The SPICES tool (Fulmer) is designed as an alert system for these six
frequently occurring health problems in older adults .
3. Which activities are considered basic activities of daily living (ADLs)?
A. Managing finances and shopping
B. Bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding
C. Using a computer and telephone
D. Managing investments and transportation
Rationale: Basic ADLs include fundamental self-care tasks: bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring, continence, and eating .
4. Managing medications, shopping, and preparing meals are examples of which
type of functional activity?
A. Basic ADLs
B. Instrumental ADLs (IADLs)
C. Advanced ADLs
D. Functional mobility
Rationale: IADLs are complex skills needed for independent community living, including
medication management, finances, shopping, and transportation .
5. An older adult can bathe and dress independently but cannot manage
medications or finances. How should the nurse interpret this?
,A. The client is completely dependent.
B. Basic ADLs are preserved, but some IADLs are impaired.
C. The client has no functional limitations.
D. The client necessarily has dementia.
Rationale: IADL impairment can occur before basic self-care abilities are lost and does
not by itself establish a dementia diagnosis .
6. Which question best assesses an older adult's functional status?
A. "What is your favorite food?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What television programs do you watch?"
D. "What was your previous occupation?"
Rationale: Functional assessment determines the person's ability to perform activities
necessary for independent living .
7. Which assessment tool is most appropriate for evaluating basic ADLs?
A. Lawton IADL Scale
B. Katz Index of Independence in ADLs
C. Braden Scale
D. Mini-Cog
Rationale: The Katz Index evaluates six basic ADLs: bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring, continence, and feeding .
8. Which assessment tool evaluates IADLs?
A. Katz Index
B. MMSE
C. Lawton IADL Scale
D. Braden Scale
Rationale: The Lawton IADL Scale measures complex skills for independent community
living .
9. Which finding requires further assessment rather than being attributed to
normal aging?
A. Mildly slower movement
B. Progressive inability to perform familiar daily activities
C. Gray hair
D. Decreased skin elasticity
, Rationale: Progressive functional decline may indicate illness or cognitive impairment
and warrants further assessment .
10. A nurse is performing a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Which
components should be included? (Select all that apply)
A. Functional status
B. Cognitive abilities
C. Caregiver stress
D. Advance care preferences
E. Only current diagnosis
Rationale: Comprehensive assessment includes biological, psychosocial, functional,
cultural, spiritual, cognitive, and caregiver information .
11. The nurse is assessing an older adult's ability to live independently. Which
IADL is most critical to assess?
A. Bathing
B. Medication management
C. Toileting
D. Feeding
Rationale: Medication management is an IADL essential for independent community
living and a common area of impairment .
12. Which statement best describes the purpose of a comprehensive geriatric
assessment?
A. To diagnose acute illness only
B. To evaluate multiple domains of health and function to guide care planning
C. To replace the physician's examination
D. To assess only physical health
Rationale: Comprehensive geriatric assessment evaluates biological, psychosocial,
functional, and spiritual domains to guide holistic care .
13. An older adult reports difficulty with driving and running errands. Which
functional domain is affected?
A. Basic ADLs
B. IADLs
C. Mobility only
D. Cognition only
Rationale: Driving and shopping are IADLs requiring complex executive function .
