ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING IN THE CARE
OF OLDER ADULTS COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
AND GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING REVIEW
2026
◉ Cranial nerve responsible for facial movement.
Answer: Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
◉ Gold standard for diagnosing asthma.
Answer: Spirometry with bronchodilator response
◉ Type of murmur heard with mitral valve prolapse.
Answer: Mid-systolic click followed by a late systolic murmur
◉ Most appropriate antibiotic for uncomplicated cystitis in females.
Answer: Nitrofurantoin
◉ Typical presentation of hypothyroidism in elderly patients.
Answer: Fatigue, depression, weight gain, cold intolerance
,◉ Class of medication contraindicated in pregnancy for treating
hypertension.
Answer: ACE inhibitors
◉ Most common causative organism of community-acquired
pneumonia.
Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae
◉ Diagnosis of temporal arteritis.
Answer: Elevated ESR and temporal artery biopsy
◉ Vaccine contraindicated in immunocompromised patients.
Answer: MMR
◉ Recommended screening test for colon cancer in average-risk
adults.
Answer: Fecal immunochemical test annually or colonoscopy every
10 years
◉ Physical exam finding indicative of appendicitis.
Answer: Positive McBurney's point tenderness
◉ Best initial treatment for acute otitis externa.
,Answer: Topical antibiotic drops (e.g., ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone)
◉ Hallmark symptom of Parkinson's disease.
Answer: Resting tremor
◉ Electrolyte imbalance commonly seen with Addison's disease.
Answer: Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
◉ Most effective treatment for smoking cessation.
Answer: Combination of behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy
(e.g., varenicline)
◉ Red flag symptom in a patient with low back pain.
Answer: Bowel/bladder incontinence
◉ A1C goal for most non-pregnant adults with diabetes.
Answer: <7%
◉ First-line pharmacologic treatment for generalized anxiety
disorder.
Answer: SSRIs (e.g., sertraline)
, ◉ Medication most associated with causing hyperkalemia.
Answer: Spironolactone
◉ Typical presentation of shingles.
Answer: Unilateral vesicular rash in a dermatomal distribution
◉ First-line treatment for acute bacterial sinusitis.
Answer: Amoxicillin-clavulanate
◉ Sign indicating meningeal irritation.
Answer: Brudzinski's sign
◉ Lab value indicating macrocytic anemia.
Answer: MCV > 100 fL
◉ Condition causing a 'cobblestone' appearance on colonoscopy.
Answer: Crohn's disease
◉ Preferred antihypertensive in a diabetic patient with proteinuria.
Answer: ACE inhibitor or ARB
◉ Most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in adults.
OF OLDER ADULTS COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE
AND GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING REVIEW
2026
◉ Cranial nerve responsible for facial movement.
Answer: Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
◉ Gold standard for diagnosing asthma.
Answer: Spirometry with bronchodilator response
◉ Type of murmur heard with mitral valve prolapse.
Answer: Mid-systolic click followed by a late systolic murmur
◉ Most appropriate antibiotic for uncomplicated cystitis in females.
Answer: Nitrofurantoin
◉ Typical presentation of hypothyroidism in elderly patients.
Answer: Fatigue, depression, weight gain, cold intolerance
,◉ Class of medication contraindicated in pregnancy for treating
hypertension.
Answer: ACE inhibitors
◉ Most common causative organism of community-acquired
pneumonia.
Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae
◉ Diagnosis of temporal arteritis.
Answer: Elevated ESR and temporal artery biopsy
◉ Vaccine contraindicated in immunocompromised patients.
Answer: MMR
◉ Recommended screening test for colon cancer in average-risk
adults.
Answer: Fecal immunochemical test annually or colonoscopy every
10 years
◉ Physical exam finding indicative of appendicitis.
Answer: Positive McBurney's point tenderness
◉ Best initial treatment for acute otitis externa.
,Answer: Topical antibiotic drops (e.g., ciprofloxacin-dexamethasone)
◉ Hallmark symptom of Parkinson's disease.
Answer: Resting tremor
◉ Electrolyte imbalance commonly seen with Addison's disease.
Answer: Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
◉ Most effective treatment for smoking cessation.
Answer: Combination of behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy
(e.g., varenicline)
◉ Red flag symptom in a patient with low back pain.
Answer: Bowel/bladder incontinence
◉ A1C goal for most non-pregnant adults with diabetes.
Answer: <7%
◉ First-line pharmacologic treatment for generalized anxiety
disorder.
Answer: SSRIs (e.g., sertraline)
, ◉ Medication most associated with causing hyperkalemia.
Answer: Spironolactone
◉ Typical presentation of shingles.
Answer: Unilateral vesicular rash in a dermatomal distribution
◉ First-line treatment for acute bacterial sinusitis.
Answer: Amoxicillin-clavulanate
◉ Sign indicating meningeal irritation.
Answer: Brudzinski's sign
◉ Lab value indicating macrocytic anemia.
Answer: MCV > 100 fL
◉ Condition causing a 'cobblestone' appearance on colonoscopy.
Answer: Crohn's disease
◉ Preferred antihypertensive in a diabetic patient with proteinuria.
Answer: ACE inhibitor or ARB
◉ Most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in adults.
