Michigan Nurse Practitioner Adult-
Gerontology Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A| Instant
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1. Which of the following is the most common cause of chronic kidney
disease in adults over 60?
A. Polycystic kidney disease
B. Diabetic nephropathy
C. Glomerulonephritis
D. Hypertensive nephrosclerosis
Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in
older adults due to prolonged hyperglycemia damaging the glomeruli and
renal vasculature.
2. A 72-year-old patient presents with sudden onset chest pain radiating
to the jaw and diaphoresis. Which initial diagnostic test is most
appropriate?
A. Chest X-ray
B. 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Echocardiogram
D. Troponin I level
A 12-lead ECG is the first-line test to identify acute myocardial infarction in
patients presenting with acute chest pain, allowing immediate treatment
decisions.
, 3. In an adult patient with chronic heart failure, which medication has
been shown to reduce mortality?
A. Furosemide
B. Digoxin
C. ACE inhibitors
D. Nifedipine
ACE inhibitors improve survival in chronic heart failure by reducing
afterload, preventing cardiac remodeling, and decreasing neurohormonal
activation.
4. A 68-year-old male has a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes and
reports numbness in both feet. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Peripheral arterial disease
B. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
C. Vitamin B12 deficiency
D. Guillain-Barré syndrome
Symmetric distal sensory loss in a patient with longstanding diabetes is
characteristic of diabetic peripheral neuropathy caused by microvascular
and metabolic nerve injury.
5. Which screening test is recommended for colorectal cancer in adults
aged 50–75?
A. Serum CEA
B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
C. Abdominal ultrasound
D. Fecal occult blood testing every 6 months
Colonoscopy every 10 years is recommended for average-risk adults and is
the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening.
6. A 70-year-old patient presents with sudden, severe headache and
neck stiffness. What is the most urgent next step?
A. Lumbar puncture
B. Non-contrast CT scan of the head
, C. MRI of the brain
D. Initiate analgesics and observe
Non-contrast CT is the first-line diagnostic test to rapidly identify
subarachnoid hemorrhage before performing a lumbar puncture.
7. Which vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 65 and older?
A. HPV
B. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
C. Varicella
D. MMR
Pneumococcal vaccination reduces the risk of invasive pneumococcal
disease and pneumonia in older adults.
8. Which medication is first-line for managing hypertension in an adult
with chronic kidney disease and proteinuria?
A. Hydrochlorothiazide
B. Calcium channel blocker
C. Beta-blocker
D. ACE inhibitor or ARB
ACE inhibitors or ARBs reduce proteinuria and slow progression of CKD,
making them first-line agents for hypertensive adults with renal
involvement.
9. A patient presents with sudden unilateral vision loss and floaters.
Fundoscopy reveals retinal whitening with a cherry-red spot. What is
the most likely diagnosis?
A. Central retinal vein occlusion
B. Central retinal artery occlusion
C. Retinal detachment
D. Diabetic retinopathy
A cherry-red spot on fundoscopy with acute vision loss is classic for central
retinal artery occlusion, which is an ophthalmic emergency.
Gerontology Exam Practice Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationale 2026 Q&A| Instant
Download Pdf
1. Which of the following is the most common cause of chronic kidney
disease in adults over 60?
A. Polycystic kidney disease
B. Diabetic nephropathy
C. Glomerulonephritis
D. Hypertensive nephrosclerosis
Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease in
older adults due to prolonged hyperglycemia damaging the glomeruli and
renal vasculature.
2. A 72-year-old patient presents with sudden onset chest pain radiating
to the jaw and diaphoresis. Which initial diagnostic test is most
appropriate?
A. Chest X-ray
B. 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)
C. Echocardiogram
D. Troponin I level
A 12-lead ECG is the first-line test to identify acute myocardial infarction in
patients presenting with acute chest pain, allowing immediate treatment
decisions.
, 3. In an adult patient with chronic heart failure, which medication has
been shown to reduce mortality?
A. Furosemide
B. Digoxin
C. ACE inhibitors
D. Nifedipine
ACE inhibitors improve survival in chronic heart failure by reducing
afterload, preventing cardiac remodeling, and decreasing neurohormonal
activation.
4. A 68-year-old male has a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes and
reports numbness in both feet. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Peripheral arterial disease
B. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
C. Vitamin B12 deficiency
D. Guillain-Barré syndrome
Symmetric distal sensory loss in a patient with longstanding diabetes is
characteristic of diabetic peripheral neuropathy caused by microvascular
and metabolic nerve injury.
5. Which screening test is recommended for colorectal cancer in adults
aged 50–75?
A. Serum CEA
B. Colonoscopy every 10 years
C. Abdominal ultrasound
D. Fecal occult blood testing every 6 months
Colonoscopy every 10 years is recommended for average-risk adults and is
the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening.
6. A 70-year-old patient presents with sudden, severe headache and
neck stiffness. What is the most urgent next step?
A. Lumbar puncture
B. Non-contrast CT scan of the head
, C. MRI of the brain
D. Initiate analgesics and observe
Non-contrast CT is the first-line diagnostic test to rapidly identify
subarachnoid hemorrhage before performing a lumbar puncture.
7. Which vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 65 and older?
A. HPV
B. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)
C. Varicella
D. MMR
Pneumococcal vaccination reduces the risk of invasive pneumococcal
disease and pneumonia in older adults.
8. Which medication is first-line for managing hypertension in an adult
with chronic kidney disease and proteinuria?
A. Hydrochlorothiazide
B. Calcium channel blocker
C. Beta-blocker
D. ACE inhibitor or ARB
ACE inhibitors or ARBs reduce proteinuria and slow progression of CKD,
making them first-line agents for hypertensive adults with renal
involvement.
9. A patient presents with sudden unilateral vision loss and floaters.
Fundoscopy reveals retinal whitening with a cherry-red spot. What is
the most likely diagnosis?
A. Central retinal vein occlusion
B. Central retinal artery occlusion
C. Retinal detachment
D. Diabetic retinopathy
A cherry-red spot on fundoscopy with acute vision loss is classic for central
retinal artery occlusion, which is an ophthalmic emergency.
