NRNP 6540 ADVANCED PRACTICE
CARE OF OLDER ADULTS FINAL
EXAM ACCURATE SPRING-
SUMMER QUARTER COMPLETE
EXAM CITED AND
REFERENCED EXAM NEW 2026/2027
1. The nurse practitioner performs a thorough systemic examination of a patient who
reports diarrhea and pain in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. One possible
diagnosis would be:
1. Hirschsprung's disease
2. Pancreatitis
3. Appendicitis
4. Gastrointestinal inflammatory bowel disease (GIBD) - 8. Selected answer: 4 Page: 5
Feedback
1.
Hirschsprung's disease is an obstruction of the colon in infancy.
2.
Diarrhea is not associated with pancreatitis.
3.
Appendicitis is more common in younger patients than in older patients.
4.
GIBD is manifested differently in a bimodal pattern.
Page 1 of 267
,2. A 70-year-old man is seeing a nurse practitioner because he is feeling weak and dizzy.
The nurse practitioner is discussing a care plan with him and makes which of the
following statements? Select all that apply.
1. I want to order a test for your heart to evaluate its function.
2. I will perform a thorough examination of your functional abilities.
3. I will order a blood sugar test to check for diabetes.
4. Many older people feel this way. It is to be expected.
5. I will assess you for the presence of other conditions. - 9. Selected answer:
1, 2, 3, 5 Page: 2, 3
Feedback
1.
A complete assessment will help differentiate signs of aging from disease.
2.
All systems interact and can affect an existing condition.
3.
Identifying underlying conditions will avoid undertreatment.
4.
Attributing symptoms to aging can contribute to depression in an older person.
5.
There are changes in the sympathetic response which contribute to the orthostasis and
falls, as well as lack of hypoglycemic response.
3. The nurse practitioner is leading a class of seniors over age 65 years and is teaching
about nutritional needs. One of the men asks why, even though he eats correctly
Page 2 of 267
,according to the standards presented, he still feels weaker than he did 10 years ago. He
also wonders why he gets more infections than he used to. Which of the following are
helpful answers? Select all that apply.
1. I suggest that you exercise a little more than you are currently doing.
2. Some people experience a decrease in reserve energy.
3. For some people, the immune system weakens.
4. More viruses are being spread throughout the community.
5. I suggest that you see your primary caregiver for extensive testing. - 10. Selected
answer: 2, 3, 5 Page: 2, 3
Feedback
1.
Improved nutrition may not be the factor affecting health of elders.
2.
Many factors can influence the health of elders, including lifestyle and
medications.
3.
Many factors can influence the health of elders, including changes in the immune
system.
4.
Viruses and other infections are not the only considerations for infections.
5.
Biochemical individuality is important in detecting asymptomatic abnormalities in older
adults. Significant homeostatic disturbances in the same individual may be detected
through serial laboratory tests, even though all individual test results may lie within
normal limits of the reference interval for the entire group.
Page 3 of 267
, 4. An older woman is seen in the ambulatory clinic for a routine checkup. The
patient asks about results of her blood work compared to last year's results. How is
it best for the clinician to respond? Select all that apply.
1. They are likely to be the same if you have had no diseases since then.
2. Blood work results may be different just because of your aging process.
3. Your results may be different because the body changes with disease and medications
you are taking.
4. Blood work is not a reliable indicator of health because many things can affect your
health that may not show up in the results of your blood work.
5. There is likely no significant difference as your body remains stable in its functioning.
- 11. Selected answer: 2, 3
Page: 4, 5
Feedback
1.
Biochemical individuality variation is often much smaller than variation within the
larger group.
2.
The aging process and decline in organ function may affect the health of elders.
3.
Disease, nutrition, and medications affect the health of elders.
4.
Although abnormal laboratory findings are often attributed to old age, rarely are they
true aging changes.
5.
