GERONTOLOGY HESI FINAL TEST 2026
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ A young mother of three children complains of increased anxiety during her
annual physical exam. What information should the nurse obtain first? A)
Sexual activity patterns. B) Nutritional history. C) Leisure activities. D)
Financial stressors.
Answer: B) Nutritional historyCaffeine, sugars, and alcohol can lead to
increased levels of anxiety, so a nutritional history (C) should be obtained
first so that health teaching can be initiated if indicated. (A and C) can be
used for stress management. Though (D) can be a source of anxiety, a
nutritional history should be obtained first
◍ When assisting an 82-year-old client to ambulate, it is important for the
nurse to realize that the center of gravity for an elderly person is the A)
Arms. B) Upper torso. C) Head. D) Feet.
Answer: B) Upper torsoThe center of gravity for adults is the hips.
However, as the person grows older, a stooped posture is common because
of the changes from osteoporosis and normal bone degeneration, and the
knees, hips, and elbows flex. This stooped posture results in the upper torso
(B) becoming the center of gravity for older persons. Although (A) is a part,
or an extension of the upper torso, this is not the best and most complete
answer.
◍ What is the most important reason for starting intravenous infusions in the
upper extremities rather than the lower extremities of adults? A) It is more
difficult to find a superficial vein in the feet and ankles. B) A decreased flow
rate could result in the formation of a thrombosis. C) A cannulated extremity
is more difficult to move when the leg or foot is used. D) Veins are located
, deep in the feet and ankles, resulting in a more painful procedure.
Answer: B) A decreased flow rate could result in the formation of a
thrombosisVenous return is usually better in the upper extremities.
Cannulation of the veins in the lower extremities increases the risk of
thrombus formation (B) which, if dislodged, could be life-threatening.
Superficial veins are often very easy (A) to find in the feet and legs.
Handling a leg or foot with an IV (C) is probably not any more difficult than
handling an arm or hand. Even if the nurse did believe moving a cannulated
leg was more difficult, this is not the most important reason for using the
upper extremities. Pain (D) is not a consideration
◍ PT Male.
Answer: 9.6-11.8 seconds
◍ What supplements do pregnant women need to take?.
Answer: Folic acid, iron, calcium (vitamin D)
◍ A client with pneumonia has a decrease in oxygen saturation from 94% to
88% while ambulating. Based on these findings, which intervention should
the nurse implement first?A. Assist the ambulating client back to the bed. B.
Encourage the client to ambulate to resolve pneumonia. C. Obtain a
prescription for portable oxygen while ambulating. D. Move the oximetry
probe from the finger to the earlobe..
Answer: An oxygen saturation below 90% indicates inadequate
oxygenation. First, the client should be assisted to return to bed (A) to
minimize oxygen demands. Ambulation increases aeration of the lungs to
prevent pooling of respiratory secretions, but the client's activity at this time
is depleting oxygen saturation of the blood, so (B) is contraindicated.
Increased activity increases respiratory effort, and oxygen may be necessary
to continue ambulation (C), but first the client should return to bed to rest.
Oxygen saturation levels at different sites should be evaluated after the
client returns to bed (D).Correct Answer: A
◍ Hyponatremia Signs.
Answer: -Hyperactive Bowels Sounds-Muscle Weakness-Increased Urine
, Output-Decreased specific gravity of urine would be noted
◍ When taking a client's blood pressure, the nurse is unable to distinguish the
point at which the first sound was heard. Which is the best action for the
nurse to take?A. Deflate the cuff completely and immediately reattempt the
reading.B. Reinflate the cuff completely and leave it inflated for 90 to 110
seconds before taking the second reading.C. Deflate the cuff to zero and
wait 30 to 60 seconds before reattempting the reading.D. Document the
exact level visualized on the sphygmomanometer where the first fluctuation
was seen..
Answer: CRationale: Deflating the cuff for 30 to 60 seconds allows blood
flow to return to the extremity so that an accurate reading can be obtained
on that extremity a second time. Option A could result in a falsely high
reading. Option B reduces circulation, causes pain, and could alter the
reading. Option D is not an accurate method of assessing blood pressure.
◍ 5 stages of infection.
Answer: Incubation, prodromal, illness, decline, convalescence
◍ Which nonverbal action should the nurse implement to demonstrate active
listening?A. Sit facing the client.B. Cross arms and legs.C. Avoid eye
contact.D. Lean back in the chair..
