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GERONTOLOGY HESI PRACTICE
EXAM 2026/2027 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
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
dehydration
Rationale: 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
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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%
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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.
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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 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.
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?
GERONTOLOGY HESI PRACTICE
EXAM 2026/2027 ACTUAL
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
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
dehydration
Rationale: 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
,2 | Page
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%
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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.
, 4 | Page
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 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.
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?
