Gerontological Nursing
Comprehensive Review
for ANCC Certification
Exam
(Questions and Answers)
2026
Expert Verified
(With A+ Grades
Guarantee)
2026
,Which of the following phenomena most likely accounts for the Ans: A
fact that more women than men live alone later in life? Feedback:
The facts that women live longer than men and often marry men older than themselves
A) Women tend to both live longer than men and marry men account for their higher rates of living alone in old age. Men are not noted to have greater
older than themselves. access to care facilities, to be more likely to live with younger family members or to face
B) Men tend to have greater access to care facilities due to stigma for living alone.
higher incomes and savings.
C) Men are more likely to live with younger family members
following the death of a spouse.
D) Social pressures tend to stigmatize older men who live alone.
Which of the following statements most accurately captures the Ans: C
financial status of older adults in the United States? Feedback:
The percentage of older people living below the poverty level has been declining, with about
A) The percentage of older people living below the poverty level 10% now falling into this category. Most older people depend on Social Security for more
has been increasing. than half of their income. Although the median net worth of older households is nearly twice
B) The financial needs of most older adults are well met by the national average because of the high prevalence of home ownership by elders, many
Social Security income alone. older adults are "asset rich and cash poor." The recent decline in housing prices, however,
C) The recent decline in housing prices has made many older has made that asset a less valuable one for many older adults. There has been a significant
adults "asset rich and cash poor." rise in the percentage of middle-aged women who are employed, although there has been
D) Women 65 years of age and older is the fastest growing group little change in the labor force participation of women 65 years of age and older.
of employment.
A care aide employed on a geriatric medicine unit of a hospital Ans: C
expresses frustration that "old people get sick so much more Feedback:
often than young people." What is the nurse's most appropriate The incidence of acute illness is lower among older adults than younger adults, though
response to this statement? recovery times tend to be longer. Older adults tend to have a higher incidence of chronic
illness and require more frequent and longer hospitalizations.
A) "In fact, the prevalence of obesity and accompanying chronic
illnesses mean that young people actually have more chronic
conditions than older adults."
B) "It's actually a myth that older adults require more
hospitalization than young people."
C) "Actually, older adults experience fewer acute illnesses than
younger people, it's just that they tend to take longer to recover
from them."
D) "With the increase in life expectancies in recent years, most
older people actually live free of chronic diseases until very late
in life."
Which of following statements most accurately captures the role Ans: A
of chronic illness in the lives of older adults? Feedback:
Chronic illnesses constitute the leading cause of death for older adults, exceeding those
A) Chronic illnesses constitute the leading cause of death for attributed to acute illnesses. The presence of heart disease as a cause of death has decreased
older adults. in recent years, while at the same time cancer has become more prevalent.
B) More older adults die from acute illnesses than from chronic
diseases.
C) While chronic diseases used to be the leading cause of death,
this is no longer the case.
D) While cancer rates have fallen, other chronic diseases remain
a common cause of death.
The board of a large chain of hospitals has commissioned a Ans: A, D
strategic plan in order to meet the care needs of baby boomers in Feedback:
coming years. Which of the following trends constitute a sound Baby boomers have had fewer children than generations that preceded them and they tend to
basis for understanding the baby boomer generation and exercise more often. Their incomes tend to be higher while they enjoy less leisure time.
conducting future planning? Select all that apply.
A) Baby boomers tend to have fewer children than members of
earlier generations.
B) Adjusted for inflation, baby boomers have lower incomes
than their parents had.
C) Due to technology, baby boomers have more leisure time than
other adults.
D) Baby boomers perform physical exercise more frequently
than other adults.
2026
,The family of an 85-year-old man who has been admitted to Ans: D
hospital with exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary Feedback:
disease (COPD) has expressed concern about their ability to pay Most money for the care of older adults comes from federally funded programs. The burden
for his present and future care. Which of the following of payment is still significant for most older adults and a minority of older adults receive
statements most accurately conveys the reality of payment for care in an institutional living environment.
care services by older adults?
A) The high value of assets owned by older adults makes the
financial burden of care minimal for most older adults.
B) Payment for long-term care of adults is most often covered by
private insurers.
