2026 Gerontology HESI Practice
Questions with Correct Answers
A 64-year-old client is admitted to the hospital with a fractured right hip. One of the concerns
following surgical repair is to promote dorsiflexion. Which intervention would a nurse
implement?
A. Begin early ambulation
B. Monitor pain level
C. Provide PCA instructions
D. Provide a foot board - (D) Provide a foot board
Rationale: A footboard supports the feet in dorsiflexion and helps prevent foot drop throughout
recovery (D). (A) and good body alignment may also reduce the possibility of foot drop,
however the footboard is maintained throughout recovery. (B) and (C) will alleviate pain but
does not promoted dorsiflexion.
A family member brings their aging father to the clinic because he has been alert and oriented
during the day but agitated and disoriented in the evening. The registered nurse (RN) reviews
the client's list of current medications with the client and family. Which action taken by the RN
is most important?
A. Medication review with family caregivers is the RN's responsibility
B. Multiple medications can contribute to sundowner-like symptoms
C. Medication recall is the best way to evaluate the client's memory
D. Reviewing medication actions is a component of effective client care - B. Multiple
medications can contribute to sundowner-like symptoms.
Rationale: Older clients may see a variety of HCP which can increase the chance of
polypharmacy that compounds the workload of metabolic pathways that may be less efficient
due to the aging process. Multiple medication interactions may contribute to sundowner-like
symptoms; reviewing medication actions and interactions provides the information that may
indicate polypharmacy leading to sundowner syndromes.
,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. - 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.
A frail elderly woman visits the healthcare provider because she has been getting out of breath
easily when walking long distances. Which pulmonary function change should the registered
nurse (RN) expect to commonly occur with aging?
A. Decreased residual volume
B. Mild respiratory acidosis
C. Reduced vital capacity
D. Increased alveoli function - (C) Reduced vital capacity
Rationale: With aging, a frail elder is likely to have a reduced vital capacity (C) due to the loss of
elasticity of the lung tissue. With reduced elasticity, residual volume increases (A). Arterial pH
, should not change with normal aging (B). A decrease, rather than an increase, in alveoli function
(D) can occur due to a thinning of the alveolar walls with age.
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 - B. Confusion and dehydration
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and perfusion
in these 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 these
frail elderly client.
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 - D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: 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.
Questions with Correct Answers
A 64-year-old client is admitted to the hospital with a fractured right hip. One of the concerns
following surgical repair is to promote dorsiflexion. Which intervention would a nurse
implement?
A. Begin early ambulation
B. Monitor pain level
C. Provide PCA instructions
D. Provide a foot board - (D) Provide a foot board
Rationale: A footboard supports the feet in dorsiflexion and helps prevent foot drop throughout
recovery (D). (A) and good body alignment may also reduce the possibility of foot drop,
however the footboard is maintained throughout recovery. (B) and (C) will alleviate pain but
does not promoted dorsiflexion.
A family member brings their aging father to the clinic because he has been alert and oriented
during the day but agitated and disoriented in the evening. The registered nurse (RN) reviews
the client's list of current medications with the client and family. Which action taken by the RN
is most important?
A. Medication review with family caregivers is the RN's responsibility
B. Multiple medications can contribute to sundowner-like symptoms
C. Medication recall is the best way to evaluate the client's memory
D. Reviewing medication actions is a component of effective client care - B. Multiple
medications can contribute to sundowner-like symptoms.
Rationale: Older clients may see a variety of HCP which can increase the chance of
polypharmacy that compounds the workload of metabolic pathways that may be less efficient
due to the aging process. Multiple medication interactions may contribute to sundowner-like
symptoms; reviewing medication actions and interactions provides the information that may
indicate polypharmacy leading to sundowner syndromes.
,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. - 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.
A frail elderly woman visits the healthcare provider because she has been getting out of breath
easily when walking long distances. Which pulmonary function change should the registered
nurse (RN) expect to commonly occur with aging?
A. Decreased residual volume
B. Mild respiratory acidosis
C. Reduced vital capacity
D. Increased alveoli function - (C) Reduced vital capacity
Rationale: With aging, a frail elder is likely to have a reduced vital capacity (C) due to the loss of
elasticity of the lung tissue. With reduced elasticity, residual volume increases (A). Arterial pH
, should not change with normal aging (B). A decrease, rather than an increase, in alveoli function
(D) can occur due to a thinning of the alveolar walls with age.
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 - B. Confusion and dehydration
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and perfusion
in these 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 these
frail elderly client.
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 - D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: 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.
