GERONTOLOGY HESI PN EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALL
CORRECT
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who is having an exacerbation of
congestive heart failure (CHF). The PN should place the client in which position?
a. Trendelenburg position
b. Lateral lying, with the legs slightly bent
c. Upright, with the legs in a dependent position
d. Semi-Fowler, with the legs elevated above the heart - Answer-c. Upright, with the
legs in a dependent position
Clients with congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema should be positioned upright,
preferably with the legs dangling over the side of the bed, to decrease venous return
and lung congestion.
The client complains of nausea and vomiting about 1 hour after taking the morning dose
of an oral antidiabetic agent, glyburide. What is the priority nursing intervention?
a. Administer an additional dose of glyburide.
b. Take the client's blood glucose levels and administer insulin subcutaneously.
c. Check the blood glucose level and monitor for signs of hyperglycemia.
d. Closely monitor the blood glucose level and watch for signs of hypoglycemia. -
Answer-d. Closely monitor the blood glucose level and watch for signs of hypoglycemia.
When a client who has taken an oral antidiabetic agent vomits, the practical nurse (PN)
should monitor the blood glucose level and watch for signs of hypoglycemia.
An older adult client has developed a urinary tract infection and has antibiotics
prescribed. Which instruction is most crucial to reinforce to prevent recurrence of the
infection?
a. You may take half of the prescribed dose once the symptoms resolve.
b. Once symptoms resolve, it is not necessary to continue taking the medication.
c. Gradually reduce the drug amount taken to prevent antibiotic resistance.
d. Continue taking the antibiotics until the entire prescription is completed. - Answer-d.
Continue taking the antibiotics until the entire prescription is completed.
,In order to prevent recurrence of the infection, it is important to take all prescribed
doses. Reducing the amount of drug taken could actually increase the risk of
recurrence.
An older client verbalizes to the practical nurse (PN) that he feels a lack of control over
his life. The family member who came with the client states that his father has been
exhibiting increased passive behavior and an unwillingness to participate in family
functions. What word best describes this client's behavior?
a. Anxiety
b. Fear
c. Altered self-esteem
d. Powerlessness - Answer-d. Powerlessness
The behaviors that the client is exhibiting are most characteristic of powerlessness and
could affect the client's safety.
The practical nurse (PN) educates the older client about a new hearing aid. Which
instruction is the most important for the PN to give the client about the care of the new
hearing aid?
a. Instruct client to keep extra batteries on hand.
b. Tell client to clean it with a toothpick or pipe cleaner.
c. Inform client to remove it before bathing.
d. Turn it off and remove the battery when not in use. - Answer-c. Inform client to
remove it before bathing.
Hearing aids should not be used in and around water; therefore, the client should
remove his hearing aid for bathing.
The client has end-stage Alzheimer disease and is admitted into hospice care. Which
focus does the nurse expect to note in the plan of care?
a. To provide maximum treatment to keep the client alive
b. To focus on caring interventions and symptom management
c. To allow the client to die with as much comfort and dignity as possible
d. To rehabilitate the patient by offering physical and occupational therapies - Answer-c.
To allow the client to die with as much comfort and dignity as possible
The philosophy of hospice care is to allow the client in the end stages of life to die with
dignity and to be as comfortable as possible. Clients on hospice care are not provided
lifesaving measures; the goal of palliative care is to allow clients to have a peaceful
death focusing on caring interventions and symptom management.
, A male client is seen in the clinic for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Which
intervention is essential for the practical nurse (PN) to include in the client's visit?
a. Reeducate the client about limiting fluid intake.
b. Reassure the client that his BPH is a non-life-threatening condition.
c. Assess the client for urinary hesitancy and weak or split urinary stream.
d. Inform the client that there may be a genetic predisposition for male family members.
- Answer-c. Assess the client for urinary hesitancy and weak or split urinary stream.
These symptoms may indicate progression of BPH to partial obstruction of the urethra,
a medical emergency, and need to be reported to the health care provider. Fluids
should be encouraged, not limited; hydration needs to be maintained.
The oral temperature of a client with a urinary tract infection is 103° F. Which
intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement first?
a. Instruct the client on proper hygienic practices.
b. Observe the color or odor of urine.
c. Recheck the temperature rectally.
d. Encourage fluid intake. - Answer-d. Encourage fluid intake.
Fluids help to reduce fever as quickly and it is important to lower the temperature as
soon as possible.
An older adult client is being treated for toxicity related to medication use. When
reviewing the client's medical records, the nurse is most likely to find which factor is
correlated with this problem?
a. The client has forgotten to take several doses of medication.
b. The client's white blood cell count has steadily increased.
c. The client's liver function has decreased since last year.
d. The client has gained 40 pounds (18.2 kg) over 3 years. - Answer-c. The client's liver
function has decreased since last year.
With aging, liver function decreases, affecting drug metabolism and detoxification.
Forgetting to take doses of medication would not cause drug toxicity; excessive doses
could cause toxicity. Elevated white blood cell counts and weight gain would not likely
cause drug toxicity.
