GERONTOLOGY HESI PRACTICE
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia.
Which finding is most important for the registered nurse (RN) to report to
the healthcare provider?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and dehydration
C. Crackles in the lung fields
D. Nausea and vomiting.
Answer: B. Confusion and dehydrationRationale: Confusion and
dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and perfusion in this
frail elderly client. (A), (C) and (D) are all common with pneumonia, but the
most important finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration, which
require treatment for this frail elderly client.
◍ A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have to watch
their salt intake because food does not taste as good as it used to so they
have to season most foods. What information should the RN offer the
couple?
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food is perceived, and different
seasonings can stimulate taste.
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is needed to compensate for a
decrease in renal function.
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may be the reason they want to
over-season their food.
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other
seasonings instead of salt..
, Answer: D. Taste buds are often dull due to atrophy so older clients should
use other seasonings instead of salt.Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with
normal aging, which influences an older client's sensitivity to taste and is
often compensated for the use of stronger tasting seasonings. (A), (B), and
(C) are not normal aging processes related to taste.
◍ After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a frail,
elderly client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long history of smoking and still
smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Which finding should the registered nurse
(RN) report to the healthcare provider?
A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory acidosis.
Answer: B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%Rationale: With
pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2 saturation (B) can impact
adequate oxygenation, which should be reported to the HCP. (A) occurs due
to chronic hyperinflation of the lungs and is common in clients with COPD.
Anemia (C) is frequently identified in clients with COPD, and respiratory
acidosis (D) due to CO2 retention contributes to a lower blood pH.
◍ An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The
family explains to the registered nurse (RN) that the client is unmanageable
and always confused, disoriented and depressed. The client asks the RN
repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN respond?
A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community
B. Question the client about her perception of where she might be now.
C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is on an outing with her family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she will meet new friends..
Answer: A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living
community.Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a
client who is confused because the response is consistent and true. (B, C,
and D) do not provide the client with feedback that is reality based.
, ◍ A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who is
experiencing short-term memory loss and confusion. Which activity should
the registered nurse (RN) schedule the client to do during the day?
A. Arts and crafts
B. Current events discussion group
C. Group sing-along
D. Daily exercise group.
Answer: D. Daily exercise groupRationale: A daily exercise group (D)
allows the client to mirror the leader and minimizes the client's stress to
remember. (A), (C), and a current events discussion group (B) are
thought-provoking activities that require attention to detail and short-term
memory to participate in the group activity which may be stressful and
frustrating to the resident who has difficulty remembering sequence of the
details.
◍ The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female
client with end stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently fractured her hip.
What technique should the registered nurse (RN) use to determine the
client's pain?
A. Use the FACE pain scale
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits.
Answer: C. Observe for facial grimacingRationale: Observing for facial
grimacing (C) is the best method for evaluating pain for a client who cannot
communicate due to Alzheimer disease. (A) and (B) may not be understood
by a client with end-stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is not a helpful tool for
pain assessment.
◍ An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination.
While the nurse assesses the client, the client states that he is having
intimacy problems with his wife. Which information should the nurse
provide to elicit more information from the client?
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◍ A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia.
Which finding is most important for the registered nurse (RN) to report to
the healthcare provider?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and dehydration
C. Crackles in the lung fields
D. Nausea and vomiting.
Answer: B. Confusion and dehydrationRationale: Confusion and
dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and perfusion in this
frail elderly client. (A), (C) and (D) are all common with pneumonia, but the
most important finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration, which
require treatment for this frail elderly client.
◍ A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have to watch
their salt intake because food does not taste as good as it used to so they
have to season most foods. What information should the RN offer the
couple?
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food is perceived, and different
seasonings can stimulate taste.
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is needed to compensate for a
decrease in renal function.
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may be the reason they want to
over-season their food.
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other
seasonings instead of salt..
, Answer: D. Taste buds are often dull due to atrophy so older clients should
use other seasonings instead of salt.Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with
normal aging, which influences an older client's sensitivity to taste and is
often compensated for the use of stronger tasting seasonings. (A), (B), and
(C) are not normal aging processes related to taste.
◍ After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a frail,
elderly client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long history of smoking and still
smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Which finding should the registered nurse
(RN) report to the healthcare provider?
A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory acidosis.
Answer: B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%Rationale: With
pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2 saturation (B) can impact
adequate oxygenation, which should be reported to the HCP. (A) occurs due
to chronic hyperinflation of the lungs and is common in clients with COPD.
Anemia (C) is frequently identified in clients with COPD, and respiratory
acidosis (D) due to CO2 retention contributes to a lower blood pH.
◍ An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The
family explains to the registered nurse (RN) that the client is unmanageable
and always confused, disoriented and depressed. The client asks the RN
repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN respond?
A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community
B. Question the client about her perception of where she might be now.
C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is on an outing with her family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she will meet new friends..
Answer: A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living
community.Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a
client who is confused because the response is consistent and true. (B, C,
and D) do not provide the client with feedback that is reality based.
, ◍ A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who is
experiencing short-term memory loss and confusion. Which activity should
the registered nurse (RN) schedule the client to do during the day?
A. Arts and crafts
B. Current events discussion group
C. Group sing-along
D. Daily exercise group.
Answer: D. Daily exercise groupRationale: A daily exercise group (D)
allows the client to mirror the leader and minimizes the client's stress to
remember. (A), (C), and a current events discussion group (B) are
thought-provoking activities that require attention to detail and short-term
memory to participate in the group activity which may be stressful and
frustrating to the resident who has difficulty remembering sequence of the
details.
◍ The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female
client with end stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently fractured her hip.
What technique should the registered nurse (RN) use to determine the
client's pain?
A. Use the FACE pain scale
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits.
Answer: C. Observe for facial grimacingRationale: Observing for facial
grimacing (C) is the best method for evaluating pain for a client who cannot
communicate due to Alzheimer disease. (A) and (B) may not be understood
by a client with end-stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is not a helpful tool for
pain assessment.
◍ An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination.
While the nurse assesses the client, the client states that he is having
intimacy problems with his wife. Which information should the nurse
provide to elicit more information from the client?