C) Most older adults have their basic care needs provided in a
long-term facility.
D) Overall, federal money pays for more care than do older
adults themselves or private insurers.
Which of the following statements by the daughter of an 87- Ans: C
year-old resident of a nursing home would the nurse most likely Feedback:
want to correct or clarify? The incidence of heart disease as a cause of death is on the decline. More Americans are
indeed achieving old age and many older adults have valuable assets but little cash flow.
A) "It seems like more and more people are living well into their Female longevity continues to exceed that of males.
80s like my mom."
B) "My mom has a house worth loads of money but little cash
flow, like many older adults."
C) "It seems like heart disease is getting more common even
though people live longer than they used to."
D) "There are more women living to my mother's age than there
are men."
From the late 1980s to the present, the gap in life expectancy Ans: C
between individuals in the Caucasian and African American Feedback:
communities has widened. Which of the following most clearly The gap in life expectancy between white individuals and African Americans has widened
accounts for this trend? because the life expectancy of African Americans has not increased at the same pace as that
of Caucasians. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attributes this decline to
A) Acute illness in the black population has increased an increase in deaths from homicide and AIDS.
B) Infant mortality and complications of childbirth in the white
population have declined
C) The life expectancy of African Americans has not increased at
the same rate as that of the white population
D) Deaths from homicide in the white population have increased
Two related and important trends in the elderly population are: Ans: D
Feedback:
A) The growing gap in life expectancy between males and The role of chronic illness in death rates is both significant and represents a shift from the
females and the number of women living alone past. The gap in life expectancy between men and women is narrowing. The life expectancy
B) The increase in life expectancy of white and black people. of black people has been recently declining. The generation now entering the senior years is
C) The continued burden of acute disease and the low levels of better educated than generations past.
education among the elderly
D) The increased burden of chronic illness and the shifting
causes of death with advancing age
It is important for the nurses to be aware of their patients' Ans: B
financial situations, which can affect patients' nutritional needs Feedback:
and access to medical care. Which of the following applies to the Less than 15% of older people live below the poverty level. Social Security is the main
majority of older people? source of income for more than half of all older adults.
A) Own their own homes and have sufficient monthly income
B) Get more than half their income from Social Security and live
above the poverty level
C) Are an increasing percentage of the labor force but are "cash
poor"
D) Are retiring at earlier ages and so live below the poverty level
What is the most important factor contributing to limitations in Ans: D
self-care and independent living among the elderly? Feedback:
Chronic illnesses are noted to have a significant impact on the quality of life of older adults.
A) Lack of family support These illnesses are more prevalent than acute illnesses and supersede deficits in family and
B) Low financial assets financial support.
C) Acute illness and injury
D) Chronic illness
2026
, Which of the following statements best captures an aspect of Ans: B
illness in older adults? Feedback:
In the elderly population, the cancer death rate has increased in the past three decades;
A) Death from heart disease is increasing in this population. deaths from heart disease have declined. Several chronic conditions are often present and
B) Death from cancer is increasing in this population. must be managed simultaneously.
C) Chronic illnesses are less common than in younger people.
D) Several acute illnesses are often present that must be
managed simultaneously.
What are the most important competing forces that influence Ans: A
health policy for the elderly? Feedback:
Policy discussions most often pit cost containment (reducing expenditures) against quality of
A) Cost containment versus quality of care care (which may mean increasing expenditures). Seniors require relatively less acute care
B) Acute care versus the burden of chronic disease than younger patients do; their health problems are more often chronic. Because all persons
C) Private insurance payments versus Medicare support over age 65 are entitled to health coverage through Medicare, insurance considerations are
D) Long-term care at home versus nursing home services fewer than with younger patients. And whereas one in four seniors requires nursing home
care at some time, nursing home residency is not typically long term.
23. Which of the following patient histories is most likely for a Ans: B
person older than 65 years of age? Feedback:
Arthritis and heart conditions are among the most common chronic conditions of the elderly.
A) In the last year, Patient F has been treated for a skin rash, a Daily medications to reduce arthritis pain and decrease blood pressure are common. The
sprained ankle, and influenza other histories are more likely for younger patients.
