NUR 224 GERONTOLOGY NURSING
1. Which theory of aging suggests that aging is caused by accumulated damage to cells over time?
A. Disengagement theory
B. Wear-and-tear theory
C. Activity theory
D. Continuity theory
Answer: B
RATIONALE: WEAR-AND-TEAR THEORY STATES THAT AGING RESULTS FROM ACCUMULATED
CELLULAR DAMAGE CAUSED BY LIFETIME USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS.
2. A major risk factor for falls in older adults is:
A. High protein diet
B. Polypharmacy
C. Increased fluid intake
D. Regular exercise
Answer: B
RATIONALE: POLYPHARMACY INCREASES DIZZINESS, ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION, AND SEDATION,
ALL OF WHICH INCREASE FALL RISK.
3. Which condition is most associated with “sunset syndrome”?
A. Stroke
B. Dementia
C. Parkinson’s disease
D. COPD
Answer: B
RATIONALE: SUNSET SYNDROME IS COMMON IN DEMENTIA AND INVOLVES CONFUSION AND
AGITATION IN THE EVENING.
4. The MOST common cause of delirium in older adults is:
A. Dehydration
B. Cancer
C. Cataracts
D. Arthritis
Answer: A
RATIONALE: DEHYDRATION IS A LEADING REVERSIBLE CAUSE OF DELIRIUM IN OLDER ADULTS.
5. Which assessment finding is normal in aging?
,A. Severe memory loss
B. Increased heart rate at rest
C. Decreased skin elasticity
D. Elevated fever baseline
Answer: C
RATIONALE: DECREASED SKIN ELASTICITY IS A NORMAL AGE-RELATED CHANGE DUE TO COLLAGEN
LOSS.
6. The BEST intervention to prevent pressure ulcers is:
A. Massage reddened areas
B. Reposition every 2 hours
C. Restrict protein intake
D. Keep patient in one position
Answer: B
RATIONALE: FREQUENT REPOSITIONING PREVENTS PROLONGED PRESSURE AND TISSUE ISCHEMIA.
7. Which medication class is most associated with falls?
A. Antihypertensives
B. Antibiotics
C. Antacids
D. Antifungals
Answer: A
RATIONALE: ANTIHYPERTENSIVES CAN CAUSE ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION LEADING TO FALLS.
8. The MOST appropriate pain scale for cognitively impaired elderly is:
A. Numeric scale
B. FLACC scale
C. Visual analog scale
D. Blood pressure
Answer: B
RATIONALE: FLACC SCALE IS USED FOR PATIENTS WHO CANNOT VERBALIZE PAIN.
9. A sign of dehydration in elderly is:
A. Moist skin
B. Bounding pulse
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Increased urine output
Answer: C
RATIONALE: DRY MUCOUS MEMBRANES INDICATE FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT.
, 10. The BEST dietary recommendation for elderly is:
A. High sugar diet
B. High fiber diet
C. Low protein diet
D. High sodium diet
Answer: B
RATIONALE: HIGH FIBER DIET PREVENTS CONSTIPATION COMMON IN OLDER ADULTS.
11. Which is a sign of depression in elderly?
A. Increased appetite
B. Social withdrawal
C. Hyperactivity
D. Euphoria
Answer: B
RATIONALE: SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL IS A COMMON MANIFESTATION OF DEPRESSION IN OLDER
ADULTS.
12. MOST common chronic disease in elderly:
A. Diabetes
B. Hypertension
C. Malaria
D. Tuberculosis
Answer: B
RATIONALE: HYPERTENSION IS THE MOST PREVALENT CHRONIC CONDITION IN OLDER ADULTS.
13. Which vitamin deficiency is linked to anemia in elderly?
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin A
D. Vitamin K
Answer: B
RATIONALE: VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY CAUSES MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA IN OLDER ADULTS.
14. A common sleep change in aging is:
A. Increased deep sleep
B. Decreased sleep efficiency
C. No change in sleep
D. Increased REM sleep
Answer: B
RATIONALE: OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE DECREASED SLEEP EFFICIENCY AND MORE AWAKENINGS.
