1|Page
NCLEX-RN Test Bank: Geriatric Nursing & Care of
the Older Adult | High-Yield Questions with Verified
Rationales for 2026/2027 Exam Success.
The nurse is setting up an education session with an 85-year-old patient
who will be going home on anticoagulant therapy. Which strategy would
reflect consideration of aging changes that may exist with this patient?
A. Show a colorful video about anticoagulation therapy.
B. Present all the information in one session just before discharge.
C. Give the patient pamphlets about the medications to read at home.
D. Develop large-print handouts that reflect the verbal information
presented. - ANSWER-D. Develop large-print handouts that reflect the
verbal information presented.
Rationale: Option D addresses altered perception in two ways. First, by
using visual aids to reinforce verbal instructions, one addresses the
possibility of decreased ability to hear high-frequency sounds. By
developing the handouts in large print, one addresses the possibility of
decreased visual acuity. Option A does not allow discussion of the
information; furthermore, the text and print may be small and difficult to
read and understand.
When developing the plan of care for an older adult who is hospitalized
for an acute illness, the nurse should
A. use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan.
,2|Page
B. plan for likely long-term-care transfer to allow additional time for
recovery.
C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient
goals.
D. minimize activity level during hospitalization. - ANSWER-C.
consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient goals.
Rationale: The plan of care for older adults should be individualized and
based on the patients current functional abilities. A standardized
geriatric nursing care plan is unlikely to address individual patient needs
and strengths. A patients need for discharge to a long-term-care facility
is variable. Activity level should be designed to allow the patient to
retain functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any
additional rest needed for recovery from the acute process.
Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making a
visit to an 88-year-old with mild forgetfulness is of the most concern?
A. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the patient's
medications weekly.
B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month.
C. The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a
son at night.
D. The patient tells the nurse that a close friend recently died. -
ANSWER-B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last
month.
Rationale: A 10-pound weight loss may be an indication of elder neglect
or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse.
A 70-year-old client asks the nurse to explain to her about hypertension.
An appropriate response by the nurse as to why older clients often have
hypertension is due to:
A. Myocardial muscle damage
,3|Page
B. Reduction in physical activity
C. Ingestion of foods high in sodium
D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls - ANSWER-D.
Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
In reviewing changes in the older adult, the nurse recognizes that which
of the following statements related to cognitive functioning in the older
client is true?
A. Delirium is usually easily distinguished from irreversible dementia.
B. Therapeutic drug intoxication is a common cause of senile dementia.
C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of
delirium.
D. Cognitive deterioration is an inevitable outcome of the human aging
process. - ANSWER-C. Reversible systemic disorders are often
implicated as a cause of delirium.
Rationale: Delirium is a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that
is often due to a physiological cause such as an electrolyte imbalance,
cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medications, tumors, cerebrovascular
infection, or hemorrhage.
Which of the following interventions should be taken to help an older
client to prevent osteoporosis?
A. Decrease dietary calcium intake.
B. Increase sedentary lifestyles
C. Increase dietary protein intake.
D. Encourage regular exercise. - ANSWER-D. Encourage regular
exercise.
Rationale: Key word in question is prevent
Weight-bearing exercises helps to fight off degeneration of bone in
osteoporosis
, 4|Page
Which of the following statements accurately reflects data that the nurse
should use in planning care to meet the needs of the older adult?
A. 50% of older adults have two chronic health problems.
B. Cancer is the most common cause of death among older adults.
C. Nutritional needs for both younger and older adults are essentially the
same.
D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of
prescription medications. - ANSWER-D. Adults older than 65 years of
age are the greatest users of prescription medications.
Rationale: Approximately two thirds of older adults use prescription and
nonprescription drugs with one third of all prescriptions being written
for older adults
The nurse is aware that the majority of older adults:
A. Live alone
B. Live in institutional settings
C. Are unable to care for themselves
D. Are actively involved in their community - ANSWER-D. Are
actively involved in their community
The nurse works with elderly clients in a wellness screening clinic on a
weekly basis. Which of the following statements made by the nurse is
the most therapeutic regarding their mobility?
A. "Your shoulder pain is normal for your age."
B. "Continue to exercise your joints regularly to your tolerance level."
C. "Why don't you begin walking 3 to 4 miles a day, and we'll evaluate
how you feel next week."
D. "Don't worry about taking that combination of medications since your
doctor has prescribed them." - ANSWER-B. "Continue to exercise your
joints regularly to your tolerance level."
NCLEX-RN Test Bank: Geriatric Nursing & Care of
the Older Adult | High-Yield Questions with Verified
Rationales for 2026/2027 Exam Success.