B) Patient G takes medications daily for arthritis pain relief and
reduction of blood pressure levels
C) Patient H complains of chronic fatigue, stress-related
allergies, and acid reflux after meals
D) Patient I has been to the emergency room three times in the
past year for ear infections and allergy attacks
When compared with elderly populations of the past, persons Ans: C
entering their senior years between 2015 and 2030 will have: Feedback:
The baby boomer cohort attained higher levels of education and economic status than past
A) Fewer chronic diseases but more acute illnesses generations. They have, however, fewer children and the same (or greater) burdens of
B) Greater support from their children and spouses chronic disease and needs for health care as their parents did.
C) Better education and greater wealth
D) Fewer needs for hospital or nursing home care
Hospital management is reviewing departmental statistics. Ans: B
Which of the following departments most likely has the highest Feedback:
death rate of patients over age 65, and why? Heart disease is the leading cause of death among persons 65 years of age and older.
A) Oncology, because the elderly have been exposed to more
carcinogens in their long lifetimes
B) Cardiology, because, despite a decline in recent years, heart
disease remains the number one cause of death among the
elderly
C) Endocrinology, because the elderly already have
compromised immune systems
D) Neurology, because stroke and Alzheimer's disease together
cause more deaths of the elderly than any other conditions
Which of the following projections of future demographics of Ans: C
older Americans is most accurate? Feedback:
Whereas in 2000, approximately 84% of older Americans were non-Hispanic white, it is
A) By 2020, more than 50% of older Americans will belong to a projected that this population will decrease to 64% by 2050. During this same period, there
non-Hispanic white group. will be dramatic growth among Hispanic older adults, who will represent 16% of the older
B) The percentage of black older adults will decrease slightly population. Black individuals will grow from 8% to 12% of the older population during this
due to lower life expectancies. time. By 2020, one-quarter of America's older population will belong to a minority racial or
C) The number of Hispanic older adults is projected to grow ethnic group.
dramatically.
D) Within 40 years, a minority of older Americans will be white
related to immigration.
2026
Comprehensive Review
for ANCC Certification
Exam
(Questions and Answers)
2026
Expert Verified
(With A+ Grades
Guarantee)
2026
,Which of the following phenomena most likely accounts for the Ans: A
fact that more women than men live alone later in life? Feedback:
The facts that women live longer than men and often marry men older than themselves
A) Women tend to both live longer than men and marry men account for their higher rates of living alone in old age. Men are not noted to have greater
older than themselves. access to care facilities, to be more likely to live with younger family members or to face
B) Men tend to have greater access to care facilities due to stigma for living alone.
higher incomes and savings.
C) Men are more likely to live with younger family members
following the death of a spouse.
D) Social pressures tend to stigmatize older men who live alone.
Which of the following statements most accurately captures the Ans: C
financial status of older adults in the United States? Feedback:
The percentage of older people living below the poverty level has been declining, with about
A) The percentage of older people living below the poverty level 10% now falling into this category. Most older people depend on Social Security for more
has been increasing. than half of their income. Although the median net worth of older households is nearly twice
B) The financial needs of most older adults are well met by the national average because of the high prevalence of home ownership by elders, many
Social Security income alone. older adults are "asset rich and cash poor." The recent decline in housing prices, however,
C) The recent decline in housing prices has made many older has made that asset a less valuable one for many older adults. There has been a significant
adults "asset rich and cash poor." rise in the percentage of middle-aged women who are employed, although there has been
D) Women 65 years of age and older is the fastest growing group little change in the labor force participation of women 65 years of age and older.
of employment.
A care aide employed on a geriatric medicine unit of a hospital Ans: C
expresses frustration that "old people get sick so much more Feedback:
often than young people." What is the nurse's most appropriate The incidence of acute illness is lower among older adults than younger adults, though
response to this statement? recovery times tend to be longer. Older adults tend to have a higher incidence of chronic
illness and require more frequent and longer hospitalizations.
A) "In fact, the prevalence of obesity and accompanying chronic
illnesses mean that young people actually have more chronic
conditions than older adults."