1. Which theory of aging suggests that aging is caused by accumulated damage to cells over time?
A. Disengagement theory
B. Wear-and-tear theory
C. Activity theory
D. Continuity theory
Answer: B
RATIONALE: WEAR-AND-TEAR THEORY STATES THAT AGING RESULTS FROM ACCUMULATED
CELLULAR DAMAGE CAUSED BY LIFETIME USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS.
2. A major risk factor for falls in older adults is:
A. High protein diet
B. Polypharmacy
C. Increased fluid intake
D. Regular exercise
Answer: B
RATIONALE: POLYPHARMACY INCREASES DIZZINESS, ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION, AND SEDATION,
ALL OF WHICH INCREASE FALL RISK.
3. Which condition is most associated with “sunset syndrome”?
A. Stroke
B. Dementia
C. Parkinson’s disease
D. COPD
Answer: B
RATIONALE: SUNSET SYNDROME IS COMMON IN DEMENTIA AND INVOLVES CONFUSION AND
AGITATION IN THE EVENING.
4. The MOST common cause of delirium in older adults is:
A. Dehydration
B. Cancer
C. Cataracts
D. Arthritis
Answer: A
RATIONALE: DEHYDRATION IS A LEADING REVERSIBLE CAUSE OF DELIRIUM IN OLDER ADULTS.
5. Which assessment finding is normal in aging?
,A. Severe memory loss
B. Increased heart rate at rest
C. Decreased skin elasticity
D. Elevated fever baseline
Answer: C
RATIONALE: DECREASED SKIN ELASTICITY IS A NORMAL AGE-RELATED CHANGE DUE TO COLLAGEN
LOSS.
6. The BEST intervention to prevent pressure ulcers is:
A. Massage reddened areas
B. Reposition every 2 hours
C. Restrict protein intake
D. Keep patient in one position
Answer: B
RATIONALE: FREQUENT REPOSITIONING PREVENTS PROLONGED PRESSURE AND TISSUE ISCHEMIA.
7. Which medication class is most associated with falls?
A. Antihypertensives
B. Antibiotics
C. Antacids
D. Antifungals
Answer: A
RATIONALE: ANTIHYPERTENSIVES CAN CAUSE ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION LEADING TO FALLS.
8. The MOST appropriate pain scale for cognitively impaired elderly is:
A. Numeric scale
B. FLACC scale
C. Visual analog scale
D. Blood pressure
Answer: B
RATIONALE: FLACC SCALE IS USED FOR PATIENTS WHO CANNOT VERBALIZE PAIN.
9. A sign of dehydration in elderly is:
A. Moist skin
B. Bounding pulse
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Increased urine output
Answer: C
RATIONALE: DRY MUCOUS MEMBRANES INDICATE FLUID VOLUME DEFICIT.
, 10. The BEST dietary recommendation for elderly is:
A. High sugar diet
B. High fiber diet
C. Low protein diet
D. High sodium diet
Answer: B
RATIONALE: HIGH FIBER DIET PREVENTS CONSTIPATION COMMON IN OLDER ADULTS.
11. Which is a sign of depression in elderly?
A. Increased appetite
B. Social withdrawal
C. Hyperactivity
D. Euphoria
Answer: B
RATIONALE: SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL IS A COMMON MANIFESTATION OF DEPRESSION IN OLDER
ADULTS.
12. MOST common chronic disease in elderly:
A. Diabetes
B. Hypertension
C. Malaria
D. Tuberculosis
Answer: B
RATIONALE: HYPERTENSION IS THE MOST PREVALENT CHRONIC CONDITION IN OLDER ADULTS.
13. Which vitamin deficiency is linked to anemia in elderly?
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin B12
C. Vitamin A
D. Vitamin K
Answer: B
RATIONALE: VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY CAUSES MEGALOBLASTIC ANEMIA IN OLDER ADULTS.
14. A common sleep change in aging is:
A. Increased deep sleep
B. Decreased sleep efficiency
C. No change in sleep
D. Increased REM sleep
Answer: B
RATIONALE: OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE DECREASED SLEEP EFFICIENCY AND MORE AWAKENINGS.