Many factors can influence laboratory value interpretation in the elderly, including the
physiological changes with aging, the prevalence of chronic disease, changes in
Page 4 of 267
CARE OF OLDER ADULTS FINAL
EXAM ACCURATE SPRING-
SUMMER QUARTER COMPLETE
EXAM CITED AND
REFERENCED EXAM NEW 2026/2027
1. The nurse practitioner performs a thorough systemic examination of a patient who
reports diarrhea and pain in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. One possible
diagnosis would be:
1. Hirschsprung's disease
2. Pancreatitis
3. Appendicitis
4. Gastrointestinal inflammatory bowel disease (GIBD) - 8. Selected answer: 4 Page: 5
Feedback
1.
Hirschsprung's disease is an obstruction of the colon in infancy.
2.
Diarrhea is not associated with pancreatitis.
3.
Appendicitis is more common in younger patients than in older patients.
4.
GIBD is manifested differently in a bimodal pattern.
Page 1 of 267
,2. A 70-year-old man is seeing a nurse practitioner because he is feeling weak and dizzy.
The nurse practitioner is discussing a care plan with him and makes which of the
following statements? Select all that apply.
1. I want to order a test for your heart to evaluate its function.
2. I will perform a thorough examination of your functional abilities.
3. I will order a blood sugar test to check for diabetes.
4. Many older people feel this way. It is to be expected.
5. I will assess you for the presence of other conditions. - 9. Selected answer:
1, 2, 3, 5 Page: 2, 3
Feedback
1.
A complete assessment will help differentiate signs of aging from disease.
2.
All systems interact and can affect an existing condition.
3.
Identifying underlying conditions will avoid undertreatment.
4.
Attributing symptoms to aging can contribute to depression in an older person.
5.
There are changes in the sympathetic response which contribute to the orthostasis and
falls, as well as lack of hypoglycemic response.
3. The nurse practitioner is leading a class of seniors over age 65 years and is teaching
about nutritional needs. One of the men asks why, even though he eats correctly
Page 2 of 267
,according to the standards presented, he still feels weaker than he did 10 years ago. He
also wonders why he gets more infections than he used to. Which of the following are
helpful answers? Select all that apply.
1. I suggest that you exercise a little more than you are currently doing.
2. Some people experience a decrease in reserve energy.
3. For some people, the immune system weakens.
4. More viruses are being spread throughout the community.
5. I suggest that you see your primary caregiver for extensive testing. - 10. Selected
answer: 2, 3, 5 Page: 2, 3
Feedback
1.
Improved nutrition may not be the factor affecting health of elders.
2.
Many factors can influence the health of elders, including lifestyle and
medications.
3.
Many factors can influence the health of elders, including changes in the immune
system.
4.
Viruses and other infections are not the only considerations for infections.
5.
Biochemical individuality is important in detecting asymptomatic abnormalities in older
adults. Significant homeostatic disturbances in the same individual may be detected
through serial laboratory tests, even though all individual test results may lie within
normal limits of the reference interval for the entire group.
Page 3 of 267
, 4. An older woman is seen in the ambulatory clinic for a routine checkup. The
patient asks about results of her blood work compared to last year's results. How is
it best for the clinician to respond? Select all that apply.
1. They are likely to be the same if you have had no diseases since then.
2. Blood work results may be different just because of your aging process.
3. Your results may be different because the body changes with disease and medications
you are taking.
4. Blood work is not a reliable indicator of health because many things can affect your
health that may not show up in the results of your blood work.
5. There is likely no significant difference as your body remains stable in its functioning.
- 11. Selected answer: 2, 3
Page: 4, 5
Feedback
1.
Biochemical individuality variation is often much smaller than variation within the
larger group.
2.
The aging process and decline in organ function may affect the health of elders.
3.
Disease, nutrition, and medications affect the health of elders.
4.
Although abnormal laboratory findings are often attributed to old age, rarely are they
true aging changes.
5.
Many factors can influence laboratory value interpretation in the elderly, including the
physiological changes with aging, the prevalence of chronic disease, changes in
Page 4 of 267
