Gerontological Nurse Test Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Gerontological Nurse Test facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following best describes 'presbycusis' as it relates to gerontological nursing? → Age-related sensorineural hearing loss affecting high frequencies
2. The American Cancer Society advises: If a 65-year-old patient has prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of 3.0 ng/mL: → Testing every year
3. Which intervention is the MOST important to include in the care plan for a patient with dementia who is at high risk for wandering? → Environmental modifications with door alarms and secured exits
4. Which clinical sign is most reliable for assessing dehydration in older adults when skin turgor is unreliable due to normal age-related changes? → Dry axillae
5. An older adult with COPD is prescribed a long-acting bronchodilator. The nurse recognizes that the primary goals of COPD management in older adults include: → Symptom relief, prevention of exacerbations, and maintaining functional independence
6. Which finding in an older adult with diabetes indicates peripheral neuropathy and increased risk for diabetic foot complications? → Loss of protective sensation detected by 10-gram monofilament testing
7. Which finding on a medication reconciliation is MOST concerning in a newly admitted 84-year-old patient? → Taking diphenhydramine nightly as a sleep aid
8. A patient at end of life expresses spiritual distress and asks the nurse, 'Why is God doing this to me?' The nurse's most therapeutic response is to: → Listen attentively, acknowledge the distress, and offer to arrange a chaplain visit
9. Which assessment tool is specifically designed to identify pain in patients with advanced dementia who cannot self-report? → PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia)
10. A 73-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes is being managed with glipizide. What is the PRIMARY concern when using sulfonylureas in older adults? → Prolonged hypoglycemia due to extended half-life
11. Which assessment finding in an older adult requires the nurse to immediately implement fall precautions beyond universal measures? → Patient scores 45 or above on the Morse Fall Scale
12. An older adult patient has a serum sodium of 128 mEq/L and is symptomatic with confusion. Which condition should the nurse suspect first? → Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
13. Which non-pharmacological intervention can help manage dyspnea (breathlessness) in a dying patient? → Positioning a small fan to direct airflow across the patient's face
14. A gerontological nurse is educating a patient about digoxin therapy. Which sign of digoxin toxicity should the patient report immediately? → Visual disturbances such as yellow-green halos
15. A nurse is reviewing the medication list of an older adult using the STOPP criteria. STOPP stands for: → Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions
16. According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a score of 17 to 23.5 indicates which nutritional status? → At risk for malnutrition
17. When assessing pain in an older adult with moderate dementia who cannot self-report, which validated tool should the nurse use? → PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia)
18. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test is used in gerontological nursing to assess: → Mobility, balance, and fall risk
19. Hip protector pads are a secondary fall prevention strategy designed to: → Reduce the risk of hip fracture if a fall does occur
20. A nurse notes that a 79-year-old patient has lost 5% of body weight unintentionally over the past month. What is the PRIORITY nursing action? → Obtain a dietary consult and assess for dysphagia and depression
21. A nurse is supporting a family whose loved one died in the hospital. Which action best demonstrates compassionate end-of-life nursing care? → Allowing the family adequate private time with the deceased and offering condolences
22. In the DETERMINE nutritional risk checklist used with older adults, the letter 'D' stands for which risk factor? → Disease
23. Under the Medicare Hospice Benefit in the United States, a patient must have a life expectancy of how long to qualify for hospice enrollment? → 6 months or less if the disease runs its natural course
24. Which complication of heart failure is most commonly assessed in older adults by monitoring daily weight? → Fluid retention and early decompensation
25. The gerontological nurse anticipates that following a stroke on the left side of the patient's brain, the patient may display: → Impaired speech
26. A gerontological nurse is assessing a 78-year-old patient for dehydration. Which clinical finding is MOST reliable in older adults? → Orthostatic hypotension
27. Which footwear recommendation is most appropriate for fall prevention in older adults? → Well-fitting, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles
28. Which statement best describes the physiological basis for thermoregulatory dysfunction in older adults? → Reduced subcutaneous fat and impaired shivering decrease cold tolerance
29. Which complication of long-term corticosteroid use in older adults requires routine bone health monitoring and preventive treatment? → Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis and fracture risk
30. NSAIDs are generally considered inappropriate for older adults primarily because they increase risk of: → GI bleeding, renal impairment, and fluid retention