GERONTOLOGY HESI RN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES/NEWEST
UPDATE 2026
A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which finding is
most important for the registered nurse (RN) to report to the healthcare provider?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and dehydration
C. Crackles in the lung fields
D. Nausea and vomiting - (Correct Answer)-B. Confusion and dehydration
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and
perfusion in this frail elderly client. (A), (C) and (D) are all common with pneumonia, but
the most important finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration, which require
treatment for this frail elderly client.
A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have to watch their salt intake
because food does not taste as good as it used to so they have to season most foods. What
information should the RN offer the couple?
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food is perceived, and different seasonings can
stimulate taste.
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is needed to compensate for a decrease in renal
function.
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may be the reason they want to over-season their food.
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other seasonings instead of
salt. - (Correct Answer)-D. Taste buds are often dull due to atrophy so older clients should
use other seasonings instead of salt.
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, which influences an older client's
sensitivity to taste and is often compensated for the use of stronger tasting seasonings. (A),
(B), and (C) are not normal aging processes related to taste.
, 2
After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a frail, elderly client with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long
history of
smoking and still smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Which finding should the registered nurse
(RN) report to the healthcare provider?
A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory acidosis - (Correct Answer)-B. Crackles and
pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2 saturation (B) can impact
adequate oxygenation, which should be reported to the HCP. (A) occurs due to chronic
hyperinflation of the lungs and is common in clients with COPD. Anemia (C) is frequently
identified in clients with COPD, and respiratory acidosis (D) due to CO2 retention
contributes to a lower blood pH.
An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The family explains to the
registered nurse (RN) that the client is unmanageable and always confused, disoriented and
depressed. The client asks the RN repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN respond?
A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community
B. Question the client about her perception of where she might be now.
C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is on an outing with her family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she will meet new friends. - (Correct Answer)-A.
Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community.
, 3
Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a client who is confused
because the response is consistent and true. (B, C, and D) do not provide the client with
feedback that is reality based.
A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who is experiencing short-term
memory loss and confusion. Which activity should the registered nurse (RN) schedule the client
to do during the day?
A. Arts and crafts
B. Current events discussion group
C. Group sing-along
D. Daily exercise group - (Correct Answer)-D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the client to mirror the leader and minimizes
the client's stress to remember. (A), (C), and a current events discussion group (B) are
thought-provoking activities that require attention to detail and short-term memory to
participate in the group activity which may be stressful and frustrating to the resident who
has difficulty remembering sequence of the details.
The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female client with end stage
Alzheimer's disease, who recently fractured her hip. What technique should the registered nurse
(RN) use to determine the client's pain?
A. Use the FACE pain scale
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits - (Correct Answer)-C. Observe for facial
grimacing
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is the best method for evaluating pain for a
client who cannot communicate due to Alzheimer disease. (A) and (B) may not be
UPDATE 2026
A frail, elderly client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Which finding is
most important for the registered nurse (RN) to report to the healthcare provider?
A. Fever and chills
B. Confusion and dehydration
C. Crackles in the lung fields
D. Nausea and vomiting - (Correct Answer)-B. Confusion and dehydration
Rationale: Confusion and dehydration (B) are findings of inadequate oxygenation and
perfusion in this frail elderly client. (A), (C) and (D) are all common with pneumonia, but
the most important finding is confusion and evidence of dehydration, which require
treatment for this frail elderly client.
A frail elderly couple asks the registered nurse (RN) if they have to watch their salt intake
because food does not taste as good as it used to so they have to season most foods. What
information should the RN offer the couple?
A. Boredom may influence how the taste of food is perceived, and different seasonings can
stimulate taste.
B. With age, an increase in sodium intake is needed to compensate for a decrease in renal
function.
C. Short-term memory loss and confusion may be the reason they want to over-season their food.
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients should use other seasonings instead of
salt. - (Correct Answer)-D. Taste buds are often dull due to atrophy so older clients should
use other seasonings instead of salt.
Rationale: Taste buds atrophy with normal aging, which influences an older client's
sensitivity to taste and is often compensated for the use of stronger tasting seasonings. (A),
(B), and (C) are not normal aging processes related to taste.
, 2
After taking a 10-day course of an antibiotic that was ineffective, a frail, elderly client with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted for pneumonia. The client has a long
history of
smoking and still smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Which finding should the registered nurse
(RN) report to the healthcare provider?
A. Barrel chest with increased chest diameter
B. Crackles and pulse oximetry level of 88%
C. Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels
D. Arterial blood gases indicating respiratory acidosis - (Correct Answer)-B. Crackles and
pulse oximetry level of 88%
Rationale: With pneumonia, crackles in the lungs and low O2 saturation (B) can impact
adequate oxygenation, which should be reported to the HCP. (A) occurs due to chronic
hyperinflation of the lungs and is common in clients with COPD. Anemia (C) is frequently
identified in clients with COPD, and respiratory acidosis (D) due to CO2 retention
contributes to a lower blood pH.
An older female client recently moved to an assisted living facility. The family explains to the
registered nurse (RN) that the client is unmanageable and always confused, disoriented and
depressed. The client asks the RN repeatedly, "Where am I?". How should the RN respond?
A. Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community
B. Question the client about her perception of where she might be now.
C. Distract the client with a scenario that she is on an outing with her family.
D. Reassure the client not to worry because she will meet new friends. - (Correct Answer)-A.
Explain that she is in a new home called an assisted living community.
, 3
Rationale: Reality re-orientation (A) is the best response for a client who is confused
because the response is consistent and true. (B, C, and D) do not provide the client with
feedback that is reality based.
A new resident in an assisted living facility is an older client who is experiencing short-term
memory loss and confusion. Which activity should the registered nurse (RN) schedule the client
to do during the day?
A. Arts and crafts
B. Current events discussion group
C. Group sing-along
D. Daily exercise group - (Correct Answer)-D. Daily exercise group
Rationale: A daily exercise group (D) allows the client to mirror the leader and minimizes
the client's stress to remember. (A), (C), and a current events discussion group (B) are
thought-provoking activities that require attention to detail and short-term memory to
participate in the group activity which may be stressful and frustrating to the resident who
has difficulty remembering sequence of the details.
The hospice nurse is completing a focused assessment of an older female client with end stage
Alzheimer's disease, who recently fractured her hip. What technique should the registered nurse
(RN) use to determine the client's pain?
A. Use the FACE pain scale
B. Ask the client to rate pain on a scale of 1 to 10
C. Observe for facial grimacing
D. Review documentation of recent eating habits - (Correct Answer)-C. Observe for facial
grimacing
Rationale: Observing for facial grimacing (C) is the best method for evaluating pain for a
client who cannot communicate due to Alzheimer disease. (A) and (B) may not be