The nurse is setting up an education session with an 85-year-old patient
who will be going home on anticoagulant therapy. Which strategy would
reflect consideration of aging changes that may exist with this patient?
A. Show a colorful video about anticoagulation therapy.
B. Present all the information in one session just before discharge.
C. Give the patient pamphlets about the medications to read at home.
D. Develop large-print handouts that reflect the verbal information
presented. - ANSWER-D. Develop large-print handouts that reflect the
verbal information presented.
Rationale: Option D addresses altered perception in two ways. First, by
using visual aids to reinforce verbal instructions, one addresses the
possibility of decreased ability to hear high-frequency sounds. By
developing the handouts in large print, one addresses the possibility of
decreased visual acuity. Option A does not allow discussion of the
information; furthermore, the text and print may be small and difficult to
read and understand.
When developing the plan of care for an older adult who is hospitalized
for an acute illness, the nurse should
A. use a standardized geriatric nursing care plan.
,2|Page
B. plan for likely long-term-care transfer to allow additional time for
recovery.
C. consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient
goals.
D. minimize activity level during hospitalization. - ANSWER-C.
consider the preadmission functional abilities when setting patient goals.
Rationale: The plan of care for older adults should be individualized and
based on the patients current functional abilities. A standardized
geriatric nursing care plan is unlikely to address individual patient needs
and strengths. A patients need for discharge to a long-term-care facility
is variable. Activity level should be designed to allow the patient to
retain functional abilities while hospitalized and also to allow any
additional rest needed for recovery from the acute process.
Which information obtained by the home health nurse when making a
visit to an 88-year-old with mild forgetfulness is of the most concern?
A. The patient's son uses a marked pillbox to set up the patient's
medications weekly.
B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last month.
C. The patient is cared for by a daughter during the day and stays with a
son at night.
D. The patient tells the nurse that a close friend recently died. -
ANSWER-B. The patient has lost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) during the last
month.
Rationale: A 10-pound weight loss may be an indication of elder neglect
or depression and requires further assessment by the nurse.
A 70-year-old client asks the nurse to explain to her about hypertension.
An appropriate response by the nurse as to why older clients often have
hypertension is due to:
A. Myocardial muscle damage
,3|Page
B. Reduction in physical activity
C. Ingestion of foods high in sodium
D. Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls - ANSWER-D.
Accumulation of plaque on arterial walls
In reviewing changes in the older adult, the nurse recognizes that which
of the following statements related to cognitive functioning in the older
client is true?
A. Delirium is usually easily distinguished from irreversible dementia.
B. Therapeutic drug intoxication is a common cause of senile dementia.
C. Reversible systemic disorders are often implicated as a cause of
delirium.
D. Cognitive deterioration is an inevitable outcome of the human aging
process. - ANSWER-C. Reversible systemic disorders are often
implicated as a cause of delirium.
Rationale: Delirium is a potentially reversible cognitive impairment that
is often due to a physiological cause such as an electrolyte imbalance,
cerebral anoxia, hypoglycemia, medications, tumors, cerebrovascular
infection, or hemorrhage.
Which of the following interventions should be taken to help an older
client to prevent osteoporosis?
A. Decrease dietary calcium intake.
B. Increase sedentary lifestyles
C. Increase dietary protein intake.
D. Encourage regular exercise. - ANSWER-D. Encourage regular
exercise.
Rationale: Key word in question is prevent
Weight-bearing exercises helps to fight off degeneration of bone in
osteoporosis
, 4|Page
Which of the following statements accurately reflects data that the nurse
should use in planning care to meet the needs of the older adult?
A. 50% of older adults have two chronic health problems.
B. Cancer is the most common cause of death among older adults.
C. Nutritional needs for both younger and older adults are essentially the
same.
D. Adults older than 65 years of age are the greatest users of
prescription medications. - ANSWER-D. Adults older than 65 years of
age are the greatest users of prescription medications.
Rationale: Approximately two thirds of older adults use prescription and
nonprescription drugs with one third of all prescriptions being written
for older adults
The nurse is aware that the majority of older adults:
A. Live alone
B. Live in institutional settings
C. Are unable to care for themselves
D. Are actively involved in their community - ANSWER-D. Are
actively involved in their community
The nurse works with elderly clients in a wellness screening clinic on a
weekly basis. Which of the following statements made by the nurse is
the most therapeutic regarding their mobility?
A. "Your shoulder pain is normal for your age."
B. "Continue to exercise your joints regularly to your tolerance level."
C. "Why don't you begin walking 3 to 4 miles a day, and we'll evaluate
how you feel next week."
D. "Don't worry about taking that combination of medications since your
doctor has prescribed them." - ANSWER-B. "Continue to exercise your
joints regularly to your tolerance level."
