GERONTOLOGIC - HESI : PN NEW
VERSION|ACCURATE ANSWERS|VERIFIED
ANSWERS|GUARANTEED PASS| LATEST
UPDATE
An older adult client tells the nurse “I do not understand how I could have a
sexually transmitted disease! My partner seems like such a nice, clean person.”
Which explanation should the nurse provide?
a. Most people in your age are not interested in sexual relationships.
b. You should have discussed this with your family before you started dating.
c. Maybe you should go back to just holding hands and hugging on dates.
d. Sexually transmitted diseases are possible to have at any age of your life.
d. Sexually transmitted diseases are possible to have at any age of your life.
Rationale:
Sexually transmitted diseases are possible at any age. It is inappropriate, untrue, and
ageist to comment that older adults are not interested in sexual relations. It is very
judgmental for the nurse to suggest the older adult should have sought their family’s
input or that the older adult should stop having sexual relations.
An older adult client is seen in the clinic for problems with urinary frequency,
urgency, and nocturia. The symptoms are an example of which condition?
a. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
b. Normal aging changes
c. Side effect of the diuretic furosemide
d. Partial obstruction of the urethra
b. Normal aging changes
Rationale:
Normal aging changes in the bladder are decreased capacity, increased irritability, and
incomplete emptying; these changes lead to frequency, nocturia, urgency, and
vulnerability to infection. The majority of UTIs in the older adult are asymptomatic.
Classic signs of UTIs are fever, dysuria, and flank pain.
A client has had cataract surgery. What is the most important postsurgery
instruction that the practical nurse (PN) should implement?
a. Increase dietary intake of vitamin E.
b. Avoid bending at the waist.
c. Instruct the client to look for halos around objects.
d. Advise the client that there will be significant changes in vision.
b. Avoid bending at the waist.
Rationale:
The client needs to avoid heavy lifting, straining, and bending to prevent intraocular
pressure in the eye.
The practical nurse (PN) emphasizes ways to prevent constipation to the older
adult client. Which instruction should the PN reinforce in the client’s discharge
teaching plan?
a. Avoid caffeinated beverages.
,b. Take a stool softener once a week.
c. Drink several glasses of water throughout the day.
d. Make sure to chew food completely before swallowing.
c. Drink several glasses of water throughout the day.
Rationale:
Adequate hydration is an important measure for preventing constipation.
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.
b. Remove adhesive tape quickly from the skin.
c. Avoid creams or lotions to ensure that the skin stays dry.
d. Scrub the perineum with a wet cloth after a bowel movement.
a. Keep the client well hydrated.
Rationale:
Keeping the client well hydrated helps prevent skin cracking and infection.
An 83-year-old client diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus has been admitted
to home health care for an ulcer on the heel of the left foot. Which changes in the
foot should the practical nurse (PN) expect to find? (Select all that apply.)
a. Pedal pulses will be weak or absent in the left foot.
b. The client states that the left foot is usually warm.
c. Flexion and extension of the left foot will be limited.
d. Capillary refill of the client’s left toes is longer than 2 seconds.
e. The client denies any pain in the left foot.
a. Pedal pulses will be weak or absent in the left foot.
e. The client denies any pain in the left foot.
Rationale:
Symptoms associated with decreased blood supply are weak or absent pedal and tibial
pulses. The client denying any pain is a common complication with type 2 diabetes in
the elderly.
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.
c. Assess the client for urinary hesitancy and weak or split urinary stream.
Rationale:
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.
A client who resides in a long-term care facility has a seizure disorder that has
been managed with phenobarbital for several years. Lately, the client has become
more difficult to arouse. What intervention should the PN implement?
, a. Carefully monitor the client’s intake and output.
b. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
c. Continue to monitor the client closely for the next 24 hours.
d. Determine the amount of medication the client has taken.
b. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
Rationale:
The client is exhibiting signs of antiepileptic drug toxicity (AED), and a serum
phenobarbital level needs to be obtained to determine if the client is experiencing drug
toxicity.
The nurse is assisting with data collection for an older adult who is taking daily
aspirin to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event. Which concern should the
nurse report to the health care provider as soon as possible?
a. “I feel really cold much of the time.”
b. “I wish my children would visit more.”
c. “Lately it’s harder to drive a car at night.”
d. “My stools are sticky and are dark black.”
d. “My stools are sticky and are dark black.”
Rationale:
Dark tarry stools are an indication of gastrointestinal bleeding, an adverse effect of the
daily aspirin this client is taking. There is no immediate need to contact the health care
provider about the client feeling cold or wishing children would visit more. This client’s
inability to drive at night is a concern, and should be discussed, but gastrointestinal
bleeding needs to be dealt with first.
An older adult client has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will begin
receiving hospice services. The nurse expects to see which aspects included in
the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
a. Encouraging the client and family to remain hopeful that a cure will be found
b. Encouraging the client to continue with chemotherapy and radiation to treat
cancer
c. Administering medications to relieve symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea
d. Encouraging the client to continue with spiritual practices that provide comfort
e. Waiting until the pain becomes severe to administer narcotics to prevent
dependence
c. Administering medications to relieve symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
d. Encouraging the client to continue with spiritual practices that provide comfort
Rationale:
The plan of care for a client who is terminally ill and receiving hospice services includes
symptom management for distressful symptoms that interfere with the quality of life. The
client is also encouraged to use spiritual practices that provide comfort. Hospice care
focuses on care, rather than cure and it is nontherapeutic to encourage the client and
family to hope for a cure or to continue futile therapy. Pain management is emphasized,
without concern of drug dependence.
