CLTC Long-Term Care Exam Prep practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q1An LPN is caring for a resident with chronic heart failure. Which finding best indicates the heart's reduced ability to pump blood effectively to meet the body's metabolic demands?
✓ Correct answer: D. Edema in the feet and ankles
Decreased cardiac output leads to compensatory mechanisms including fluid retention by the kidneys, resulting in dependent edema (swelling in feet and ankles). This is a direct result of the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently, causing blood to back up in the venous system.
Q2A resident with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has a barrel-shaped chest. This anatomical change is primarily caused by which pathophysiological process?
✓ Correct answer: C. Air trapping and hyperinflation of the alveoli
In COPD, chronic air trapping occurs because damaged alveoli lose their elasticity and airways collapse during exhalation. This leads to hyperinflation of the lungs, causing the chest to become barrel-shaped as the anteroposterior diameter increases.
Q3A nurse reviews lab results showing a serum creatinine level of 2.8 mg/dL (normal 0.6-1.2 mg/dL) in a resident with chronic kidney disease. This finding indicates dysfunction in which primary kidney function?
✓ Correct answer: B. Glomerular filtration of waste products
Creatinine is a waste product filtered by the glomeruli in the kidneys. Elevated serum creatinine indicates the glomerular filtration rate is decreased, meaning the kidneys are not effectively filtering waste products from the blood.
Q4An elderly resident with type 2 diabetes has a fasting blood glucose of 245 mg/dL. The nurse understands this indicates which pancreatic dysfunction?
✓ Correct answer: A. Insufficient insulin production or cellular insulin resistance
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreatic beta cells either do not produce sufficient insulin or the body's cells become resistant to insulin. Elevated fasting glucose indicates inadequate insulin effect, preventing glucose from entering cells for energy use.
Q5A resident with osteoporosis is at increased risk for fractures due to which age-related change in bone physiology?
✓ Correct answer: D. Increased bone resorption exceeding bone formation
Osteoporosis occurs when bone resorption (breakdown) by osteoclasts exceeds bone formation by osteoblasts, resulting in decreased bone density and increased fracture risk. This imbalance is common in aging, especially post-menopausal women.
Q6The nurse assesses a stage 3 pressure injury on a resident's sacrum. Understanding the integumentary system, the nurse knows this wound extends through which layers?
✓ Correct answer: C. Epidermis, dermis, and into subcutaneous tissue
A stage 3 pressure injury involves full-thickness skin loss extending through the epidermis and dermis into the subcutaneous tissue (fat layer). Muscle, tendon, and bone are not exposed in stage 3 injuries.
Q7A resident with Parkinson's disease exhibits tremors at rest and muscle rigidity. These symptoms result from degeneration of neurons in which area of the brain?
✓ Correct answer: B. Substantia nigra in the basal ganglia
Parkinson's disease is caused by degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, part of the basal ganglia. This dopamine deficiency leads to the characteristic tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia seen in Parkinson's disease.
Q8A resident with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) experiences heartburn. The nurse explains this occurs because of malfunction of which anatomical structure?
✓ Correct answer: A. Lower esophageal sphincter
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) normally prevents stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus. In GERD, the LES relaxes inappropriately or weakens, allowing acidic gastric contents to reflux into the esophagus, causing heartburn.
Q9An elderly resident has decreased bladder capacity and experiences urinary frequency. This is primarily due to which age-related change in the urinary system?
✓ Correct answer: D. Loss of bladder muscle elasticity and tone
With aging, the bladder muscle (detrusor) loses elasticity and tone, reducing bladder capacity. The bladder cannot hold as much urine, leading to increased urinary frequency and urgency in elderly individuals.
Q10A resident with anemia has a hemoglobin level of 8.5 g/dL (normal 12-16 g/dL for women). The nurse understands this will primarily affect which physiological process?
✓ Correct answer: C. Oxygen transport to body tissues
Hemoglobin in red blood cells is responsible for binding and transporting oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. Low hemoglobin means reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to tissue hypoxia and symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.
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Theory