ATI RN GERONTOLOGY EXAM 100 QUESTIONS
2026-2027|ORIGINAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES |HINTED COMPLETE
EXAM PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF*
1.
A nurse is assessing an older adult who reports difficulty hearing during
conversations. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Speak loudly into the client's ear
B. Use a higher-pitched voice
C. Determine whether the client has hearing aids
D. Repeat the information several times
Answer: C. Determine whether the client has hearing aids
Rationale: The nurse should first determine whether the client uses
hearing aids and whether they are functioning properly. Hearing loss
is common with aging, but communication should not automatically
be attributed to normal aging.
2.
Which physiological change should the nurse expect in an older adult?
A. Increased renal function
B. Increased muscle mass
C. Decreased skin elasticity
D. Increased cardiac reserve
,Answer: C. Decreased skin elasticity
Rationale: Aging causes decreased collagen and elastin, resulting in
thinner, less elastic skin and increased risk for skin injury.
3.
A nurse is teaching an older adult about preventing orthostatic
hypotension. Which instruction is appropriate?
A. "Stand up quickly after lying down."
B. "Sit on the side of the bed before standing."
C. "Avoid drinking fluids before bedtime."
D. "Limit your activity during the day."
Answer: B. "Sit on the side of the bed before standing."
Rationale: Changing positions slowly allows the cardiovascular system
time to adjust and decreases the risk of dizziness and falls.
4.
Which finding in an older adult requires further evaluation?
A. Mild decrease in height
B. Gray hair
C. New onset confusion
D. Decreased skin elasticity
Answer: C. New onset confusion
Rationale: Acute confusion is not an expected consequence of normal
aging and can indicate delirium, infection, medication effects,
metabolic disturbances, or another acute condition.
,5.
A nurse is caring for an older adult who is at risk for falls. Which
intervention is appropriate?
A. Keep the bed in the highest position.
B. Place frequently used items within reach.
C. Encourage the client to walk without assistance.
D. Keep the room dark at night.
Answer: B. Place frequently used items within reach.
Rationale: Keeping essential items within reach reduces unnecessary
movement and helps decrease fall risk.
6.
Which age-related change increases an older adult's risk for medication
toxicity?
A. Increased liver metabolism
B. Increased renal clearance
C. Decreased renal function
D. Increased total body water
Answer: C. Decreased renal function
Rationale: Reduced renal function can decrease medication excretion,
causing drugs or metabolites to accumulate and increasing toxicity
risk.
7.
, A nurse is assessing an older adult's nutritional status. Which finding is
concerning?
A. Eating three meals daily
B. Stable body weight
C. Unintentional weight loss
D. Drinking adequate fluids
Answer: C. Unintentional weight loss
Rationale: Unintentional weight loss can indicate malnutrition, illness,
depression, swallowing problems, medication effects, or inadequate
food access and requires assessment.
8.
Which intervention should the nurse use when communicating with an
older adult who has hearing impairment?
A. Speak rapidly.
B. Face away from the client.
C. Reduce background noise.
D. Shout directly into the client's ear.
Answer: C. Reduce background noise.
Rationale: Reducing competing sounds improves the client's ability to
understand speech. The nurse should also face the client and speak
clearly at a normal pace.
9.
A nurse suspects dehydration in an older adult. Which finding supports
this concern?
2026-2027|ORIGINAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
|DETAILED RATIONALES |HINTED COMPLETE
EXAM PREP GRADED A+*INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF*
1.
A nurse is assessing an older adult who reports difficulty hearing during
conversations. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Speak loudly into the client's ear
B. Use a higher-pitched voice
C. Determine whether the client has hearing aids
D. Repeat the information several times
Answer: C. Determine whether the client has hearing aids
Rationale: The nurse should first determine whether the client uses
hearing aids and whether they are functioning properly. Hearing loss
is common with aging, but communication should not automatically
be attributed to normal aging.
2.
Which physiological change should the nurse expect in an older adult?
A. Increased renal function
B. Increased muscle mass
C. Decreased skin elasticity
D. Increased cardiac reserve
,Answer: C. Decreased skin elasticity
Rationale: Aging causes decreased collagen and elastin, resulting in
thinner, less elastic skin and increased risk for skin injury.
3.
A nurse is teaching an older adult about preventing orthostatic
hypotension. Which instruction is appropriate?
A. "Stand up quickly after lying down."
B. "Sit on the side of the bed before standing."
C. "Avoid drinking fluids before bedtime."
D. "Limit your activity during the day."
Answer: B. "Sit on the side of the bed before standing."
Rationale: Changing positions slowly allows the cardiovascular system
time to adjust and decreases the risk of dizziness and falls.
4.
Which finding in an older adult requires further evaluation?
A. Mild decrease in height
B. Gray hair
C. New onset confusion
D. Decreased skin elasticity
Answer: C. New onset confusion
Rationale: Acute confusion is not an expected consequence of normal
aging and can indicate delirium, infection, medication effects,
metabolic disturbances, or another acute condition.
,5.
A nurse is caring for an older adult who is at risk for falls. Which
intervention is appropriate?
A. Keep the bed in the highest position.
B. Place frequently used items within reach.
C. Encourage the client to walk without assistance.
D. Keep the room dark at night.
Answer: B. Place frequently used items within reach.
Rationale: Keeping essential items within reach reduces unnecessary
movement and helps decrease fall risk.
6.
Which age-related change increases an older adult's risk for medication
toxicity?
A. Increased liver metabolism
B. Increased renal clearance
C. Decreased renal function
D. Increased total body water
Answer: C. Decreased renal function
Rationale: Reduced renal function can decrease medication excretion,
causing drugs or metabolites to accumulate and increasing toxicity
risk.
7.
, A nurse is assessing an older adult's nutritional status. Which finding is
concerning?
A. Eating three meals daily
B. Stable body weight
C. Unintentional weight loss
D. Drinking adequate fluids
Answer: C. Unintentional weight loss
Rationale: Unintentional weight loss can indicate malnutrition, illness,
depression, swallowing problems, medication effects, or inadequate
food access and requires assessment.
8.
Which intervention should the nurse use when communicating with an
older adult who has hearing impairment?
A. Speak rapidly.
B. Face away from the client.
C. Reduce background noise.
D. Shout directly into the client's ear.
Answer: C. Reduce background noise.
Rationale: Reducing competing sounds improves the client's ability to
understand speech. The nurse should also face the client and speak
clearly at a normal pace.
9.
A nurse suspects dehydration in an older adult. Which finding supports
this concern?
