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NR 601 Midterm Exam 1 - Primary Care of
the Maturing and Aged Family Practicum:
Questions With Verified Answers And
Rationales
1. Which assessment finding most strongly indicates a normal age-related
physiologic change rather than a pathologic condition in an otherwise healthy
older adult?
A. Mildly decreased renal concentrating ability
B. New unilateral muscle weakness
C. Persistent resting tachycardia
D. Progressive short-term memory loss
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aging normally reduces renal concentrating ability because of
structural and functional changes in the kidneys. Unilateral weakness, persistent
tachycardia, and progressive memory impairment require further evaluation
because they are not expected consequences of healthy aging .
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2. Which component of the geriatric assessment provides the most useful
information about the patient's ability to maintain independent daily functioning?
A. Serum electrolyte concentration
B. Activities of daily living
C. Resting respiratory rate
D. Fasting lipid profile
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring, continence, and feeding, provide essential information about
functional independence. Functional status is a central component of geriatric
assessment because it helps identify safety concerns and support needs .
3. A 78-year-old patient reports increasing difficulty managing medications and
finances but remains independent with bathing and dressing. Which
interpretation is most appropriate?
A. The findings demonstrate normal aging
B. The patient has complete functional dependence
C. The patient may have impaired instrumental functioning
D. The findings confirm advanced dementia
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Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Managing medications and finances are instrumental activities of daily
living (IADLs). Decline in IADLs may be an early indicator of cognitive or functional
impairment even when basic ADLs remain intact. The findings alone do not
establish advanced dementia .
4. Which age-related cardiovascular change should a primary care provider
recognize as an expected consequence of normal aging in an otherwise
asymptomatic patient?
A. Reduced arterial compliance
B. Persistent ventricular tachycardia
C. New systolic heart failure
D. Severe resting hypotension
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Arterial stiffness and reduced arterial compliance commonly occur with
aging and contribute to increased systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. The
other findings are pathologic and require clinical evaluation .
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5. Which finding should prompt the nurse practitioner to investigate possible
frailty in an older adult rather than attribute the finding solely to aging?
A. Stable body weight over several years
B. Gradual decrease in maximum heart rate
C. Increasing difficulty rising from a chair
D. Mildly reduced near-vision accommodation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Difficulty rising from a chair can reflect declining muscle strength and
physical reserve, both important components of frailty. Frailty increases
vulnerability to falls, hospitalization, disability, and other adverse outcomes .
6. Which statement about capacity is TRUE?
A. Capacity is a global, all-or-nothing determination
B. Once a patient is deemed incapable, they can never make decisions again
C. Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific
D. A dementia diagnosis automatically means the patient lacks capacity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Capacity is not a static, global trait. A patient may have the capacity to
decide on a simple medication but lack the capacity to consent to a complex
NR 601 Midterm Exam 1 - Primary Care of
the Maturing and Aged Family Practicum:
Questions With Verified Answers And
Rationales
1. Which assessment finding most strongly indicates a normal age-related
physiologic change rather than a pathologic condition in an otherwise healthy
older adult?
A. Mildly decreased renal concentrating ability
B. New unilateral muscle weakness
C. Persistent resting tachycardia
D. Progressive short-term memory loss
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Aging normally reduces renal concentrating ability because of
structural and functional changes in the kidneys. Unilateral weakness, persistent
tachycardia, and progressive memory impairment require further evaluation
because they are not expected consequences of healthy aging .
,2|Page
2. Which component of the geriatric assessment provides the most useful
information about the patient's ability to maintain independent daily functioning?
A. Serum electrolyte concentration
B. Activities of daily living
C. Resting respiratory rate
D. Fasting lipid profile
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, toileting,
transferring, continence, and feeding, provide essential information about
functional independence. Functional status is a central component of geriatric
assessment because it helps identify safety concerns and support needs .
3. A 78-year-old patient reports increasing difficulty managing medications and
finances but remains independent with bathing and dressing. Which
interpretation is most appropriate?
A. The findings demonstrate normal aging
B. The patient has complete functional dependence
C. The patient may have impaired instrumental functioning
D. The findings confirm advanced dementia
,3|Page
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Managing medications and finances are instrumental activities of daily
living (IADLs). Decline in IADLs may be an early indicator of cognitive or functional
impairment even when basic ADLs remain intact. The findings alone do not
establish advanced dementia .
4. Which age-related cardiovascular change should a primary care provider
recognize as an expected consequence of normal aging in an otherwise
asymptomatic patient?
A. Reduced arterial compliance
B. Persistent ventricular tachycardia
C. New systolic heart failure
D. Severe resting hypotension
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Arterial stiffness and reduced arterial compliance commonly occur with
aging and contribute to increased systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. The
other findings are pathologic and require clinical evaluation .
, 4|Page
5. Which finding should prompt the nurse practitioner to investigate possible
frailty in an older adult rather than attribute the finding solely to aging?
A. Stable body weight over several years
B. Gradual decrease in maximum heart rate
C. Increasing difficulty rising from a chair
D. Mildly reduced near-vision accommodation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Difficulty rising from a chair can reflect declining muscle strength and
physical reserve, both important components of frailty. Frailty increases
vulnerability to falls, hospitalization, disability, and other adverse outcomes .
6. Which statement about capacity is TRUE?
A. Capacity is a global, all-or-nothing determination
B. Once a patient is deemed incapable, they can never make decisions again
C. Capacity is decision-specific and time-specific
D. A dementia diagnosis automatically means the patient lacks capacity
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Capacity is not a static, global trait. A patient may have the capacity to
decide on a simple medication but lack the capacity to consent to a complex
