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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Human Anatomy & Medicine

Test Your Gerontology Knowledge: Free RN Practice Quiz

Ready to ace the ATI gerontology practice quiz and conquer Gero-BC practice questions? Get started now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for gerontology practice quiz on a coral background

This RN Learning System Gerontology quiz helps you check your skills in caring for older adults, covering aging changes, assessments, meds, safety, and common syndromes. Work through case-style questions to spot gaps before the exam and build confidence; for extra practice, try more ATI‑style questions.

Which of the following is considered a normal physiological change in the renal system of aging adults?
Increased glomerular filtration rate
Enhanced tubular reabsorption
Decreased renal blood flow
Increased concentrating ability
As people age, renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate naturally decline, which impacts drug clearance and fluid balance. Tubular reabsorption and concentrating ability also decrease rather than improve. Nurses should monitor kidney function when assessing older patients to adjust medication dosages appropriately.
Activities of daily living (ADLs) include which of the following tasks?
Transportation coordination
Managing monthly bills
Preparing a home-cooked meal
Bathing and grooming
ADLs refer to basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) include more complex tasks like meal preparation and managing finances. Assessing ADLs helps determine an older adult's level of independence.
Which screening tool is most commonly used to assess cognitive impairment in older adults?
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Confusion Assessment Method
Mini-Mental State Examination
Beck Depression Inventory
The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a widely used 30-point questionnaire to screen for cognitive impairment and monitor changes over time. The Beck Depression Inventory assesses depression, while the Confusion Assessment Method screens for delirium. Regular cognitive screening helps detect early signs of dementia.
Which factor most significantly increases the risk of falls in older adults?
High body mass index
Hyperactivity
Elevated HDL cholesterol
Impaired vision
Impaired vision reduces depth perception and increases fall risk in older adults navigating their environment. Other factors include muscle weakness, balance deficits, and certain medications. Regular vision checks and home safety modifications can help prevent falls.
Which tool or guideline is most appropriate for evaluating potentially inappropriate medications in older adults?
Wagner Classification
Beers Criteria
Braden Scale
APGAR Score
The Beers Criteria, developed by the American Geriatrics Society, lists medications potentially inappropriate for older adults due to increased risk of adverse effects. The Braden Scale assesses pressure ulcer risk, the Wagner classification addresses diabetic foot lesions, and the APGAR is a neonatal assessment. Applying Beers Criteria reduces polypharmacy-related complications.
Which condition is characterized by an acute onset of confusion, inattention, and fluctuating consciousness in older adults?
Dementia
Generalized anxiety disorder
Depression
Delirium
Delirium presents with a rapid onset of confusion, inattention, disorganized thinking, and fluctuating mental status, often due to acute illness or medication effects. Dementia develops gradually and is not typically reversible, while depression and anxiety have different hallmark features. Early recognition and treatment of delirium can reduce complications.
A 78-year-old patient has a DEXA scan T-score of -2.8. Which is the best initial pharmacological therapy?
Calcitonin
Calcium restriction
Bisphosphonate therapy
Estrogen therapy
A T-score ? -2.5 indicates osteoporosis, for which bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate) are first-line therapy to inhibit bone resorption. Calcitonin and estrogen are less effective or have more risks in long-term use, and calcium restriction would worsen bone density. Adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation should accompany therapy.
Which change in the cardiovascular system is considered a normal effect of aging?
Enhanced baroreceptor sensitivity
Reduced cardiac output during exertion
Increased maximal heart rate
Decreased arterial stiffness
Aging is associated with reduced cardiac output during exertion due to decreased maximal heart rate and ventricular compliance. Arteries become stiffer, not more elastic, and baroreceptor sensitivity declines, increasing orthostatic hypotension risks. Recognizing these normal changes aids in distinguishing pathology from expected aging.
An older adult on warfarin starts trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for a UTI. What effect is most likely on the INR?
Decreased INR
Reduced warfarin half-life
No change in INR
Increased INR
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibits warfarin metabolism, resulting in elevated INR and increased bleeding risk. Monitoring INR closely and adjusting warfarin dose or choosing an alternative antibiotic can prevent complications. Drug - drug interactions are a major concern in geriatric pharmacotherapy.
Which nonpharmacological strategy is most effective for managing agitation in advanced Alzheimer's disease?
High-dose antipsychotics
Physical restraints
Environmental noise stimulation
Structured daily routine
Implementing a structured daily routine with familiar activities reduces anxiety and agitation in people with advanced Alzheimer's. Antipsychotics carry significant risk and are reserved for severe cases unresponsive to nonpharmacological measures. Restraints worsen agitation and increase harm.
An 85-year-old patient's skin shows decreased turgor and elasticity. What is the primary physiological cause?
Enhanced sweat gland function
Reduced collagen and elastin fibers
Elevated melanocyte count
Increased subcutaneous fat
Aging decreases collagen and elastin production in the dermis, leading to reduced skin elasticity and turgor. Subcutaneous fat typically diminishes, making skin appear thinner and more fragile. Melanocyte count may actually decrease, and sweat gland activity declines with age.
Which prescribing cascade occurs when a proton pump inhibitor is initiated to treat the side effect of an NSAID in an older adult?
NSAID causes insomnia leading to PPI prescription
NSAID causes hypertension leading to PPI prescription
NSAID causes urinary retention leading to PPI prescription
NSAID causes gastric irritation leading to PPI prescription
NSAIDs commonly cause gastric mucosal irritation and ulcers, which are often treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). This is a classic prescribing cascade: a medication's side effect is misinterpreted as a new condition, leading to additional drugs and increased risk of polypharmacy. Preventing cascades involves critical review of new symptoms in the context of existing therapies.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Aging Physiology -

