ANCC Gerontological Nursing

Question 1

Which tool is widely used to assess delirium in older hospitalized patients?

Accepted Answer

Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

Answer

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Answer

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)

Answer

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

Question 2

An 82-year-old patient is started on a new benzodiazepine. According to the Beers Criteria, this is concerning because:

Accepted Answer

They increase the risk of falls, cognitive impairment, and delirium in older adults

Answer

Benzodiazepines are ineffective in elderly patients

Answer

They interact with all cardiac medications

Answer

They cause hypertension in patients over 80

Question 3

Which physiologic change of normal aging most directly affects drug metabolism in older adults?

Accepted Answer

Decreased hepatic blood flow and liver mass

Answer

Increased renal clearance

Answer

Increased gastric acid secretion

Answer

Increased lean body mass

Question 4

A nurse is assessing an older adult for functional status. Which assessment tool evaluates basic activities of daily living (ADLs)?

Accepted Answer

Both B and C

Answer

Lawton IADL Scale

Answer

Katz Index of Independence

Answer

Barthel Index only

Question 5

Which finding best distinguishes dementia from delirium in an older patient?

Accepted Answer

Gradual onset over months to years

Answer

Memory impairment

Answer

Acute onset and fluctuating course

Answer

Impaired executive function

Question 6

What is the most common cause of dementia in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease

Answer

Vascular dementia

Answer

Lewy body dementia

Answer

Frontotemporal dementia