GERONTOLOGY HESI PRACTICE ACTUAL
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The
family explain to the practical nurse (PN) that the client is unmanageable
and always confused, disoriented, and depressed. The client asks the PN
repeatedly, "Where am I?" How should the PN respond?.
Answer: Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living
community.
◍ The practical nurse (PN) is assigned the care of an older client who returns
to the unit after surgery for closed angle glaucoma. Which intervention in
the plan of care should the PN bring to the attention of the charge nurse?.
Answer: Administer morphine 4 mg IM q2 hour PRN pain.
◍ The wear-and-tear theory.
Answer: presumes that the body is similar to a machine.
◍ Which is the most accurate way to verify identification?.
Answer: Compare the medication record with the identification bracelet
◍ During the quarterly evaluations of the clients in the assisted living
community, the practical nurse observes for findings of failure to thrive in
the gerian population. Which findings should the PN document and report as
manifestations related to failure to thrive?.
Answer: • Unintentional weight loss• Increased weakness• Increased
amounts of sleep
◍ An older male client is seeking counseling about his recent sexual issues
with his partner. What issue should the practical nurse explore in this
discussion?.
, Answer: Certain medications may impact sexual function.
◍ The fastest growing age population in the United States is.
Answer: 85 years and older.
◍ Glaucoma is a disease characterized by.
Answer: increased fluid pressure within the eye.
◍ The healthcare provider prescribes a new medication, astrovastin (Lipitor),
for an older client who arrives at the clinic for an annual physical
examination. What common side effect should the practical nurse advise the
client to observe for this medication?.
Answer: Headaches
◍ A volunteer stays with an older adult while the caregiver goes to church and
then goes out to lunch with friends. This volunteer is providing.
Answer: respite care
◍ An older client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has an arteriovenous
fistula (AV) in the left forearm for hemodialysis. After palpating the AV
fistula, which finding is an indication that the AV fistula is functioning
properly?.
Answer: Enlarged veins
◍ The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female
client with end stage Alzheimer disease who recently fractured her hip.
What technique should the practical nurse (PN) use to determine the client's
pain?.
Answer: Observe for facial grimacing
◍ An older client who is unconscious is admitted after experiencing a head
injury from a fall. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is prescribed to evaluate the
client. Which focosed assessments should the practical nurse use to
determine the client's GCS score? (Select all that apply.).
Answer: Verbal response.Motor response.Eye opening.
◍ What are the fat-soluble vitamins?.
, Answer: A, D, E, and K
◍ The home health practical nurse is observing an older client for a pressure
ulcer. Which findings should the PN observe the area for a stage one
pressure ulcer?.
Answer: eep pink, red, or mottled skin.
◍ When assessing an older adult's risk of ineffective health maintenance, it is
important to discuss his or her.
Answer: finances
◍ What allows free movement of the joint surfaces?.
Answer: Cartilage
◍ An older male client re turns to the hospital after discharge 4 days ago for a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The practical nurse (PN)
evaluates the function of the 3-way indwelling urinary catheter and the
continuous bladder irrigation system. Which finding should the PN report to
the charge nurse?.
Answer: The tubing that drains the urinary bladder has bright red urine with
clots.
◍ An older female client is recently transferred to a rehab rehabilitation
facility after a total hip replacement and asks the practical nurse if she broke
her hip because she is old. How should the PN best respond?.
Answer: Older women commonly lose bone calcium which increases the
risk of fracture.
◍ According to the immunologic theory of aging, an older person is more
susceptible to.
Answer: disease
◍ Estimates indicate that more than 35% of older adults take how many
prescription medications?.
Answer: five or more
◍ An older male client is admitted to the hospital with left-sided heart failure
EXAM PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The
family explain to the practical nurse (PN) that the client is unmanageable
and always confused, disoriented, and depressed. The client asks the PN
repeatedly, "Where am I?" How should the PN respond?.
Answer: Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living
community.
◍ The practical nurse (PN) is assigned the care of an older client who returns
to the unit after surgery for closed angle glaucoma. Which intervention in
the plan of care should the PN bring to the attention of the charge nurse?.
Answer: Administer morphine 4 mg IM q2 hour PRN pain.
◍ The wear-and-tear theory.
Answer: presumes that the body is similar to a machine.
◍ Which is the most accurate way to verify identification?.
Answer: Compare the medication record with the identification bracelet
◍ During the quarterly evaluations of the clients in the assisted living
community, the practical nurse observes for findings of failure to thrive in
the gerian population. Which findings should the PN document and report as
manifestations related to failure to thrive?.
Answer: • Unintentional weight loss• Increased weakness• Increased
amounts of sleep
◍ An older male client is seeking counseling about his recent sexual issues
with his partner. What issue should the practical nurse explore in this
discussion?.
, Answer: Certain medications may impact sexual function.
◍ The fastest growing age population in the United States is.
Answer: 85 years and older.
◍ Glaucoma is a disease characterized by.
Answer: increased fluid pressure within the eye.
◍ The healthcare provider prescribes a new medication, astrovastin (Lipitor),
for an older client who arrives at the clinic for an annual physical
examination. What common side effect should the practical nurse advise the
client to observe for this medication?.
Answer: Headaches
◍ A volunteer stays with an older adult while the caregiver goes to church and
then goes out to lunch with friends. This volunteer is providing.
Answer: respite care
◍ An older client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has an arteriovenous
fistula (AV) in the left forearm for hemodialysis. After palpating the AV
fistula, which finding is an indication that the AV fistula is functioning
properly?.
Answer: Enlarged veins
◍ The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female
client with end stage Alzheimer disease who recently fractured her hip.
What technique should the practical nurse (PN) use to determine the client's
pain?.
Answer: Observe for facial grimacing
◍ An older client who is unconscious is admitted after experiencing a head
injury from a fall. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is prescribed to evaluate the
client. Which focosed assessments should the practical nurse use to
determine the client's GCS score? (Select all that apply.).
Answer: Verbal response.Motor response.Eye opening.
◍ What are the fat-soluble vitamins?.
, Answer: A, D, E, and K
◍ The home health practical nurse is observing an older client for a pressure
ulcer. Which findings should the PN observe the area for a stage one
pressure ulcer?.
Answer: eep pink, red, or mottled skin.
◍ When assessing an older adult's risk of ineffective health maintenance, it is
important to discuss his or her.
Answer: finances
◍ What allows free movement of the joint surfaces?.
Answer: Cartilage
◍ An older male client re turns to the hospital after discharge 4 days ago for a
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The practical nurse (PN)
evaluates the function of the 3-way indwelling urinary catheter and the
continuous bladder irrigation system. Which finding should the PN report to
the charge nurse?.
Answer: The tubing that drains the urinary bladder has bright red urine with
clots.
◍ An older female client is recently transferred to a rehab rehabilitation
facility after a total hip replacement and asks the practical nurse if she broke
her hip because she is old. How should the PN best respond?.
Answer: Older women commonly lose bone calcium which increases the
risk of fracture.
◍ According to the immunologic theory of aging, an older person is more
susceptible to.
Answer: disease
◍ Estimates indicate that more than 35% of older adults take how many
prescription medications?.
Answer: five or more
◍ An older male client is admitted to the hospital with left-sided heart failure