    Describe the key physiological changes that occur in older adults, building a strong foundation in gerontology science for clinical practice.

  2. Apply Evidence-Based Care Strategies -

    Implement proven nursing interventions and best practices to address common geriatric health issues and promote optimal aging.

  3. Analyze Case Scenarios -

    Evaluate realistic patient situations to identify appropriate assessment techniques and intervention priorities in geriatric nursing care.

  4. Interpret Quiz Feedback -

    Use your scored results to pinpoint learning gaps, reinforce strengths, and create a targeted study plan for ongoing professional development.

  5. Compare Question Formats -

    Differentiate between ATI gerontology practice quiz items and GERO-BC practice questions to enhance test-taking strategies and confidence.

  6. Evaluate Ethical & Cultural Considerations -

    Recognize the importance of culturally sensitive care and ethical decision-making when working with diverse older adult populations.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Theories of Aging -

    Review key biological and psychosocial theories such as the Free Radical Theory (accumulation of oxidative damage) and Hayflick's Programmed Aging (cells divide ~50 times). Use the mnemonic "FREE HAY" (Free Radicals, Errors, Aging Yields Health decline) to recall major concepts. Understanding these helps you predict age-related changes at the cellular level (NIH, NINR).

  2. Pharmacokinetic Changes -

    Aging reduces renal clearance and hepatic metabolism, affecting drug half-life and toxicity risk. Practice the Cockcroft-Gault formula ((140 - age)×weight(kg))/(72×serumCr)×0.85 for women to estimate creatinine clearance and adjust dosages accordingly. This is vital for safe geriatric prescribing (American Geriatrics Society).

  3. Geriatric Syndromes (SPICES) -

    Memorize SPICES: Sleep disorders, Problems with eating/feeding, Incontinence, Confusion, Evidence of falls, Skin breakdown. These overlapping conditions often signal complex care needs and impact multiple systems. Early detection and interdisciplinary interventions reduce hospitalizations (JAGS, 2018).

  4. Psychosocial Development -

    Erikson's final stage, Integrity vs. Despair, highlights life review and acceptance. Encourage reminiscence therapy - patients share "best moments" to foster ego integrity and reduce depression risk. This framework guides supportive nursing interventions (APA Dictionary of Psychology).

  5. Functional Assessment Tools -

    Use the Katz ADL Index (bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, feeding) to score independence from 0 - 6. Combine with the Lawton IADL scale (shopping, managing meds, finances) for a holistic view. Regular assessments detect decline early and tailor care plans (Boston University Gerontology).

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