Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontology Practice Questions

1. Which statement demonstrates normal cognitive function for an aging adult?

a. Occasional memory lapses
b. Unable to recall the names of their children or siblings
c. Unable to recall current address or phone number
d. Unable to count to 10 or repeat a series of consecutive numbers

2. Dementia and depression are strongly related to?

a. Clients over the age of 60
b. Clients over the age of 65
c. A decreased quality of life and functional deficits
d. Past economic status and job performance

3. Which statement reflects the state of drug absorption in the geriatric patient?

a. The rate of absorption is slowed
b. The rate of absorption is faster due to thinning of mucosa
c. The percent of the medication that is absorbed is decreased
d. There is a decrease in gastric pH as we age

4. The absorption of medication in the geriatric client is most often affected by?

a. A decrease in body fat
b. An increase in serum albumin
c. A decrease in body water and lean body weight
d. An increase in body water

5. Which organ is responsible for drug metabolism and must be considered when prescribing medications for an older adult?

a. Kidneys
b. Pancreas
c. Intestines
d. Liver

Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontology Answers and Explanations

1. A: An occasional lapse in memory is normal. Forgetting where you put your keys, forgetting that you have made an appointment, or forgetting to return a phone call can all be normal for busy adults. An adult over age 65 should still be able to recall the names of their children or siblings and their current address and be able to count to 10.

2. C: Depression and dementia are closely related to a decreased quality of life and functional decline. When a person loses functional abilities to do activities of daily living or activities that were once enjoyed, it can be viewed as having less of a full life, leading to depression and dementia.

3. A: There appears to be no change in the amount of medication absorbed other than with calcium due to the increase in gastric pH with aging. However, the rate of absorption appears to slow with aging, and adjustments in medication dosing may be altered to avoid toxicity.

4. C: Most age-related changes to drug absorption are linked to a decrease in body water and a decrease in lean body weight. Aging most often causes an increase in body fat and a decrease in serum albumin.

5. D: The liver is responsible for the majority of drug metabolism. Age-related decreases in liver blood flow may affect drug metabolism, as does liver pathology.