NUR255 Exam 1 V3 | Aging &
Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Galen College of
Nursing
1. An 82-year-old patient is admitted with acute confusion and a suspected urinary tract
infection. Which condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
A. Alzheimer’s Disease
B. Major Depressive Disorder
C. Delirium
D. Vascular Dementia
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset and is often triggered by
an underlying physiological cause such as an infection. Unlike dementia, delirium is
typically reversible once the underlying cause is treated. Nurses must prioritize identifying
the metabolic or infectious source of the confusion.
2. When assessing an older adult for depression, the nurse notices the patient mimics
symptoms of dementia. What is this clinical presentation called?
A. Sundowning
,B. Aphasia
C. Confabulation
D. Pseudodementia
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Pseudodementia refers to a situation where the symptoms of
depression in an older adult resemble those of cognitive impairment. Patients with
pseudodementia often complain about their memory loss, whereas those with true
dementia may be unaware of it. Proper screening is essential to ensure that treatable
depression is not misdiagnosed as permanent cognitive decline.
3. Which tool is most appropriate for a nurse to use when screening an older adult for
cognitive impairment in a primary care setting?
A. The Braden Scale
B. The Mini-Cog
C. The Morse Fall Scale
D. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The Mini-Cog is a brief screening tool that consists of a three-item
recall test and a clock-drawing test. It is highly effective for identifying cognitive
, impairment quickly in the clinical environment. This tool helps clinicians determine if a
more comprehensive diagnostic workup for dementia is necessary.
4. An older adult patient is prescribed multiple medications by different providers, increasing
the risk of adverse drug reactions. What is this practice called?
A. Therapeutic duplication
B. Polypharmacy
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Adherence
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Polypharmacy is the concurrent use of multiple medications by a
single patient, which is common among older adults with comorbid conditions. This
practice significantly increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and toxicity. Nurses
should perform regular medication reconciliations to simplify regimens and improve
safety.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with advanced Alzheimer’s who becomes increasingly
agitated in the late afternoon. This behavior is known as:
A. Validation therapy
B. Sundowning
C. Respite care
Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Galen College of
Nursing
1. An 82-year-old patient is admitted with acute confusion and a suspected urinary tract
infection. Which condition is the patient most likely experiencing?
A. Alzheimer’s Disease
B. Major Depressive Disorder
C. Delirium
D. Vascular Dementia
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset and is often triggered by
an underlying physiological cause such as an infection. Unlike dementia, delirium is
typically reversible once the underlying cause is treated. Nurses must prioritize identifying
the metabolic or infectious source of the confusion.
2. When assessing an older adult for depression, the nurse notices the patient mimics
symptoms of dementia. What is this clinical presentation called?
A. Sundowning
,B. Aphasia
C. Confabulation
D. Pseudodementia
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Pseudodementia refers to a situation where the symptoms of
depression in an older adult resemble those of cognitive impairment. Patients with
pseudodementia often complain about their memory loss, whereas those with true
dementia may be unaware of it. Proper screening is essential to ensure that treatable
depression is not misdiagnosed as permanent cognitive decline.
3. Which tool is most appropriate for a nurse to use when screening an older adult for
cognitive impairment in a primary care setting?
A. The Braden Scale
B. The Mini-Cog
C. The Morse Fall Scale
D. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The Mini-Cog is a brief screening tool that consists of a three-item
recall test and a clock-drawing test. It is highly effective for identifying cognitive
, impairment quickly in the clinical environment. This tool helps clinicians determine if a
more comprehensive diagnostic workup for dementia is necessary.
4. An older adult patient is prescribed multiple medications by different providers, increasing
the risk of adverse drug reactions. What is this practice called?
A. Therapeutic duplication
B. Polypharmacy
C. Pharmacodynamics
D. Adherence
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Polypharmacy is the concurrent use of multiple medications by a
single patient, which is common among older adults with comorbid conditions. This
practice significantly increases the risk of drug-drug interactions and toxicity. Nurses
should perform regular medication reconciliations to simplify regimens and improve
safety.
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with advanced Alzheimer’s who becomes increasingly
agitated in the late afternoon. This behavior is known as:
A. Validation therapy
B. Sundowning
C. Respite care