B) "It's actually a myth that older adults require more
hospitalization than young people."
C) "Actually, older adults experience fewer acute illnesses than
younger people, it's just that they tend to take longer to recover
from them."
D) "With the increase in life expectancies in recent years, most
older people actually live free of chronic diseases until very late
in life."
Which of following statements most accurately captures the role Ans: A
of chronic illness in the lives of older adults? Feedback:
Chronic illnesses constitute the leading cause of death for older adults, exceeding those
A) Chronic illnesses constitute the leading cause of death for attributed to acute illnesses. The presence of heart disease as a cause of death has decreased
older adults. in recent years, while at the same time cancer has become more prevalent.
B) More older adults die from acute illnesses than from chronic
diseases.
C) While chronic diseases used to be the leading cause of death,
this is no longer the case.
D) While cancer rates have fallen, other chronic diseases remain
a common cause of death.
The board of a large chain of hospitals has commissioned a Ans: A, D
strategic plan in order to meet the care needs of baby boomers in Feedback:
coming years. Which of the following trends constitute a sound Baby boomers have had fewer children than generations that preceded them and they tend to
basis for understanding the baby boomer generation and exercise more often. Their incomes tend to be higher while they enjoy less leisure time.
conducting future planning? Select all that apply.
A) Baby boomers tend to have fewer children than members of
earlier generations.
B) Adjusted for inflation, baby boomers have lower incomes
than their parents had.
C) Due to technology, baby boomers have more leisure time than
other adults.
D) Baby boomers perform physical exercise more frequently
than other adults.
2026
,The family of an 85-year-old man who has been admitted to Ans: D
hospital with exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary Feedback:
disease (COPD) has expressed concern about their ability to pay Most money for the care of older adults comes from federally funded programs. The burden
for his present and future care. Which of the following of payment is still significant for most older adults and a minority of older adults receive
statements most accurately conveys the reality of payment for care in an institutional living environment.
care services by older adults?
A) The high value of assets owned by older adults makes the
financial burden of care minimal for most older adults.
B) Payment for long-term care of adults is most often covered by
private insurers.
C) Most older adults have their basic care needs provided in a
long-term facility.
D) Overall, federal money pays for more care than do older
adults themselves or private insurers.
Which of the following statements by the daughter of an 87- Ans: C
year-old resident of a nursing home would the nurse most likely Feedback:
want to correct or clarify? The incidence of heart disease as a cause of death is on the decline. More Americans are
indeed achieving old age and many older adults have valuable assets but little cash flow.
A) "It seems like more and more people are living well into their Female longevity continues to exceed that of males.
80s like my mom."
B) "My mom has a house worth loads of money but little cash
flow, like many older adults."
C) "It seems like heart disease is getting more common even
though people live longer than they used to."
D) "There are more women living to my mother's age than there
are men."
From the late 1980s to the present, the gap in life expectancy Ans: C
between individuals in the Caucasian and African American Feedback:
communities has widened. Which of the following most clearly The gap in life expectancy between white individuals and African Americans has widened
accounts for this trend? because the life expectancy of African Americans has not increased at the same pace as that
of Caucasians. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attributes this decline to
A) Acute illness in the black population has increased an increase in deaths from homicide and AIDS.
B) Infant mortality and complications of childbirth in the white
population have declined
C) The life expectancy of African Americans has not increased at
the same rate as that of the white population
D) Deaths from homicide in the white population have increased
Two related and important trends in the elderly population are: Ans: D
Feedback:
A) The growing gap in life expectancy between males and The role of chronic illness in death rates is both significant and represents a shift from the
females and the number of women living alone past. The gap in life expectancy between men and women is narrowing. The life expectancy
B) The increase in life expectancy of white and black people. of black people has been recently declining. The generation now entering the senior years is
C) The continued burden of acute disease and the low levels of better educated than generations past.
education among the elderly
D) The increased burden of chronic illness and the shifting
causes of death with advancing age
It is important for the nurses to be aware of their patients' Ans: B
financial situations, which can affect patients' nutritional needs Feedback:
and access to medical care. Which of the following applies to the Less than 15% of older people live below the poverty level. Social Security is the main
majority of older people? source of income for more than half of all older adults.
