ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has pneumonia.
Which of the following physiologic changes associated with
aging places the client at a greater risk for pneumonia?
A. Decreased anterior-posterior diameter
B. Increased diameter of the small airways
C. Decreased number of cilia
D. Increased alveolar surface area - Correct Answer ✅ C.
Decreased number of cilia
Decreased anterior-posterior diameterA physiologic change
associated with aging is a calcification of the bronchial and
costal (rib) cartilage and diminished chest wall compliance,
leading to an increase in the anterior-posterior diameter. The
resultant reduced total lung capacity puts the client at
increased risk for hypoxemia.
Increased diameter of the small airwaysA physiologic change
associated with aging is a decreased diameter of the small
airways. However, the diameter of the large airways does
increase with age, and these two factors combined can lead
to an increase in dead space, gas trapping, and ventilation-
perfusion imbalance.
,ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
Decreased number of ciliaMY ANSWERA physiologic change
associated with aging is a decreased number of cilia. This,
along with a less effective cough, leads to diminished
efficiency of the normal defense mechanisms for clearing the
airway, putting the client at increased risk for infection, such
as pneumonia.
Increased alveolar surface areaA physiologic change
associated with aging is an increase in the size of the alveolar
ducts and respiratory bronchioles, leading to a decrease in
the alveolar surface area. Consequently, there is less surface
area for gas exchange to occur, putting the client at an
increased risk for hypoxemia.
A nurse us contributing to the plan of care for a client who
had a recent stroke and a history of gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD). For which of the following disorders should
the nurse plan to monitor this client?
A. Duodenal ulcer disease
B. Aspiration pneumonia
C. Viral pneumonia
,ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
D. Esophageal varices - Correct Answer ✅ B. Aspiration
pneumonia
Duodenal ulcer diseaseThe acidity of stomach contents that
reflux back into the esophagus results in an inflamed
esophagus, not duodenum, which is a section of the small
intestine. With duodenal ulcer disease, there are ulcers in the
duodenum, usually associated with stress, COPD, pancreatic
disease, and chronic renal failure.
Aspiration pneumonia- results in reflux of gastric secretions
from the stomach into the lower esophagus. When
regurgitation occurs, the client is at high risk for pneumonia.
Pneumonia occurs due to aspiration of gastric contents into
the airway. This client is at increased risk for dysphagia due
to the stroke and history of GERD; therefore, the nurse should
monitor closely for aspiration pneumonia.
Viral pneumonia- The cause of viral pneumonia is an inhaled
virus that settles in the lungs. GERD does not increase the
risk of viral pneumonia.
, ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
Esophageal varices occur in clients who have portal
hypertension, usually due to hepatic cirrhosis.
A nurse is caring for an older adult client. Which of the
following physiologic changes associated with aging can
affect medication dosage in this client?
A. Increased glomerular filtration rate
B. Decreased body fat
C. Decreased gastric motility
D. Decreased gastric pH - Correct Answer ✅ C. Decreased
gastric motility
Increased glomerular filtration rate- The aging process results
in a decreased glomerular filtration rate and causes the
medications to filter at a slower rate, causing them to remain
in the body longer.
Decreased body fat- Body fat increases with aging.
Medications that are stored in adipose tissue will have an
increased tissue concentration, decreased plasma
concentration, and a longer duration in the body.
practice Questions with rationales
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has pneumonia.
Which of the following physiologic changes associated with
aging places the client at a greater risk for pneumonia?
A. Decreased anterior-posterior diameter
B. Increased diameter of the small airways
C. Decreased number of cilia
D. Increased alveolar surface area - Correct Answer ✅ C.
Decreased number of cilia
Decreased anterior-posterior diameterA physiologic change
associated with aging is a calcification of the bronchial and
costal (rib) cartilage and diminished chest wall compliance,
leading to an increase in the anterior-posterior diameter. The
resultant reduced total lung capacity puts the client at
increased risk for hypoxemia.
Increased diameter of the small airwaysA physiologic change
associated with aging is a decreased diameter of the small
airways. However, the diameter of the large airways does
increase with age, and these two factors combined can lead
to an increase in dead space, gas trapping, and ventilation-
perfusion imbalance.
,ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
Decreased number of ciliaMY ANSWERA physiologic change
associated with aging is a decreased number of cilia. This,
along with a less effective cough, leads to diminished
efficiency of the normal defense mechanisms for clearing the
airway, putting the client at increased risk for infection, such
as pneumonia.
Increased alveolar surface areaA physiologic change
associated with aging is an increase in the size of the alveolar
ducts and respiratory bronchioles, leading to a decrease in
the alveolar surface area. Consequently, there is less surface
area for gas exchange to occur, putting the client at an
increased risk for hypoxemia.
A nurse us contributing to the plan of care for a client who
had a recent stroke and a history of gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD). For which of the following disorders should
the nurse plan to monitor this client?
A. Duodenal ulcer disease
B. Aspiration pneumonia
C. Viral pneumonia
,ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
D. Esophageal varices - Correct Answer ✅ B. Aspiration
pneumonia
Duodenal ulcer diseaseThe acidity of stomach contents that
reflux back into the esophagus results in an inflamed
esophagus, not duodenum, which is a section of the small
intestine. With duodenal ulcer disease, there are ulcers in the
duodenum, usually associated with stress, COPD, pancreatic
disease, and chronic renal failure.
Aspiration pneumonia- results in reflux of gastric secretions
from the stomach into the lower esophagus. When
regurgitation occurs, the client is at high risk for pneumonia.
Pneumonia occurs due to aspiration of gastric contents into
the airway. This client is at increased risk for dysphagia due
to the stroke and history of GERD; therefore, the nurse should
monitor closely for aspiration pneumonia.
Viral pneumonia- The cause of viral pneumonia is an inhaled
virus that settles in the lungs. GERD does not increase the
risk of viral pneumonia.
, ATI Learning System Gerontology
practice Questions with rationales
Esophageal varices occur in clients who have portal
hypertension, usually due to hepatic cirrhosis.
A nurse is caring for an older adult client. Which of the
following physiologic changes associated with aging can
affect medication dosage in this client?
A. Increased glomerular filtration rate
B. Decreased body fat
C. Decreased gastric motility
D. Decreased gastric pH - Correct Answer ✅ C. Decreased
gastric motility
Increased glomerular filtration rate- The aging process results
in a decreased glomerular filtration rate and causes the
medications to filter at a slower rate, causing them to remain
in the body longer.
Decreased body fat- Body fat increases with aging.
Medications that are stored in adipose tissue will have an
increased tissue concentration, decreased plasma
concentration, and a longer duration in the body.
