COMPREHENSIVE GERO HESI FINAL TEST
2026 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ 48. When the mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold of an
82-year-old man are evaluated, which is important for the nurse to
remember?A) These measurements are no longer necessary for the
elderly.B) Derived weight measures may be difficult to interpret because of
wide ranges of normal.C) These measurements may not be accurate because
of changes in skin and fat distribution.D) Measurements may be difficult to
obtain if the patient is unable to flex his elbow to at least 90 degrees..
Answer: C) These measurements may not be accurate because of changes in
skin and fat distribution.Page: 191 Accurate mid-upper arm circumference
and triceps skinfold measurements are difficult to obtain and interpret in
older adults because of sagging skin, changes in fat distribution, and
declining muscle mass. Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio are better
indicators of obesity in the elderly.
◍ 37. When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull
sound. The nurse should:A) consider this a normal finding.B) palpate this
area for an underlying mass.C) reposition the hands and attempt to percuss
in this area again.D) consider this an abnormal finding and refer the patient
for additional treatment..
Answer: A) consider this a normal finding.Pages: 116-117. Percussion over
relatively dense organs, such as the liver or spleen, will produce a dull
sound. The other responses are not correct.
◍ 70. An ophthalmic examination reveals papilledema. The nurse is aware that
this finding indicates:A) retinal detachment.B) diabetic retinopathy.C)
acute-angle glaucoma.D) increased intracranial pressure..
, Answer: D) increased intracranial pressure.Pages: 319-320. Papilledema, or
choked disk, is a serious sign of increased intracranial pressure, which is
caused by a space-occupying mass such as a brain tumor or hematoma. This
pressure causes venous stasis in the globe, showing redness, congestion, and
elevation of the optic disc, blurred margins, hemorrhages, and absent venous
pulsations. Papilledema is not associated with the conditions in the other
responses.
◍ 121. While the nurse is taking the history of a 68-year-old patient who
sustained a head injury 3 days earlier, he tells the nurse that he is on a cruise
ship and is 30 years old. The nurse knows that this finding is indicative
of:A) a great sense of humor.B) uncooperative behavior.C) inability to
understand questions.D) decreased level of consciousness..
Answer: D) decreased level of consciousness.Pages: 660-661. A change in
consciousness may be subtle. The nurse should notice any decreasing level
of consciousness, disorientation, memory loss, uncooperative behavior, or
even complacency in a previously combative person. The other responses
are incorrect.
◍ 71. During an examination, a patient states that she was diagnosed with
open-angle glaucoma 2 years ago. The nurse assesses for characteristics of
open-angle glaucoma. Which of these are characteristics of open-angle
glaucoma? Select all that apply.A) The patient may experience sensitivity to
light, nausea, and halos around lights.B) The patient experiences tunnel
vision in late stages.C) Immediate treatment is needed.D) Vision loss begins
with peripheral vision.E) It causes sudden attacks of increased pressure that
cause blurred vision.F) There are virtually no symptoms..
Answer: B) The patient experiences tunnel vision in late stages.D) Vision
loss begins with peripheral vision.F) There are virtually no symptoms.Pages:
308-309. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma; there
are virtually no symptoms. Vision loss begins with the peripheral vision,
which often goes unnoticed because individuals learn to compensate
intuitively by turning their heads. The other characteristics are those of
closed-angle glaucoma.
,◍ 35. The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen by palpation. How
should the nurse proceed?A) Avoid palpation of reported "tender" areas
because this may cause the patient pain.B) Quickly palpate a tender area to
avoid any discomfort that the patient may experience.C) Begin the
assessment with deep palpation, encouraging the patient to relax and take
deep breaths.D) Start with light palpation to detect surface characteristics
and to accustom the patient to being touched..
Answer: D) Start with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to
accustom the patient to being touched.Pages: 115-116. Light palpation is
performed initially to detect any surface characteristics and to accustom the
person to being touched. Tender areas should be palpated last, not first.
◍ 97. When performing a peripheral vascular assessment on a patient, the
nurse is unable to palpate the ulnar pulses. The patient's skin is warm and
capillary refill time is normal. The nurse should next:A) check for the
presence of claudication.B) refer the individual for further evaluation.C)
consider this a normal finding and proceed with the peripheral vascular
evaluation.D) ask the patient if he or she has experienced any unusual
cramping or tingling in the arm..
Answer: C) consider this a normal finding and proceed with the peripheral
vascular evaluation.Pages: 506-507. It is not usually necessary to palpate the
ulnar pulses. The ulnar pulses are often not palpable in the normal person.
The other responses are not correct.
◍ 81. When auscultating the lungs of an adult patient, the nurse notes that over
the posterior lower lobes low-pitched, soft breath sounds are heard, with
inspiration being longer than expiration. The nurse interprets that these
are:A) sounds normally auscultated over the trachea.B) bronchial breath
sounds and are normal in that location.C) vesicular breath sounds and are
normal in that location.D) bronchovesicular breath sounds and are normal in
that location..
