HESI PN Gerontology Practice Exam ||Verified
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1. How does cardiac output change for older adults?
A) Cardiac output increases due to compensatory mechanisms
B) Cardiac output decreases due to decreased efficacy and strength of cardiac muscles
C) Cardiac output remains unchanged with aging
D) Cardiac output fluctuates unpredictably
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac output decreases with age due to decreased myocardial contractility,
reduced stroke volume, and increased vascular resistance. The heart becomes less efficient at
pumping blood, which can lead to decreased exercise tolerance and increased risk of heart
failure.
2. Which age-related changes in the cardiovascular system should the practical nurse (PN)
document when evaluating an older client? (Select all that apply.)
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Cardiac murmurs
C) Widening pulse pressure
D) Increased stroke volume
Answer: B, C
Rationale: Cardiac murmurs are more common in older adults due to valvular changes such as
sclerosis and calcification. Widening pulse pressure is a common age-related change due to
decreased arterial compliance and increased stiffness of the aorta and large arteries.
3. Which pulmonary function change should the practical nurse expect to commonly occur
with aging?
, A) Decreased residual volume
B) Reduced vital capacity
C) Increased chest wall compliance
D) Enhanced gas exchange
Answer: B
Rationale: With aging, the lungs lose elasticity, and the chest wall becomes stiffer, leading to
decreased lung compliance and reduced vital capacity. This can result in decreased oxygenation
and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
4. What is the medical term for age/liver spots?
• A) Melanoma
• B) Senile lentigines
• C) Actinic keratosis
• D) Seborrheic keratosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Senile lentigines (also called liver spots or age spots) are flat, brown, pigmented
areas that develop on sun-exposed skin as a result of cumulative sun damage and decreased
melanocyte function with aging.
5. Why are older adults more likely to have dry and/or itchy skin?
• A) Increased sweat gland activity
• B) Decreased oil production
• C) Increased sebaceous gland function
• D) Enhanced skin cell regeneration
Answer: B
Rationale: With aging, the sebaceous glands produce less oil (sebum), leading to drier skin. This
can cause xerosis (dry skin) and pruritus (itching).
6. What is a normal age-related change in the renal system?
• A) Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
• B) Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
, • C) Increased kidney size
• D) Enhanced concentrating ability
Answer: B
Rationale: GFR decreases with age due to loss of nephrons and reduced renal blood flow. This
affects drug clearance and fluid/electrolyte balance, increasing the risk of medication toxicity
and dehydration.
7. What is the term for the difficulty focusing on close-up objects?
• A) Presbyopia
• B) Presbycusis
• C) Myopia
• D) Hyperopia
Answer: A
Rationale: Presbyopia is the age-related loss of near vision caused by the hardening of the lens
and weakening of the ciliary muscles. It typically becomes noticeable around age 40 and
progressively worsens with age.
8. Describe presbycusis.
• A) Difficulty focusing on close objects
• B) Bilateral hearing loss attributed to age
• C) Loss of taste sensation
• D) Decreased tactile sensitivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss that affects both ears. It
typically involves high-frequency hearing loss, making it difficult to hear consonant sounds and
understand speech in noisy environments.
9. It is common for aging males to experience which benign condition?
• A) Testicular atrophy
• B) Prostatic enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - BPH)
• C) Prostate cancer
• D) Urethral stricture
, Answer: B
Rationale: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common age-related condition in men
characterized by non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. It can cause urinary
symptoms such as frequency, urgency, hesitancy, and weak stream.
Domain 2: Chronic Disease Management & Pharmacology
10. An older adult client is recovering from a myocardial infarction. The cardiologist prescribes
docusate sodium with a dosage of one tablet by mouth twice a day. What therapeutic effect
does this medication provide for this client?
• A) Maintaining soft stools to prevent straining on defecation
• B) Increasing cardiac blood flow by dilating the coronaries
• C) Replacing serum potassium lost with diuretic therapy
• D) Preventing the occurrence of stress ulcers in the duodenum
Answer: A
Rationale: Docusate sodium is a stool softener that promotes defecation without straining or
invoking the Valsalva maneuver, which is important for cardiac clients.
11. 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
Rationale: 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.
12. The healthcare provider prescribes a new medication, atorvastatin (Lipitor), for an older
client who arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination. What common side effect
should the practical nurse (PN) advise the client to observe for with this medication?
Exam!!|| Most Recent Exam Actual Complete Real
Exam Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Already Graded A+ | Guaranteed
Success!! | Newest Exam!!!
