Gerontology HESI Practice Questions and Answers Rated A
A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a
diagnosis of pneumonia. Which finding is most After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that
important for the registered nurse (RN) to report was ineffective, a frail, elderly client with chronic
to the healthcare provider? obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long
A. Fever and chills history of smoking and still smokes a pack of
B. Confusion and dehydration cigarettes a day. Which finding should the
C. Crackles in the lung fields registered nurse (RN) report to the healthcare
D. Nausea and vomiting - - B. Confusion provider?
and dehydration A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
findings of inadequate oxygenation and perfusion D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory
in this frail elderly client. (A), (C) and (D) are all acidosis - - B. Crackles and pulse oximetry
common with pneumonia, but the most important level of 88%
finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration,
which require treatment for this frail elderly client. Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs
and low O2 saturation (B) can impact adequate
oxygenation, which should be reported to the
A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse HCP. (A) occurs due to chronic hyperinflation of
(RN) if they have to watch their salt intake the lungs and is common in clients with COPD.
because food does not taste as good as it used Anemia (C) is frequently identified in clients with
to so they have to season most foods. What COPD, and respiratory acidosis (D) due to CO2
information should the RN offer the couple? retention contributes to a lower blood pH.
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food
is perceived, and different seasonings can An older female client recently moved to an
stimulate taste. assisted living facility. The family explains to the
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is registered nurse (RN) that the client is
needed to compensate for a decrease in renal unmanageable and always confused, disoriented
function. and depressed. The client asks the RN
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN
be the reason they want to over-season their respond?
food. A. Explain that she is in a new home called an
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so assisted living community
older clients should use other seasonings B. Question the client about her perception of
instead of salt. - - D. Taste buds are often where she might be now.
dull due to atrophy so older clients should use C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is
other seasonings instead of salt. on an outing with her family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, will meet new friends. - - A. Explain that
which influences an older client's sensitivity to she is in a new home called an assisted living
taste and is often compensated for the use of community.
stronger tasting seasonings. (A), (B), and (C) are
not normal aging processes related to taste. Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best
response for a client who is confused because
, Gerontology HESI Practice Questions and Answers Rated A
the response is consistent and true. (B, C, and
D) do not provide the client with feedback that is An older male client arrives at the clinic for an
reality based. annual physical examination. While the nurse
assesses the client, the client states that he is
having intimacy problems with his wife. Which
A new resident in an assisted living facility is an information should the nurse provide to elicit
older client who is experiencing short-term more information from the client?
memory loss and confusion. Which activity A. Query client to clarify the client's idea of an
should the registered nurse (RN) schedule the intimacy problem.
client to do during the day? B. Discuss benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
A. Arts and crafts and ejaculation.
B. Current events discussion group C. Explore the frequency that he experiences
C. Group sing-along erectile dysfunction (ED)
D. Daily exercise group - - D. Daily D. Determine if the client's wife is young enough
exercise group to get pregnant - - A. Query client to clarify
the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the
client to mirror the leader and minimizes the Rationale: Clarification of the client's concern is
client's stress to remember. (A), (C), and a needed to appropriately address the specific
current events discussion group (B) are thought- concern about intimacy issues (A). (B), (C), and
provoking activities that require attention to detail (D) are details that the client should present, not
and short-term memory to participate in the the RN.
group activity which may be stressful and
frustrating to the resident who has difficulty
remembering sequence of the details. The registered nurse (RN) is caring for an older
female client with a 20 year history of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), who is admitted for carpel tunnel
The hospice nurse is completing a focused release. Which finding associated with RA should
assessment of an older female client with end the RN document?
stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently A. Asymmetrical joint deformity
fractured her hip. What technique should the B. Small joint involvement in fingers
registered nurse (RN) use to determine the C. Crepitation or grating sensation in joints
client's pain? D. Weight bearing joint involvement - - B.
A. Use the FACE pain scale Small joint involvement in fingers.
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing Rationale: Small joint involvement (B) is common
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits in rheumatoid arthritis. (A), (C) and (D) are
- - C. Observe for facial grimacing findings that different OA from RA.
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is
the best method for evaluating pain for a client The registered nurse (RN) is re-enforcing
who cannot communicate due to Alzheimer discharge instructions with the family of an older
disease. (A) and (B) may not be understood by a client who was recently admitted for an intestinal
client with end-stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is obstruction. Which statement indicates that the
not a helpful tool for pain assessment. family understands the instructions?
