1|Page
GERIATRIC NURSING MIDTERM EXAM
2026**200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED
RATIONALES**
**AGE-RELATED CHANGES • COMMON
GERIATRIC SYNDROMES • BEERS CRITERIA •
PHARMACOLOGY • FALLS • DEMENTIA •
POLYPHARMACY • END-OF-LIFE**HIGH-YIELD
CONTENT • FIRST-TIME PASS**
# SECTION 1: NORMAL AGING – PHYSIOLOGICAL &
PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES (Questions 1–25)
**1. Which of the following is a normal age-related change in the
cardiovascular system?**
A) Decreased left ventricular wall thickness
B) Increased arterial compliance
C) Increased systolic blood pressure
D) Decreased peripheral vascular resistance
**Answer: C**
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*Rationale:* Normal aging causes arterial stiffening (decreased
compliance), which increases systolic BP. Left ventricular wall thickness
increases (not decreases). Peripheral vascular resistance increases.
**2. A 78-year-old patient has a fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dL.
This finding is:**
A) Abnormal – indicates diabetes
B) Normal for age (impaired fasting glucose, but common)
C) Diagnostic of hypoglycemia
D) Requires immediate insulin
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Fasting glucose normally increases slightly with age. 100–
125 mg/dL is impaired fasting glucose (prediabetes), common in older
adults but not diagnostic of diabetes without further testing.
**3. Which of the following is a normal age-related change in renal
function?**
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
B) Decreased renal blood flow
C) Increased creatinine clearance
D) Increased ability to concentrate urine
**Answer: B**
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*Rationale:* GFR declines ~1 mL/min/year after age 40. Renal blood
flow decreases. Concentrating ability decreases, increasing risk of
dehydration and medication toxicity.
**4. A 85-year-old patient has a creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL. Which
statement is true?**
A) This indicates normal renal function
B) This may overestimate GFR due to decreased muscle mass
C) This is dangerously high
D) This indicates acute kidney injury
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Older adults have reduced muscle mass, so serum
creatinine may remain normal despite significantly reduced GFR.
Always calculate eGFR (CKD-EPI or MDRD).
**5. Which of the following is a normal sensory change in older
adults?**
A) Presbyopia (difficulty seeing near objects)
B) Complete hearing loss
C) Enhanced depth perception
D) Increased taste sensitivity
**Answer: A**
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*Rationale:* Presbyopia (loss of lens elasticity) begins around age 40.
Hearing loss (presbycusis) – high-frequency sounds – is common but not
complete. Taste sensitivity decreases, especially for salty and sweet.
**6. Why are older adults more susceptible to hypothermia?**
A) Increased subcutaneous fat
B) Decreased thermoregulatory ability and reduced shivering response
C) Increased metabolic rate
D) Enhanced vasoconstriction
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Aging reduces hypothalamic thermoregulation, blunts
shivering, and decreases vasoconstrictor response. Subcutaneous fat
decreases (not increases). Normal body temperature may be lower
(97°F).
**7. A 75-year-old patient reports feeling lonely after spouse died 18
months ago. Which statement is most accurate?**
A) Loneliness is a normal part of aging
B) Loneliness is a risk factor for depression, cognitive decline, and
mortality
C) Older adults do not experience loneliness
D) Loneliness should be ignored unless the patient reports sadness
GERIATRIC NURSING MIDTERM EXAM
2026**200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & DETAILED
RATIONALES**
**AGE-RELATED CHANGES • COMMON
GERIATRIC SYNDROMES • BEERS CRITERIA •
PHARMACOLOGY • FALLS • DEMENTIA •
POLYPHARMACY • END-OF-LIFE**HIGH-YIELD
CONTENT • FIRST-TIME PASS**
# SECTION 1: NORMAL AGING – PHYSIOLOGICAL &
PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES (Questions 1–25)
**1. Which of the following is a normal age-related change in the
cardiovascular system?**
A) Decreased left ventricular wall thickness
B) Increased arterial compliance
C) Increased systolic blood pressure
D) Decreased peripheral vascular resistance
**Answer: C**
,2|Page
*Rationale:* Normal aging causes arterial stiffening (decreased
compliance), which increases systolic BP. Left ventricular wall thickness
increases (not decreases). Peripheral vascular resistance increases.
**2. A 78-year-old patient has a fasting blood glucose of 110 mg/dL.
This finding is:**
A) Abnormal – indicates diabetes
B) Normal for age (impaired fasting glucose, but common)
C) Diagnostic of hypoglycemia
D) Requires immediate insulin
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Fasting glucose normally increases slightly with age. 100–
125 mg/dL is impaired fasting glucose (prediabetes), common in older
adults but not diagnostic of diabetes without further testing.
**3. Which of the following is a normal age-related change in renal
function?**
A) Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
B) Decreased renal blood flow
C) Increased creatinine clearance
D) Increased ability to concentrate urine
**Answer: B**
,3|Page
*Rationale:* GFR declines ~1 mL/min/year after age 40. Renal blood
flow decreases. Concentrating ability decreases, increasing risk of
dehydration and medication toxicity.
**4. A 85-year-old patient has a creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL. Which
statement is true?**
A) This indicates normal renal function
B) This may overestimate GFR due to decreased muscle mass
C) This is dangerously high
D) This indicates acute kidney injury
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Older adults have reduced muscle mass, so serum
creatinine may remain normal despite significantly reduced GFR.
Always calculate eGFR (CKD-EPI or MDRD).
**5. Which of the following is a normal sensory change in older
adults?**
A) Presbyopia (difficulty seeing near objects)
B) Complete hearing loss
C) Enhanced depth perception
D) Increased taste sensitivity
**Answer: A**
, 4|Page
*Rationale:* Presbyopia (loss of lens elasticity) begins around age 40.
Hearing loss (presbycusis) – high-frequency sounds – is common but not
complete. Taste sensitivity decreases, especially for salty and sweet.
**6. Why are older adults more susceptible to hypothermia?**
A) Increased subcutaneous fat
B) Decreased thermoregulatory ability and reduced shivering response
C) Increased metabolic rate
D) Enhanced vasoconstriction
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Aging reduces hypothalamic thermoregulation, blunts
shivering, and decreases vasoconstrictor response. Subcutaneous fat
decreases (not increases). Normal body temperature may be lower
(97°F).
**7. A 75-year-old patient reports feeling lonely after spouse died 18
months ago. Which statement is most accurate?**
A) Loneliness is a normal part of aging
B) Loneliness is a risk factor for depression, cognitive decline, and
mortality
C) Older adults do not experience loneliness
D) Loneliness should be ignored unless the patient reports sadness
