10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
These 10 free GS-C questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the Gerontological Specialist - Certified blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Domain 1: Performs comprehensive assessment of the complex older adult. 20% of exam
Question 1
During morning rounds, staff describe an 80-year-old hospitalized patient with mild Alzheimer disease as 'much quieter today.' Before admission, she followed conversations and recognized familiar caregivers. Over the past 24 hours, she has alternated between alertness and drowsiness, repeatedly lost track of questions, and been unable to sustain attention during an examination. How should this change be classified?
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Correct answer: A - Hypoactive delirium superimposed on dementia
Question 2
On the second hospital day for pneumonia, an 82-year-old needs two-person assistance to transfer. Her daughter describes the preceding six months: she walked independently indoors and managed bathing, dressing, toileting, and feeding, but needed help with shopping, transportation, finances, and medications. When documenting her pre-illness Clinical Frailty Scale rating, which category fits that baseline?
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Correct answer: A - 5 - Living with mild frailty
Domain 2: Performs appropriate screening, diagnostic testing, treatment and planning of care for the complex older adult. 20% of exam
Question 3
An 87-year-old long-term-care resident develops confusion after starting an over-the-counter sleep aid containing diphenhydramine. She is afebrile and hemodynamically stable, with no dysuria, new urgency, suprapubic tenderness, or flank pain. A urine specimen ordered overnight shows pyuria and more than 100,000 CFU/mL of Escherichia coli. What is the appropriate response to the culture result in this setting?
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Correct answer: B - Assess the new medication and other causes of confusion; observe without antibiotics
Question 4
A 78-year-old woman reports a new temporal headache and jaw fatigue while chewing for the past week. This morning, vision in her left eye dimmed for several minutes and then returned. Her scalp is tender, but visual acuity is currently at baseline. Management should begin with:
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Correct answer: C - Urgent glucocorticoid treatment and same-day specialist assessment
Domain 3: Prescribes medications, including consideration of risks and benefits of pharmacotherapy, for the complex older adult. 20% of exam
Question 5
An 84-year-old man takes apixaban 5 mg twice daily for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. He weighs 74 kg, his stable serum creatinine is 1.1 mg/dL, and he has no active bleeding or clinically important interacting medications. His daughter requests a lower dose because of his age. Under the U.S. prescribing criteria, which regimen remains appropriate?
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Correct answer: C - Apixaban 5 mg twice daily
Question 6
Ten days after an increase in her amlodipine dose, a 77-year-old develops bilateral ankle edema that makes her shoes uncomfortable. Her weight is unchanged, blood pressure is 128/68 mm Hg, lungs are clear, and she has no orthopnea or jugular venous distention. Which medication adjustment is best supported by this presentation?
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Correct answer: D - Reduce amlodipine and reassess blood pressure and ankle swelling
Domain 4: Uses a system-based approach to design and implement educational strategies to optimize health outcomes. 14% of exam
Question 7
At an inhaler-teaching visit, a 79-year-old with stable COPD correctly explains when to use his dry-powder inhaler and demonstrates the preparation steps. Repeated observed trials show that he cannot generate adequate inspiratory flow for that device, even after coaching. Further teaching is most likely to succeed if the APRN:
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Correct answer: B - Selects a device suited to his inspiratory ability and verifies its use by return demonstration
Question 8
During fall-prevention counseling, an 80-year-old completes the Timed Up and Go in 17 seconds using her usual cane. Her gait is slow but stable; she has no syncope, orthostatic symptoms, or acute injury. She asks, 'Does this mean I should stop walking and use a wheelchair?' Which response best explains the result?
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Correct answer: D - It signals increased fall risk; we can work on balance, strength, and safer walking
Domain 5: Anticipates and manages transitions of care between sites and providers, including transition to palliative or hospice care. 20% of exam
Question 9
A hospice patient with advanced cardiomyopathy has a combined implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and pacemaker and is dependent on bradycardia pacing. After several painful shocks, he says, 'I don't want any more shocks, but I was told this device keeps my heart beating.' He has decision-making capacity and wants comfort-focused care without stopping pacing. Which device-management plan matches these wishes?
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Correct answer: D - Deactivate defibrillation shocks while preserving bradycardia pacing
Question 10
An 82-year-old is medically ready to transfer from hospital to a skilled nursing facility after evaluation of anemia. A gastric biopsy result is expected in three days. The discharge summary lists it as pending and copies the primary care clinician, whose next appointment with the patient is in three weeks. What must be added to the transfer plan?
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Correct answer: A - An accepting clinician responsible for reviewing the result and acting by a specified date