NUR 255 Exam 1 V2 | Aging &
Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Galen College of
Nursing
1. An older adult client frequently asks the nurse the same question several times. Which
response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. ‘I already told you that twice, please try to remember.’
B. ‘You seem to be having trouble remembering today, let’s write this down.’
C. ‘Why do you keep asking me the same thing over and over?’
D. ‘I am busy right now, so please ask the next nurse who comes in.’
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Writing down information provides a visual cue for the client and
helps compensate for memory deficits. This approach validates the client’s struggle without
being condescending or dismissive. It also fosters a supportive environment that reduces
the client’s anxiety about their memory loss.
2. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, which task is the primary focus
for the older adult?
A. Generativity vs. Stagnation
,B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
C. Intimacy vs. Isolation
D. Integrity vs. Despair
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Integrity vs. Despair is the final stage of Erikson’s theory, occurring in
late adulthood. In this stage, individuals reflect on their lives and either feel a sense of
fulfillment or a sense of failure. Success leads to wisdom, while failure results in regret and
bitterness.
3. A nurse is assessing an 82-year-old client who shows sudden confusion and agitation.
Which condition should the nurse suspect first?
A. Alzheimer’s Disease
B. Delirium
C. Schizophrenia
D. Normal Aging
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Delirium is characterized by an acute, sudden onset of confusion and
is often reversible if the underlying cause is treated. Alzheimer’s disease has a much
slower, progressive onset over several years. Sudden changes in mental status are medical
, emergencies that require immediate investigation for causes like infection or medication
toxicity.
4. Which of the following is the most common cause of delirium in the elderly population?
A. Psychological trauma
B. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
C. Unrecognized hearing loss
D. Lack of social interaction
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Infections, particularly urinary tract infections, are a leading cause of
delirium in older adults due to physiological changes. The systemic inflammatory response
can affect the blood-brain barrier and neurotransmitter levels. Treating the infection
typically resolves the cognitive symptoms quickly.
5. When administering medications to an older adult, the nurse knows that which
physiological change affects drug metabolism?
A. Decreased hepatic blood flow
B. Increased liver mass
C. Increased total body water
D. Faster gastric emptying
Correct Answer: A
Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Galen College of
Nursing
1. An older adult client frequently asks the nurse the same question several times. Which
response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. ‘I already told you that twice, please try to remember.’
B. ‘You seem to be having trouble remembering today, let’s write this down.’
C. ‘Why do you keep asking me the same thing over and over?’
D. ‘I am busy right now, so please ask the next nurse who comes in.’
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Writing down information provides a visual cue for the client and
helps compensate for memory deficits. This approach validates the client’s struggle without
being condescending or dismissive. It also fosters a supportive environment that reduces
the client’s anxiety about their memory loss.
2. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, which task is the primary focus
for the older adult?
A. Generativity vs. Stagnation
,B. Identity vs. Role Confusion
C. Intimacy vs. Isolation
D. Integrity vs. Despair
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Integrity vs. Despair is the final stage of Erikson’s theory, occurring in
late adulthood. In this stage, individuals reflect on their lives and either feel a sense of
fulfillment or a sense of failure. Success leads to wisdom, while failure results in regret and
bitterness.
3. A nurse is assessing an 82-year-old client who shows sudden confusion and agitation.
Which condition should the nurse suspect first?
A. Alzheimer’s Disease
B. Delirium
C. Schizophrenia
D. Normal Aging
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Delirium is characterized by an acute, sudden onset of confusion and
is often reversible if the underlying cause is treated. Alzheimer’s disease has a much
slower, progressive onset over several years. Sudden changes in mental status are medical
, emergencies that require immediate investigation for causes like infection or medication
toxicity.
4. Which of the following is the most common cause of delirium in the elderly population?
A. Psychological trauma
B. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
C. Unrecognized hearing loss
D. Lack of social interaction
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Infections, particularly urinary tract infections, are a leading cause of
delirium in older adults due to physiological changes. The systemic inflammatory response
can affect the blood-brain barrier and neurotransmitter levels. Treating the infection
typically resolves the cognitive symptoms quickly.
5. When administering medications to an older adult, the nurse knows that which
physiological change affects drug metabolism?
A. Decreased hepatic blood flow
B. Increased liver mass
C. Increased total body water
D. Faster gastric emptying
Correct Answer: A
