ATI PN MED SURGE PROCTORED EXAM
1. A nurse is teaching a health promotion class for older adults. In which order
will the nurse list the most common to least common conditions that can lead
to death in older adults?
1. Chronic obstructive lung disease
2. Cerebrovascular accidents
3. Heart disease
4. Cancer
a. 4, 1, 2, 3
b. 3, 4, 1, 2
c. 2, 3, 4, 1
d. 1, 2, 3, 4
ANS: B
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in older adults followed by cancer,
chronic lung disease, and stroke (cerebrovascular accidents).
13. A nurse is observing skin integrity of an older adult. Which finding will the
nurse document as a normal finding?
a. Oily skin
b. Faster nail growth
c. Decreased elasticity
d. Increased facial hair in men
ANS: C
Loss of skin elasticity is a common finding in the older adult. Other common
findings include pigmentation changes, glandular atrophy (oil, moisture, and
sweat glands), thinning hair (facial hair: decreased in men, increased in women),
slower nail growth, and atrophy of epidermal arterioles.
14. An older-adult patient in no acute distress reports being less able to
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,taste and smell. What is the nurse’s best response to this information?
Notify the health care provider immediately to rule out cranial nerve
a. damage.
Schedule the patient for an appointment at a smell and taste disorders
b. clinic.
c. Perform testing on the vestibulocochlear nerve and a hearing test.
d. Explain to the patient that diminished senses are normal findings.
ANS: D
Diminished taste and smell senses are common findings in older adults.
Scheduling an appointment at a smell and taste disorders clinic, testing the
vestibulocochlear nerve, or an attempt to rule out cranial nerve damage is
unnecessary at this time as per the information provided.
15. A nurse is assessing an older adult for cognitive changes. Which symptom will
the nurse report as normal?
a. Disorientation
b. Poor judgment
c. Slower reaction time
d. Loss of language skills
ANS: C
Slower reaction time is a common change in the older adult. Symptoms of
cognitive impairment, such as disorientation, loss of language skills, loss of the
ability to calculate, and poor judgment are not normal aging changes and require
further investigation of underlying causes.
16. An older patient with dementia and confusion is admitted to the nursing
unit after hip replacement surgery. Which action will the nurse include in the plan
of care?
a. Keep a routine.
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, b. Continue to reorient.
c. Allow several choices.
d. Socially isolate patient.
ANS: A
Patients with dementia need a routine. Continuing to reorient a patient with
dementia is nonproductive and not advised. Patients with dementia need limited
choices. Social interaction based on the patient’s abilities is to be promoted.
17. A nurse is helping an older-adult patient with instrumental activities of
daily living. The nurse will be assisting the patient with which activity?
a. Taking a bath
b. Getting dressed
c. Making a phone call
d. Going to the bathroom
ANS: C
Instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs (such as the ability to write a
check, shop, prepare meals, or make phone calls) and activities of daily living or
ADLs (such as bathing, dressing, and toileting) are essential to independent living.
18. A male older-adult patient expresses concern and anxiety about
decreased penile firmness during an erection. What is the nurse’s best
response?
Tell the patient that libido will always decrease, as well as the sexual
a. desires.
Tell the patient that touching should be avoided unless intercourse is
b. planned.
c. Tell the patient that heterosexuality will help maintain stronger libido.
d. Tell the patient that this change is expected in aging adults.
ANS: D
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1. A nurse is teaching a health promotion class for older adults. In which order
will the nurse list the most common to least common conditions that can lead
to death in older adults?
1. Chronic obstructive lung disease
2. Cerebrovascular accidents
3. Heart disease
4. Cancer
a. 4, 1, 2, 3
b. 3, 4, 1, 2
c. 2, 3, 4, 1
d. 1, 2, 3, 4
ANS: B
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in older adults followed by cancer,
chronic lung disease, and stroke (cerebrovascular accidents).
13. A nurse is observing skin integrity of an older adult. Which finding will the
nurse document as a normal finding?
a. Oily skin
b. Faster nail growth
c. Decreased elasticity
d. Increased facial hair in men
ANS: C
Loss of skin elasticity is a common finding in the older adult. Other common
findings include pigmentation changes, glandular atrophy (oil, moisture, and
sweat glands), thinning hair (facial hair: decreased in men, increased in women),
slower nail growth, and atrophy of epidermal arterioles.
14. An older-adult patient in no acute distress reports being less able to
20
,taste and smell. What is the nurse’s best response to this information?
Notify the health care provider immediately to rule out cranial nerve
a. damage.
Schedule the patient for an appointment at a smell and taste disorders
b. clinic.
c. Perform testing on the vestibulocochlear nerve and a hearing test.
d. Explain to the patient that diminished senses are normal findings.
ANS: D
Diminished taste and smell senses are common findings in older adults.
Scheduling an appointment at a smell and taste disorders clinic, testing the
vestibulocochlear nerve, or an attempt to rule out cranial nerve damage is
unnecessary at this time as per the information provided.
15. A nurse is assessing an older adult for cognitive changes. Which symptom will
the nurse report as normal?
a. Disorientation
b. Poor judgment
c. Slower reaction time
d. Loss of language skills
ANS: C
Slower reaction time is a common change in the older adult. Symptoms of
cognitive impairment, such as disorientation, loss of language skills, loss of the
ability to calculate, and poor judgment are not normal aging changes and require
further investigation of underlying causes.
16. An older patient with dementia and confusion is admitted to the nursing
unit after hip replacement surgery. Which action will the nurse include in the plan
of care?
a. Keep a routine.
20
, b. Continue to reorient.
c. Allow several choices.
d. Socially isolate patient.
ANS: A
Patients with dementia need a routine. Continuing to reorient a patient with
dementia is nonproductive and not advised. Patients with dementia need limited
choices. Social interaction based on the patient’s abilities is to be promoted.
17. A nurse is helping an older-adult patient with instrumental activities of
daily living. The nurse will be assisting the patient with which activity?
a. Taking a bath
b. Getting dressed
c. Making a phone call
d. Going to the bathroom
ANS: C
Instrumental activities of daily living or IADLs (such as the ability to write a
check, shop, prepare meals, or make phone calls) and activities of daily living or
ADLs (such as bathing, dressing, and toileting) are essential to independent living.
18. A male older-adult patient expresses concern and anxiety about
decreased penile firmness during an erection. What is the nurse’s best
response?
Tell the patient that libido will always decrease, as well as the sexual
a. desires.
Tell the patient that touching should be avoided unless intercourse is
b. planned.
c. Tell the patient that heterosexuality will help maintain stronger libido.
d. Tell the patient that this change is expected in aging adults.
ANS: D
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