The practical nurse (PN) assesses the older adult client's skin for signs of breakdown
and observes that the skin is intact. What interventions by the PN will help maintain
healthy skin integrity?
a. Keep the client well hydrated.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALL
CORRECT
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a client who is having an exacerbation of
congestive heart failure (CHF). The PN should place the client in which position?
a. Trendelenburg position
b. Lateral lying, with the legs slightly bent
c. Upright, with the legs in a dependent position
d. Semi-Fowler, with the legs elevated above the heart - Answer-c. Upright, with the
legs in a dependent position
Clients with congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema should be positioned upright,
preferably with the legs dangling over the side of the bed, to decrease venous return
and lung congestion.
The client complains of nausea and vomiting about 1 hour after taking the morning dose
of an oral antidiabetic agent, glyburide. What is the priority nursing intervention?
a. Administer an additional dose of glyburide.
b. Take the client's blood glucose levels and administer insulin subcutaneously.
c. Check the blood glucose level and monitor for signs of hyperglycemia.
d. Closely monitor the blood glucose level and watch for signs of hypoglycemia. -
Answer-d. Closely monitor the blood glucose level and watch for signs of hypoglycemia.
When a client who has taken an oral antidiabetic agent vomits, the practical nurse (PN)
should monitor the blood glucose level and watch for signs of hypoglycemia.
An older adult client has developed a urinary tract infection and has antibiotics
prescribed. Which instruction is most crucial to reinforce to prevent recurrence of the
infection?
a. You may take half of the prescribed dose once the symptoms resolve.
b. Once symptoms resolve, it is not necessary to continue taking the medication.
c. Gradually reduce the drug amount taken to prevent antibiotic resistance.
d. Continue taking the antibiotics until the entire prescription is completed. - Answer-d.
Continue taking the antibiotics until the entire prescription is completed.
,In order to prevent recurrence of the infection, it is important to take all prescribed
doses. Reducing the amount of drug taken could actually increase the risk of
recurrence.
An older client verbalizes to the practical nurse (PN) that he feels a lack of control over
his life. The family member who came with the client states that his father has been
exhibiting increased passive behavior and an unwillingness to participate in family
functions. What word best describes this client's behavior?
a. Anxiety
b. Fear
c. Altered self-esteem
d. Powerlessness - Answer-d. Powerlessness
The behaviors that the client is exhibiting are most characteristic of powerlessness and
could affect the client's safety.
The practical nurse (PN) educates the older client about a new hearing aid. Which
instruction is the most important for the PN to give the client about the care of the new
hearing aid?
a. Instruct client to keep extra batteries on hand.
b. Tell client to clean it with a toothpick or pipe cleaner.
c. Inform client to remove it before bathing.
d. Turn it off and remove the battery when not in use. - Answer-c. Inform client to
remove it before bathing.
Hearing aids should not be used in and around water; therefore, the client should
remove his hearing aid for bathing.
The client has end-stage Alzheimer disease and is admitted into hospice care. Which
focus does the nurse expect to note in the plan of care?
a. To provide maximum treatment to keep the client alive
b. To focus on caring interventions and symptom management
c. To allow the client to die with as much comfort and dignity as possible
d. To rehabilitate the patient by offering physical and occupational therapies - Answer-c.
To allow the client to die with as much comfort and dignity as possible
The philosophy of hospice care is to allow the client in the end stages of life to die with
dignity and to be as comfortable as possible. Clients on hospice care are not provided
lifesaving measures; the goal of palliative care is to allow clients to have a peaceful
death focusing on caring interventions and symptom management.
, A male client is seen in the clinic for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Which
intervention is essential for the practical nurse (PN) to include in the client's visit?
a. Reeducate the client about limiting fluid intake.
b. Reassure the client that his BPH is a non-life-threatening condition.
c. Assess the client for urinary hesitancy and weak or split urinary stream.
d. Inform the client that there may be a genetic predisposition for male family members.
- Answer-c. Assess the client for urinary hesitancy and weak or split urinary stream.
These symptoms may indicate progression of BPH to partial obstruction of the urethra,
a medical emergency, and need to be reported to the health care provider. Fluids
should be encouraged, not limited; hydration needs to be maintained.
The oral temperature of a client with a urinary tract infection is 103° F. Which
intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement first?
a. Instruct the client on proper hygienic practices.
b. Observe the color or odor of urine.
c. Recheck the temperature rectally.
d. Encourage fluid intake. - Answer-d. Encourage fluid intake.
Fluids help to reduce fever as quickly and it is important to lower the temperature as
soon as possible.
An older adult client is being treated for toxicity related to medication use. When
reviewing the client's medical records, the nurse is most likely to find which factor is
correlated with this problem?
a. The client has forgotten to take several doses of medication.
b. The client's white blood cell count has steadily increased.
c. The client's liver function has decreased since last year.
d. The client has gained 40 pounds (18.2 kg) over 3 years. - Answer-c. The client's liver
function has decreased since last year.
With aging, liver function decreases, affecting drug metabolism and detoxification.
Forgetting to take doses of medication would not cause drug toxicity; excessive doses
could cause toxicity. Elevated white blood cell counts and weight gain would not likely
cause drug toxicity.
The practical nurse (PN) assesses the older adult client's skin for signs of breakdown
and observes that the skin is intact. What interventions by the PN will help maintain
healthy skin integrity?
a. Keep the client well hydrated.