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?
VERSION|ACCURATE ANSWERS|VERIFIED
ANSWERS|GUARANTEED PASS| LATEST
UPDATE
An older adult client tells the nurse “I do not understand how I could have a
sexually transmitted disease! My partner seems like such a nice, clean person.”
Which explanation should the nurse provide?
a. Most people in your age are not interested in sexual relationships.
b. You should have discussed this with your family before you started dating.
c. Maybe you should go back to just holding hands and hugging on dates.
d. Sexually transmitted diseases are possible to have at any age of your life.
d. Sexually transmitted diseases are possible to have at any age of your life.
Rationale:
Sexually transmitted diseases are possible at any age. It is inappropriate, untrue, and
ageist to comment that older adults are not interested in sexual relations. It is very
judgmental for the nurse to suggest the older adult should have sought their family’s
input or that the older adult should stop having sexual relations.
An older adult client is seen in the clinic for problems with urinary frequency,
urgency, and nocturia. The symptoms are an example of which condition?
a. Urinary tract infection (UTI)
b. Normal aging changes
c. Side effect of the diuretic furosemide
d. Partial obstruction of the urethra
b. Normal aging changes
Rationale:
Normal aging changes in the bladder are decreased capacity, increased irritability, and
incomplete emptying; these changes lead to frequency, nocturia, urgency, and
vulnerability to infection. The majority of UTIs in the older adult are asymptomatic.
Classic signs of UTIs are fever, dysuria, and flank pain.
A client has had cataract surgery. What is the most important postsurgery
instruction that the practical nurse (PN) should implement?
a. Increase dietary intake of vitamin E.
b. Avoid bending at the waist.
c. Instruct the client to look for halos around objects.
d. Advise the client that there will be significant changes in vision.
b. Avoid bending at the waist.
Rationale:
The client needs to avoid heavy lifting, straining, and bending to prevent intraocular
pressure in the eye.
The practical nurse (PN) emphasizes ways to prevent constipation to the older
adult client. Which instruction should the PN reinforce in the client’s discharge
teaching plan?
a. Avoid caffeinated beverages.
,b. Take a stool softener once a week.
c. Drink several glasses of water throughout the day.
d. Make sure to chew food completely before swallowing.
c. Drink several glasses of water throughout the day.
Rationale:
Adequate hydration is an important measure for preventing constipation.
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.
b. Remove adhesive tape quickly from the skin.
c. Avoid creams or lotions to ensure that the skin stays dry.
d. Scrub the perineum with a wet cloth after a bowel movement.
a. Keep the client well hydrated.
Rationale:
Keeping the client well hydrated helps prevent skin cracking and infection.
An 83-year-old client diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus has been admitted
to home health care for an ulcer on the heel of the left foot. Which changes in the
foot should the practical nurse (PN) expect to find? (Select all that apply.)
a. Pedal pulses will be weak or absent in the left foot.
b. The client states that the left foot is usually warm.
c. Flexion and extension of the left foot will be limited.
d. Capillary refill of the client’s left toes is longer than 2 seconds.
e. The client denies any pain in the left foot.
a. Pedal pulses will be weak or absent in the left foot.
e. The client denies any pain in the left foot.
Rationale:
Symptoms associated with decreased blood supply are weak or absent pedal and tibial
pulses. The client denying any pain is a common complication with type 2 diabetes in
the elderly.
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.
c. Assess the client for urinary hesitancy and weak or split urinary stream.
Rationale:
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.
A client who resides in a long-term care facility has a seizure disorder that has
been managed with phenobarbital for several years. Lately, the client has become
more difficult to arouse. What intervention should the PN implement?
, a. Carefully monitor the client’s intake and output.
b. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
c. Continue to monitor the client closely for the next 24 hours.
d. Determine the amount of medication the client has taken.
b. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
Rationale:
The client is exhibiting signs of antiepileptic drug toxicity (AED), and a serum
phenobarbital level needs to be obtained to determine if the client is experiencing drug
toxicity.
The nurse is assisting with data collection for an older adult who is taking daily
aspirin to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event. Which concern should the
nurse report to the health care provider as soon as possible?
a. “I feel really cold much of the time.”
b. “I wish my children would visit more.”
c. “Lately it’s harder to drive a car at night.”
d. “My stools are sticky and are dark black.”
d. “My stools are sticky and are dark black.”
Rationale:
Dark tarry stools are an indication of gastrointestinal bleeding, an adverse effect of the
daily aspirin this client is taking. There is no immediate need to contact the health care
provider about the client feeling cold or wishing children would visit more. This client’s
inability to drive at night is a concern, and should be discussed, but gastrointestinal
bleeding needs to be dealt with first.
An older adult client has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will begin
receiving hospice services. The nurse expects to see which aspects included in
the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
a. Encouraging the client and family to remain hopeful that a cure will be found
b. Encouraging the client to continue with chemotherapy and radiation to treat
cancer
c. Administering medications to relieve symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea
d. Encouraging the client to continue with spiritual practices that provide comfort
e. Waiting until the pain becomes severe to administer narcotics to prevent
dependence
c. Administering medications to relieve symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
d. Encouraging the client to continue with spiritual practices that provide comfort
Rationale:
The plan of care for a client who is terminally ill and receiving hospice services includes
symptom management for distressful symptoms that interfere with the quality of life. The
client is also encouraged to use spiritual practices that provide comfort. Hospice care
focuses on care, rather than cure and it is nontherapeutic to encourage the client and
family to hope for a cure or to continue futile therapy. Pain management is emphasized,
without concern of drug dependence.
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?