A. Increase protein and carbohydrates in the
A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a
diagnosis of pneumonia. Which finding is most After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that
important for the registered nurse (RN) to report was ineffective, a frail, elderly client with chronic
to the healthcare provider? obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long
A. Fever and chills history of smoking and still smokes a pack of
B. Confusion and dehydration cigarettes a day. Which finding should the
C. Crackles in the lung fields registered nurse (RN) report to the healthcare
D. Nausea and vomiting - - B. Confusion provider?
and dehydration A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
findings of inadequate oxygenation and perfusion D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory
in this frail elderly client. (A), (C) and (D) are all acidosis - - B. Crackles and pulse oximetry
common with pneumonia, but the most important level of 88%
finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration,
which require treatment for this frail elderly client. Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs
and low O2 saturation (B) can impact adequate
oxygenation, which should be reported to the
A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse HCP. (A) occurs due to chronic hyperinflation of
(RN) if they have to watch their salt intake the lungs and is common in clients with COPD.
because food does not taste as good as it used Anemia (C) is frequently identified in clients with
to so they have to season most foods. What COPD, and respiratory acidosis (D) due to CO2
information should the RN offer the couple? retention contributes to a lower blood pH.
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food
is perceived, and different seasonings can An older female client recently moved to an
stimulate taste. assisted living facility. The family explains to the
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is registered nurse (RN) that the client is
needed to compensate for a decrease in renal unmanageable and always confused, disoriented
function. and depressed. The client asks the RN
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN
be the reason they want to over-season their respond?
food. A. Explain that she is in a new home called an
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so assisted living community
older clients should use other seasonings B. Question the client about her perception of
instead of salt. - - D. Taste buds are often where she might be now.
dull due to atrophy so older clients should use C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is
other seasonings instead of salt. on an outing with her family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, will meet new friends. - - A. Explain that
which influences an older client's sensitivity to she is in a new home called an assisted living
taste and is often compensated for the use of community.
stronger tasting seasonings. (A), (B), and (C) are
not normal aging processes related to taste. Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best
response for a client who is confused because
, Gerontology HESI Practice Questions and Answers Rated A
the response is consistent and true. (B, C, and
D) do not provide the client with feedback that is An older male client arrives at the clinic for an
reality based. annual physical examination. While the nurse
assesses the client, the client states that he is
having intimacy problems with his wife. Which
A new resident in an assisted living facility is an information should the nurse provide to elicit
older client who is experiencing short-term more information from the client?
memory loss and confusion. Which activity A. Query client to clarify the client's idea of an
should the registered nurse (RN) schedule the intimacy problem.
client to do during the day? B. Discuss benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
A. Arts and crafts and ejaculation.
B. Current events discussion group C. Explore the frequency that he experiences
C. Group sing-along erectile dysfunction (ED)
D. Daily exercise group - - D. Daily D. Determine if the client's wife is young enough
exercise group to get pregnant - - A. Query client to clarify
the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the
client to mirror the leader and minimizes the Rationale: Clarification of the client's concern is
client's stress to remember. (A), (C), and a needed to appropriately address the specific
current events discussion group (B) are thought- concern about intimacy issues (A). (B), (C), and
provoking activities that require attention to detail (D) are details that the client should present, not
and short-term memory to participate in the the RN.
group activity which may be stressful and
frustrating to the resident who has difficulty
remembering sequence of the details. The registered nurse (RN) is caring for an older
female client with a 20 year history of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), who is admitted for carpel tunnel
The hospice nurse is completing a focused release. Which finding associated with RA should
assessment of an older female client with end the RN document?
stage Alzheimer's disease, who recently A. Asymmetrical joint deformity
fractured her hip. What technique should the B. Small joint involvement in fingers
registered nurse (RN) use to determine the C. Crepitation or grating sensation in joints
client's pain? D. Weight bearing joint involvement - - B.
A. Use the FACE pain scale Small joint involvement in fingers.
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing Rationale: Small joint involvement (B) is common
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits in rheumatoid arthritis. (A), (C) and (D) are
- - C. Observe for facial grimacing findings that different OA from RA.
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is
the best method for evaluating pain for a client The registered nurse (RN) is re-enforcing
who cannot communicate due to Alzheimer discharge instructions with the family of an older
disease. (A) and (B) may not be understood by a client who was recently admitted for an intestinal
client with end-stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is obstruction. Which statement indicates that the
not a helpful tool for pain assessment. family understands the instructions?
A. Increase protein and carbohydrates in the