Answer: ARationale: Active listening is conveyed using attentive verbal and
nonverbal communication techniques. To facilitate therapeutic
communication and attentiveness, the nurse should sit facing the client,
which lets the client know that the nurse is there to listen. Active listening
skills include postures that are open to the client, such as keeping the arms
open and relaxed, not option B, and leaning toward the client, not option D.
To communicate involvement and willingness to listen to the client, eye
contact should be established and maintained.
◍ One week after being told that she has terminal cancer with a life
expectancy of 3 weeks, a female client tells the nurse, "I think I will plan a
big party for all my friends." How should the nurse respond?A. "You may
not have enough energy before long to hold a big party."B. "Do you mean to
, say that you want to plan your funeral and wake?"C. "Planning a party and
thinking about all your friends sounds like fun."D. "You should be thinking
about spending your last days with your family.".
Answer: CRationale: Setting goals that bring pleasure is appropriate and
should be encouraged by the nurse as long as the nurse does not perpetuate a
client's denial. Option A is a negative response, implying that the client
should not plan a party. Option B puts words in the client's mouth that may
not be accurate. The nurse should support the client's goals rather than
telling the client how to spend her time.
◍ What do you do first if you commit a medication error?.
Answer: Check the patient (take VS)
◍ When performing sterile wound care in the acute care setting, the nurse
obtains a bottle of normal saline from the bedside table that is labeled
"opened" and dated 48 hours prior to the current date. Which is the best
action for the nurse to take?A. Use the normal saline solution once more and
then discard.B. Obtain a new sterile syringe to draw up the labeled saline
solution.C. Use the saline solution and then relabel the bottle with the
current date.D. Discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened
bottle..
Answer: DRationale: Solutions labeled as opened within 24 hours may be
used for clean procedures, but only newly opened solutions are considered
sterile. This solution is not newly opened and is out of date, so it should be
discarded. Options A, B, and C describe incorrect procedures.
◍ The PN is implementing a self medication program for an older resident
who is newly admitted to an ALF. Which actions should the PN implement
to provide the resident ways to maintain safe medication administration?
(Select all that apply).
Answer: Locked medication storage in the client's roomMedication
administration record (MAR)Delivery of adequate supply of medication List
of findings indicating medication effectiveness
◍ When giving a bed bath, wash from _____ to _____..
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◍ A young mother of three children complains of increased anxiety during her
annual physical exam. What information should the nurse obtain first? A)
Sexual activity patterns. B) Nutritional history. C) Leisure activities. D)
Financial stressors.
Answer: B) Nutritional historyCaffeine, sugars, and alcohol can lead to
increased levels of anxiety, so a nutritional history (C) should be obtained
first so that health teaching can be initiated if indicated. (A and C) can be
used for stress management. Though (D) can be a source of anxiety, a
nutritional history should be obtained first
◍ When assisting an 82-year-old client to ambulate, it is important for the
nurse to realize that the center of gravity for an elderly person is the A)
Arms. B) Upper torso. C) Head. D) Feet.
Answer: B) Upper torsoThe center of gravity for adults is the hips.
However, as the person grows older, a stooped posture is common because
of the changes from osteoporosis and normal bone degeneration, and the
knees, hips, and elbows flex. This stooped posture results in the upper torso
(B) becoming the center of gravity for older persons. Although (A) is a part,
or an extension of the upper torso, this is not the best and most complete
answer.
◍ What is the most important reason for starting intravenous infusions in the
upper extremities rather than the lower extremities of adults? A) It is more
difficult to find a superficial vein in the feet and ankles. B) A decreased flow
rate could result in the formation of a thrombosis. C) A cannulated extremity
is more difficult to move when the leg or foot is used. D) Veins are located
, deep in the feet and ankles, resulting in a more painful procedure.
Answer: B) A decreased flow rate could result in the formation of a
thrombosisVenous return is usually better in the upper extremities.
Cannulation of the veins in the lower extremities increases the risk of
thrombus formation (B) which, if dislodged, could be life-threatening.
Superficial veins are often very easy (A) to find in the feet and legs.
Handling a leg or foot with an IV (C) is probably not any more difficult than
handling an arm or hand. Even if the nurse did believe moving a cannulated
leg was more difficult, this is not the most important reason for using the
upper extremities. Pain (D) is not a consideration
◍ PT Male.
Answer: 9.6-11.8 seconds
◍ What supplements do pregnant women need to take?.
