2024 ATI LEARNING SYSTEM
GERONTOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has pneumonia. Which of the
following physiologic changes associated with aging places the client at a
greater risk for pneumonia?
A. Decreased anterior-posterior diameter
B. Increased diameter of the small airways
C. Decreased number of cilia
D. Increased alveolar surface area - CORRECT-ANSWERSC. Decreased
number of cilia
Decreased anterior-posterior diameterA physiologic change associated with
aging is a calcification of the bronchial and costal (rib) cartilage and
diminished chest wall compliance, leading to an increase in the anterior-
posterior diameter. The resultant reduced total lung capacity puts the client
at increased risk for hypoxemia.
Increased diameter of the small airwaysA physiologic change associated with
aging is a decreased diameter of the small airways. However, the diameter
of the large airways does increase with age, and these two factors combined
can lead to an increase in dead space, gas trapping, and ventilation-
perfusion imbalance.
Decreased number of ciliaMY ANSWERA physiologic change associated with
aging is a decreased number of cilia. This, along with a less effective cough,
leads to diminished efficiency of the normal defense mechanisms for clearing
the airway, putting the client at increased risk for infection, such as
pneumonia.
Increased alveolar surface areaA physiologic change associated with aging is
an increase in the size of the alveolar ducts and respiratory bronchioles,
leading to a decrease in the alveolar surface area. Consequently, there is
less surface area for gas exchange to occur, putting the client at an
increased risk for hypoxemia.
A nurse in the clinic is assessing an older adult client for the second time this
week. The client reports a decreased energy level, insomnia, and anorexia.
,Diagnostic tests are within the expected reference ranges. For which of the
following conditions should the nurse screen the client?
A. Sarcopenia
B. Dementia
C. Depression
D. Diabetes - CORRECT-ANSWERSC. Depression
SarcopeniaSarcopenia is an impairment of muscle tone. The loss of muscle
tone is caused by physical inactivity, a change in the central and peripheral
nervous systems, and reduced skeletal protein synthesis.
DementiaDementia refers to a group of symptoms involving progressive
impairment of all aspects of brain function. Most of the disorders associated
with dementia are irreversible, degenerative conditions.
DepressionMY ANSWERDepression, an altered mood state characterized by
decreased energy levels, insomnia, anorexia, and sadness, is a common
condition among older adult clients. Depression can be a response to an
acute or chronic illness. Depression in older adult clients can also be the
result of medications such as analgesics, antihypertensives, steroids, and
cardiovascular agents.
DiabetesThe presenting manifestations of diabetes mellitus, a condition
caused by the inability of the pancreas to secrete enough insulin for
carbohydrate metabolism, include polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia.
Polyuria is also a manifestation of diabetes insipidus, which is a condition
caused by the inability of the kidneys to conserve water.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a group of older adult female clients who
are postmenopausal about dietary requirements. Which of the following
statements about the role of folic acid should the nurse take?
A. "Clients who are postmenopausal need to limit their intake of folic acid to
reduce their risk of stroke."
B. "Dietary folic acid is not of significant importance after the childbearing
years."
C. "Healthy clients who are postmenopausal require a daily folic acid
supplement."
D. "Adequate folic acid intake is associated with a reduced risk for heart
disease." - CORRECT-ANSWERSD. "Adequate folic acid intake is associated
with a reduced risk for heart disease."
Clients who are postmenopausal need to limit their intake of folic acid to
reduce their risk of stroke."Clients who are postmenopausal and consume
the recommended daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid have significantly
lower levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease, than those who
do not.
, "Dietary folic acid is not of significant importance after the childbearing
years."Folic acid has a role in the prevention of birth defects. However,
recent studies suggest that clients who are postmenopausal can reduce their
risk of heart disease with a diet rich in folic acid.
"Healthy clients who are postmenopausal require a daily folic acid
supplement."Recent studies have shown that most clients who are
postmenopausal need to increase their daily intake of folic acid; however, a
supplement is unnecessary to accomplish this. The client can consume
adequate amounts of folic acid by increasing daily intake of foods such as
orange juice, beans, legumes, and green leafy vegetables, as well as foods
enriched with folic acid, such as breads and pastas.
"Adequate folic acid intake is associated with a reduced risk for heart
disease."MY ANSWERClients who are postmenopausal and consume the
recommended daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid have significantly lower
levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease, than those who do
not. Older adult female clients need to improve their daily folic acid intake,
which can be accomplished by increasing daily dietary intake of foods such
as orange juice, beans, legumes, and green leafy vegetables, as well as
foods enriched with folic acid, such as breads and pastas.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with an older adult client who has anemia.
Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to increase the
client's iron intake?
A. Greek yogurt
B. Bran muffin
C. Peanut butter sandwich
D. Dried fruit - CORRECT-ANSWERSD. Dried fruit
Greek yogurtThe nurse should recommend greek yogurt to increase the
client's intake of zinc and calcium.
Bran muffinThe nurse should recommend bran muffins to increase the
client's intake of fiber.
Peanut butter sandwichThe nurse should recommend a peanut butter
sandwich to increase the client's intake of a complementary protein, which is
when two incomplete proteins are together, making the sandwich a complete
protein.
Dried fruitMY ANSWERThe nurse should recommend the client eat more
dried fruit to increase iron in the diet.
GERONTOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has pneumonia. Which of the
following physiologic changes associated with aging places the client at a
greater risk for pneumonia?
A. Decreased anterior-posterior diameter
B. Increased diameter of the small airways
C. Decreased number of cilia
D. Increased alveolar surface area - CORRECT-ANSWERSC. Decreased
number of cilia
Decreased anterior-posterior diameterA physiologic change associated with
aging is a calcification of the bronchial and costal (rib) cartilage and
diminished chest wall compliance, leading to an increase in the anterior-
posterior diameter. The resultant reduced total lung capacity puts the client
at increased risk for hypoxemia.
Increased diameter of the small airwaysA physiologic change associated with
aging is a decreased diameter of the small airways. However, the diameter
of the large airways does increase with age, and these two factors combined
can lead to an increase in dead space, gas trapping, and ventilation-
perfusion imbalance.
Decreased number of ciliaMY ANSWERA physiologic change associated with
aging is a decreased number of cilia. This, along with a less effective cough,
leads to diminished efficiency of the normal defense mechanisms for clearing
the airway, putting the client at increased risk for infection, such as
pneumonia.
Increased alveolar surface areaA physiologic change associated with aging is
an increase in the size of the alveolar ducts and respiratory bronchioles,
leading to a decrease in the alveolar surface area. Consequently, there is
less surface area for gas exchange to occur, putting the client at an
increased risk for hypoxemia.
A nurse in the clinic is assessing an older adult client for the second time this
week. The client reports a decreased energy level, insomnia, and anorexia.
,Diagnostic tests are within the expected reference ranges. For which of the
following conditions should the nurse screen the client?
A. Sarcopenia
B. Dementia
C. Depression
D. Diabetes - CORRECT-ANSWERSC. Depression
SarcopeniaSarcopenia is an impairment of muscle tone. The loss of muscle
tone is caused by physical inactivity, a change in the central and peripheral
nervous systems, and reduced skeletal protein synthesis.
DementiaDementia refers to a group of symptoms involving progressive
impairment of all aspects of brain function. Most of the disorders associated
with dementia are irreversible, degenerative conditions.
DepressionMY ANSWERDepression, an altered mood state characterized by
decreased energy levels, insomnia, anorexia, and sadness, is a common
condition among older adult clients. Depression can be a response to an
acute or chronic illness. Depression in older adult clients can also be the
result of medications such as analgesics, antihypertensives, steroids, and
cardiovascular agents.
DiabetesThe presenting manifestations of diabetes mellitus, a condition
caused by the inability of the pancreas to secrete enough insulin for
carbohydrate metabolism, include polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia.
Polyuria is also a manifestation of diabetes insipidus, which is a condition
caused by the inability of the kidneys to conserve water.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a group of older adult female clients who
are postmenopausal about dietary requirements. Which of the following
statements about the role of folic acid should the nurse take?
A. "Clients who are postmenopausal need to limit their intake of folic acid to
reduce their risk of stroke."
B. "Dietary folic acid is not of significant importance after the childbearing
years."
C. "Healthy clients who are postmenopausal require a daily folic acid
supplement."
D. "Adequate folic acid intake is associated with a reduced risk for heart
disease." - CORRECT-ANSWERSD. "Adequate folic acid intake is associated
with a reduced risk for heart disease."
Clients who are postmenopausal need to limit their intake of folic acid to
reduce their risk of stroke."Clients who are postmenopausal and consume
the recommended daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid have significantly
lower levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease, than those who
do not.
, "Dietary folic acid is not of significant importance after the childbearing
years."Folic acid has a role in the prevention of birth defects. However,
recent studies suggest that clients who are postmenopausal can reduce their
risk of heart disease with a diet rich in folic acid.
"Healthy clients who are postmenopausal require a daily folic acid
supplement."Recent studies have shown that most clients who are
postmenopausal need to increase their daily intake of folic acid; however, a
supplement is unnecessary to accomplish this. The client can consume
adequate amounts of folic acid by increasing daily intake of foods such as
orange juice, beans, legumes, and green leafy vegetables, as well as foods
enriched with folic acid, such as breads and pastas.
"Adequate folic acid intake is associated with a reduced risk for heart
disease."MY ANSWERClients who are postmenopausal and consume the
recommended daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid have significantly lower
levels of homocysteine, a risk factor for heart disease, than those who do
not. Older adult female clients need to improve their daily folic acid intake,
which can be accomplished by increasing daily dietary intake of foods such
as orange juice, beans, legumes, and green leafy vegetables, as well as
foods enriched with folic acid, such as breads and pastas.
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with an older adult client who has anemia.
Which of the following foods should the nurse recommend to increase the
client's iron intake?
A. Greek yogurt
B. Bran muffin
C. Peanut butter sandwich
D. Dried fruit - CORRECT-ANSWERSD. Dried fruit
Greek yogurtThe nurse should recommend greek yogurt to increase the
client's intake of zinc and calcium.
Bran muffinThe nurse should recommend bran muffins to increase the
client's intake of fiber.
Peanut butter sandwichThe nurse should recommend a peanut butter
sandwich to increase the client's intake of a complementary protein, which is
when two incomplete proteins are together, making the sandwich a complete
protein.
Dried fruitMY ANSWERThe nurse should recommend the client eat more
dried fruit to increase iron in the diet.
