Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

An instrumental activity of daily living refers to what activity?

1. Bathing and dressing

2. Shopping

3. Eating and meal preparation

4. Walking and mobility

The correct answer is: Shopping

An instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) involves tasks that are necessary for independent living and require more complex thinking and organizational skills compared to basic activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities often include managing finances, shopping, meal preparation, using transportation, and managing medications. Shopping is a quintessential example of an IADL, as it involves planning, budgeting, and the ability to navigate a store to select and purchase items. This is distinct from the other options, which generally align with basic activities of daily living. Bathing and dressing, eating and meal preparation, and mobility all focus on personal care and physical functionality, rather than the management and coordination of external tasks necessary for maintaining a household or independent living.