A) Own their own homes and have sufficient monthly income
B) Get more than half their income from Social Security and live
above the poverty level
C) Are an increasing percentage of the labor force but are "cash
poor"
D) Are retiring at earlier ages and so live below the poverty level
What is the most important factor contributing to limitations in Ans: D
self-care and independent living among the elderly? Feedback:
Chronic illnesses are noted to have a significant impact on the quality of life of older adults.
A) Lack of family support These illnesses are more prevalent than acute illnesses and supersede deficits in family and
B) Low financial assets financial support.
C) Acute illness and injury
D) Chronic illness
2026
, Which of the following statements best captures an aspect of Ans: B
illness in older adults? Feedback:
In the elderly population, the cancer death rate has increased in the past three decades;
A) Death from heart disease is increasing in this population. deaths from heart disease have declined. Several chronic conditions are often present and
B) Death from cancer is increasing in this population. must be managed simultaneously.
C) Chronic illnesses are less common than in younger people.
D) Several acute illnesses are often present that must be
managed simultaneously.
What are the most important competing forces that influence Ans: A
health policy for the elderly? Feedback:
Policy discussions most often pit cost containment (reducing expenditures) against quality of
A) Cost containment versus quality of care care (which may mean increasing expenditures). Seniors require relatively less acute care
B) Acute care versus the burden of chronic disease than younger patients do; their health problems are more often chronic. Because all persons
C) Private insurance payments versus Medicare support over age 65 are entitled to health coverage through Medicare, insurance considerations are
D) Long-term care at home versus nursing home services fewer than with younger patients. And whereas one in four seniors requires nursing home
care at some time, nursing home residency is not typically long term.
23. Which of the following patient histories is most likely for a Ans: B
person older than 65 years of age? Feedback:
Arthritis and heart conditions are among the most common chronic conditions of the elderly.
A) In the last year, Patient F has been treated for a skin rash, a Daily medications to reduce arthritis pain and decrease blood pressure are common. The
sprained ankle, and influenza other histories are more likely for younger patients.
B) Patient G takes medications daily for arthritis pain relief and
reduction of blood pressure levels
C) Patient H complains of chronic fatigue, stress-related
allergies, and acid reflux after meals
D) Patient I has been to the emergency room three times in the
past year for ear infections and allergy attacks
When compared with elderly populations of the past, persons Ans: C
entering their senior years between 2015 and 2030 will have: Feedback:
The baby boomer cohort attained higher levels of education and economic status than past
A) Fewer chronic diseases but more acute illnesses generations. They have, however, fewer children and the same (or greater) burdens of
B) Greater support from their children and spouses chronic disease and needs for health care as their parents did.
C) Better education and greater wealth
D) Fewer needs for hospital or nursing home care
Hospital management is reviewing departmental statistics. Ans: B
Which of the following departments most likely has the highest Feedback:
death rate of patients over age 65, and why? Heart disease is the leading cause of death among persons 65 years of age and older.
A) Oncology, because the elderly have been exposed to more
carcinogens in their long lifetimes
B) Cardiology, because, despite a decline in recent years, heart
disease remains the number one cause of death among the
elderly
C) Endocrinology, because the elderly already have
compromised immune systems
D) Neurology, because stroke and Alzheimer's disease together
cause more deaths of the elderly than any other conditions
Which of the following projections of future demographics of Ans: C
older Americans is most accurate? Feedback:
Whereas in 2000, approximately 84% of older Americans were non-Hispanic white, it is
A) By 2020, more than 50% of older Americans will belong to a projected that this population will decrease to 64% by 2050. During this same period, there
non-Hispanic white group. will be dramatic growth among Hispanic older adults, who will represent 16% of the older
B) The percentage of black older adults will decrease slightly population. Black individuals will grow from 8% to 12% of the older population during this
due to lower life expectancies. time. By 2020, one-quarter of America's older population will belong to a minority racial or
C) The number of Hispanic older adults is projected to grow ethnic group.
dramatically.
D) Within 40 years, a minority of older Americans will be white
related to immigration.
2026