1. How does cardiac output change for older adults?
A) Cardiac output increases due to compensatory mechanisms
B) Cardiac output decreases due to decreased efficacy and strength of cardiac muscles
C) Cardiac output remains unchanged with aging
D) Cardiac output fluctuates unpredictably
Answer: B
Rationale: Cardiac output decreases with age due to decreased myocardial contractility,
reduced stroke volume, and increased vascular resistance. The heart becomes less efficient at
pumping blood, which can lead to decreased exercise tolerance and increased risk of heart
failure.
2. Which age-related changes in the cardiovascular system should the practical nurse (PN)
document when evaluating an older client? (Select all that apply.)
A) Decreased heart rate
B) Cardiac murmurs
C) Widening pulse pressure
D) Increased stroke volume
Answer: B, C
Rationale: Cardiac murmurs are more common in older adults due to valvular changes such as
sclerosis and calcification. Widening pulse pressure is a common age-related change due to
decreased arterial compliance and increased stiffness of the aorta and large arteries.
3. Which pulmonary function change should the practical nurse expect to commonly occur
with aging?
, A) Decreased residual volume
B) Reduced vital capacity
C) Increased chest wall compliance
D) Enhanced gas exchange
Answer: B
Rationale: With aging, the lungs lose elasticity, and the chest wall becomes stiffer, leading to
decreased lung compliance and reduced vital capacity. This can result in decreased oxygenation
and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.
4. What is the medical term for age/liver spots?
• A) Melanoma
• B) Senile lentigines
• C) Actinic keratosis
• D) Seborrheic keratosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Senile lentigines (also called liver spots or age spots) are flat, brown, pigmented
areas that develop on sun-exposed skin as a result of cumulative sun damage and decreased
melanocyte function with aging.
5. Why are older adults more likely to have dry and/or itchy skin?
• A) Increased sweat gland activity
• B) Decreased oil production
• C) Increased sebaceous gland function
• D) Enhanced skin cell regeneration
Answer: B
Rationale: With aging, the sebaceous glands produce less oil (sebum), leading to drier skin. This
can cause xerosis (dry skin) and pruritus (itching).
6. What is a normal age-related change in the renal system?
• A) Increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
• B) Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
, • C) Increased kidney size
• D) Enhanced concentrating ability
Answer: B
Rationale: GFR decreases with age due to loss of nephrons and reduced renal blood flow. This
affects drug clearance and fluid/electrolyte balance, increasing the risk of medication toxicity
and dehydration.
7. What is the term for the difficulty focusing on close-up objects?
• A) Presbyopia
• B) Presbycusis
• C) Myopia
• D) Hyperopia
Answer: A
Rationale: Presbyopia is the age-related loss of near vision caused by the hardening of the lens
and weakening of the ciliary muscles. It typically becomes noticeable around age 40 and
progressively worsens with age.
8. Describe presbycusis.
• A) Difficulty focusing on close objects
• B) Bilateral hearing loss attributed to age
• C) Loss of taste sensation
• D) Decreased tactile sensitivity
Answer: B
Rationale: Presbycusis is age-related sensorineural hearing loss that affects both ears. It
typically involves high-frequency hearing loss, making it difficult to hear consonant sounds and
understand speech in noisy environments.
9. It is common for aging males to experience which benign condition?
• A) Testicular atrophy
• B) Prostatic enlargement (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - BPH)
• C) Prostate cancer
• D) Urethral stricture
, Answer: B
Rationale: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common age-related condition in men
characterized by non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. It can cause urinary
symptoms such as frequency, urgency, hesitancy, and weak stream.
Domain 2: Chronic Disease Management & Pharmacology
10. An older adult client is recovering from a myocardial infarction. The cardiologist prescribes
docusate sodium with a dosage of one tablet by mouth twice a day. What therapeutic effect
does this medication provide for this client?
• A) Maintaining soft stools to prevent straining on defecation
• B) Increasing cardiac blood flow by dilating the coronaries
• C) Replacing serum potassium lost with diuretic therapy
• D) Preventing the occurrence of stress ulcers in the duodenum
Answer: A
Rationale: Docusate sodium is a stool softener that promotes defecation without straining or
invoking the Valsalva maneuver, which is important for cardiac clients.
11. 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
Rationale: 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.
12. The healthcare provider prescribes a new medication, atorvastatin (Lipitor), for an older
client who arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination. What common side effect
should the practical nurse (PN) advise the client to observe for with this medication?
