GERONTOLOGIC NURSING EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
QUESTIONS
◉ Natural Aging of Nails: Answer: Become harder and thicker, and
more brittle, dull, and opaque. Changes shape, becoming at times flat
or concave instead of convex.
◉ Natural Aging of Musculoskeletal System: Answer: Vertebral disks
become thin, causing shortening of trunk. Stooped, slightly forward-
bent posture is common. Alternation in body shape and weight
occurs as lean body mass declines and body water is lost. Reduced
bone mineral density.
◉ Natural Aging of Cardiovascular System: Answer: Maximum
coronary artery blood flow, stroke volumes, and cardiac output are
decreased. It takes longer for the heart to accelerate and then return
to a resting state. Heart disease is the number one cause of
nonaccidental death worldwide. Decreased elasticity and recoil of
blood vessels. Blood supply to various organs decreases, and
peripheral resistance increases. Decreased perfusion of the liver and
kidneys.
◉ Promote a healthy heart: Answer: engage in regular exercise, eat a
low fat, low cholesterol, balanced diet, maintain tight control of
,diabetes, do not smoke, avoid environmental pollutants, practice
stress management, minimize sodium intake, maintain ideal body
weight.
◉ Natural Aging of the Respiratory System: Answer: Loss of elastic
recoil, stiffening of chest wall, inefficiency in gas exchange, increased
resistance to air flow.
◉ Promoting Healthy Lungs: Answer: Obtain pneumonia
immunization, obtain annual influenza immunization, avoid
exposure to smoke and pollutants, do not smoke, avoid persons with
respiratory illnesses, seek prompt tx of respiratory infections, wash
hands frequently, eat meals in relaxed atmosphere, and practice
thorough oral hygiene.
◉ Natural Aging of the Renal System: Answer: Blood flow through
the kidneys decreases, loss of as many as 50% of the nephrons,
decrease in size and function in the kidney cortex.
◉ Natural Aging of Endocrine System: Answer: Pancreas: tissues of
they body often develop decreased sensitivity to insulin.
Thyroid Gland: some atrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation.
Diminished secretion of TSH and T4. Decreased plasma T3.
, ◉ Natural Aging of Reproductive System: Answer: Female:
menopause, breasts are smaller and less firm, labia majora and
minora become less prominent and pubic hair thins, ovaries, cervix,
and uterus slowly atrophy.
Male: Decreased fertility, erectile changes, prostatic enlargement.
◉ Natural Aging of Gastrointestinal System: Answer: Mouth: Teeth
eventually lose enamel and dentin, and become vulnerable to caries,
the roots become more brittle and break more easily, gums more
susceptible to periodontal disease, taste buds decline in number,
salivary secretion lessens.
Esophagus: contractions increase in frequency but are more
disordered, and propulsion is less effective. GERD and hiatal hernias.
Stomach: decreased gastric motility and volume, reductions in
secretion of bicarbonate and gastric mucus. Decreased production of
intrinsic factor, more susceptible to peptic ulcer disease, anorexia or
weight loss.
Intestines: villi become broader, shorter, and less functional, nutrient
absorption affected, and peristalsis slowed.
Accessory Organs: liver decreases in volume/weight, impaired drug
metabolism by the liver, incidence of gallstones increases
◉ Promoting healthy digestion: Answer: practice good oral hygiene,
wear properly fitting dentures, seek prompt tx of dental caries and
periodontal disease, eat meals in relaxed atmosphere, maintain
adequate intake of fluids, provide time for response to gastrocolic
TEST 2026 CERTIFICATION EVALUATION
QUESTIONS
◉ Natural Aging of Nails: Answer: Become harder and thicker, and
more brittle, dull, and opaque. Changes shape, becoming at times flat
or concave instead of convex.
◉ Natural Aging of Musculoskeletal System: Answer: Vertebral disks
become thin, causing shortening of trunk. Stooped, slightly forward-
bent posture is common. Alternation in body shape and weight
occurs as lean body mass declines and body water is lost. Reduced
bone mineral density.
◉ Natural Aging of Cardiovascular System: Answer: Maximum
coronary artery blood flow, stroke volumes, and cardiac output are
decreased. It takes longer for the heart to accelerate and then return
to a resting state. Heart disease is the number one cause of
nonaccidental death worldwide. Decreased elasticity and recoil of
blood vessels. Blood supply to various organs decreases, and
peripheral resistance increases. Decreased perfusion of the liver and
kidneys.
◉ Promote a healthy heart: Answer: engage in regular exercise, eat a
low fat, low cholesterol, balanced diet, maintain tight control of
,diabetes, do not smoke, avoid environmental pollutants, practice
stress management, minimize sodium intake, maintain ideal body
weight.
◉ Natural Aging of the Respiratory System: Answer: Loss of elastic
recoil, stiffening of chest wall, inefficiency in gas exchange, increased
resistance to air flow.
◉ Promoting Healthy Lungs: Answer: Obtain pneumonia
immunization, obtain annual influenza immunization, avoid
exposure to smoke and pollutants, do not smoke, avoid persons with
respiratory illnesses, seek prompt tx of respiratory infections, wash
hands frequently, eat meals in relaxed atmosphere, and practice
thorough oral hygiene.
◉ Natural Aging of the Renal System: Answer: Blood flow through
the kidneys decreases, loss of as many as 50% of the nephrons,
decrease in size and function in the kidney cortex.
◉ Natural Aging of Endocrine System: Answer: Pancreas: tissues of
they body often develop decreased sensitivity to insulin.
Thyroid Gland: some atrophy, fibrosis, and inflammation.
Diminished secretion of TSH and T4. Decreased plasma T3.
, ◉ Natural Aging of Reproductive System: Answer: Female:
menopause, breasts are smaller and less firm, labia majora and
minora become less prominent and pubic hair thins, ovaries, cervix,
and uterus slowly atrophy.
Male: Decreased fertility, erectile changes, prostatic enlargement.
◉ Natural Aging of Gastrointestinal System: Answer: Mouth: Teeth
eventually lose enamel and dentin, and become vulnerable to caries,
the roots become more brittle and break more easily, gums more
susceptible to periodontal disease, taste buds decline in number,
salivary secretion lessens.
Esophagus: contractions increase in frequency but are more
disordered, and propulsion is less effective. GERD and hiatal hernias.
Stomach: decreased gastric motility and volume, reductions in
secretion of bicarbonate and gastric mucus. Decreased production of
intrinsic factor, more susceptible to peptic ulcer disease, anorexia or
weight loss.
Intestines: villi become broader, shorter, and less functional, nutrient
absorption affected, and peristalsis slowed.
Accessory Organs: liver decreases in volume/weight, impaired drug
metabolism by the liver, incidence of gallstones increases
◉ Promoting healthy digestion: Answer: practice good oral hygiene,
wear properly fitting dentures, seek prompt tx of dental caries and
periodontal disease, eat meals in relaxed atmosphere, maintain
adequate intake of fluids, provide time for response to gastrocolic