Answer: Folic acid, iron, calcium (vitamin D)
◍ A client with pneumonia has a decrease in oxygen saturation from 94% to
88% while ambulating. Based on these findings, which intervention should
the nurse implement first?A. Assist the ambulating client back to the bed. B.
Encourage the client to ambulate to resolve pneumonia. C. Obtain a
prescription for portable oxygen while ambulating. D. Move the oximetry
probe from the finger to the earlobe..
Answer: An oxygen saturation below 90% indicates inadequate
oxygenation. First, the client should be assisted to return to bed (A) to
minimize oxygen demands. Ambulation increases aeration of the lungs to
prevent pooling of respiratory secretions, but the client's activity at this time
is depleting oxygen saturation of the blood, so (B) is contraindicated.
Increased activity increases respiratory effort, and oxygen may be necessary
to continue ambulation (C), but first the client should return to bed to rest.
Oxygen saturation levels at different sites should be evaluated after the
client returns to bed (D).Correct Answer: A
◍ Hyponatremia Signs.
Answer: -Hyperactive Bowels Sounds-Muscle Weakness-Increased Urine
, Output-Decreased specific gravity of urine would be noted
◍ When taking a client's blood pressure, the nurse is unable to distinguish the
point at which the first sound was heard. Which is the best action for the
nurse to take?A. Deflate the cuff completely and immediately reattempt the
reading.B. Reinflate the cuff completely and leave it inflated for 90 to 110
seconds before taking the second reading.C. Deflate the cuff to zero and
wait 30 to 60 seconds before reattempting the reading.D. Document the
exact level visualized on the sphygmomanometer where the first fluctuation
was seen..
Answer: CRationale: Deflating the cuff for 30 to 60 seconds allows blood
flow to return to the extremity so that an accurate reading can be obtained
on that extremity a second time. Option A could result in a falsely high
reading. Option B reduces circulation, causes pain, and could alter the
reading. Option D is not an accurate method of assessing blood pressure.
◍ 5 stages of infection.
Answer: Incubation, prodromal, illness, decline, convalescence
◍ Which nonverbal action should the nurse implement to demonstrate active
listening?A. Sit facing the client.B. Cross arms and legs.C. Avoid eye
contact.D. Lean back in the chair..
Answer: ARationale: Active listening is conveyed using attentive verbal and
nonverbal communication techniques. To facilitate therapeutic
communication and attentiveness, the nurse should sit facing the client,
which lets the client know that the nurse is there to listen. Active listening
skills include postures that are open to the client, such as keeping the arms
open and relaxed, not option B, and leaning toward the client, not option D.
To communicate involvement and willingness to listen to the client, eye
contact should be established and maintained.
◍ One week after being told that she has terminal cancer with a life
expectancy of 3 weeks, a female client tells the nurse, "I think I will plan a
big party for all my friends." How should the nurse respond?A. "You may
not have enough energy before long to hold a big party."B. "Do you mean to
, say that you want to plan your funeral and wake?"C. "Planning a party and
thinking about all your friends sounds like fun."D. "You should be thinking
about spending your last days with your family.".
Answer: CRationale: Setting goals that bring pleasure is appropriate and
should be encouraged by the nurse as long as the nurse does not perpetuate a
client's denial. Option A is a negative response, implying that the client
should not plan a party. Option B puts words in the client's mouth that may
not be accurate. The nurse should support the client's goals rather than
telling the client how to spend her time.
◍ What do you do first if you commit a medication error?.
Answer: Check the patient (take VS)
◍ When performing sterile wound care in the acute care setting, the nurse
obtains a bottle of normal saline from the bedside table that is labeled
"opened" and dated 48 hours prior to the current date. Which is the best
action for the nurse to take?A. Use the normal saline solution once more and
then discard.B. Obtain a new sterile syringe to draw up the labeled saline
solution.C. Use the saline solution and then relabel the bottle with the
current date.D. Discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened
bottle..
Answer: DRationale: Solutions labeled as opened within 24 hours may be
used for clean procedures, but only newly opened solutions are considered
sterile. This solution is not newly opened and is out of date, so it should be
discarded. Options A, B, and C describe incorrect procedures.
◍ The PN is implementing a self medication program for an older resident
who is newly admitted to an ALF. Which actions should the PN implement
to provide the resident ways to maintain safe medication administration?
(Select all that apply).
Answer: Locked medication storage in the client's roomMedication
administration record (MAR)Delivery of adequate supply of medication List
of findings indicating medication effectiveness
◍ When giving a bed bath, wash from _____ to _____..