Answer: C) vesicular breath sounds and are normal in that location.Pages:
428-429. Vesicular breath sounds are low-pitched, soft sounds with
, inspiration being longer than expiration. These breath sounds are expected
over peripheral lung fields where air flows through smaller bronchioles and
alveoli.
◍ 92. During an assessment of a healthy adult, where would the nurse expect
to palpate the apical impulse?A) Third left intercostal space at the
midclavicular lineB) Fourth left intercostal space at the sternal borderC)
Fourth left intercostal space at the anterior axillary lineD) Fifth left
intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
Answer: D) Fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular linePages:
473-474. The apical impulse should occupy only one intercostal space, the
fourth or fifth, and it should be at or medial to the midclavicular line.
◍ 94. The nurse is assessing a patient's apical impulse. Which of these
statements is true regarding the apical impulse?A) It is palpable in all
adults.B) It occurs with the onset of diastole.C) Its location may be
indicative of heart size.D) It should normally be palpable in the anterior
axillary line..
Answer: C) Its location may be indicative of heart size.Page: 473 | Page:
492. The apical impulse is palpable in about 50% of adults. It is located in
the fifth left intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Horizontal or
downward displacement of the apical impulse may indicate an enlargement
of the left ventricle.
◍ 74. During an examination, the patient states he is hearing a buzzing sound
and says that it is "driving me crazy!" The nurse recognizes that this
symptom indicates:A) vertigo.B) pruritus.C) tinnitus.D) cholesteatoma..
Answer: C) tinnitus.Pages: 328-329. Tinnitus is a sound that comes from
within a person; it can be a ringing, crackling, or buzzing sound. It
accompanies some hearing or ear disorders.
◍ 69. A 68-year-old woman is in the eye clinic for a checkup. She tells the
nurse that she has been having trouble with reading the paper, sewing, and
even seeing the faces of her grandchildren. On examination, the nurse notes
that she has some loss of central vision but her peripheral vision is normal.
2026 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ 48. When the mid-upper arm circumference and triceps skinfold of an
82-year-old man are evaluated, which is important for the nurse to
remember?A) These measurements are no longer necessary for the
elderly.B) Derived weight measures may be difficult to interpret because of
wide ranges of normal.C) These measurements may not be accurate because
of changes in skin and fat distribution.D) Measurements may be difficult to
obtain if the patient is unable to flex his elbow to at least 90 degrees..
Answer: C) These measurements may not be accurate because of changes in
skin and fat distribution.Page: 191 Accurate mid-upper arm circumference
and triceps skinfold measurements are difficult to obtain and interpret in
older adults because of sagging skin, changes in fat distribution, and
declining muscle mass. Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio are better
indicators of obesity in the elderly.
◍ 37. When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull
sound. The nurse should:A) consider this a normal finding.B) palpate this
area for an underlying mass.C) reposition the hands and attempt to percuss
in this area again.D) consider this an abnormal finding and refer the patient
for additional treatment..
Answer: A) consider this a normal finding.Pages: 116-117. Percussion over
relatively dense organs, such as the liver or spleen, will produce a dull
sound. The other responses are not correct.
◍ 70. An ophthalmic examination reveals papilledema. The nurse is aware that
this finding indicates:A) retinal detachment.B) diabetic retinopathy.C)
acute-angle glaucoma.D) increased intracranial pressure..
, Answer: D) increased intracranial pressure.Pages: 319-320. Papilledema, or
choked disk, is a serious sign of increased intracranial pressure, which is
caused by a space-occupying mass such as a brain tumor or hematoma. This
pressure causes venous stasis in the globe, showing redness, congestion, and
elevation of the optic disc, blurred margins, hemorrhages, and absent venous
pulsations. Papilledema is not associated with the conditions in the other
responses.
◍ 121. While the nurse is taking the history of a 68-year-old patient who
sustained a head injury 3 days earlier, he tells the nurse that he is on a cruise
ship and is 30 years old. The nurse knows that this finding is indicative
of:A) a great sense of humor.B) uncooperative behavior.C) inability to
understand questions.D) decreased level of consciousness..
Answer: D) decreased level of consciousness.Pages: 660-661. A change in
consciousness may be subtle. The nurse should notice any decreasing level
of consciousness, disorientation, memory loss, uncooperative behavior, or
even complacency in a previously combative person. The other responses
are incorrect.
◍ 71. During an examination, a patient states that she was diagnosed with
open-angle glaucoma 2 years ago. The nurse assesses for characteristics of
open-angle glaucoma. Which of these are characteristics of open-angle
glaucoma? Select all that apply.A) The patient may experience sensitivity to
light, nausea, and halos around lights.B) The patient experiences tunnel
vision in late stages.C) Immediate treatment is needed.D) Vision loss begins
with peripheral vision.E) It causes sudden attacks of increased pressure that
cause blurred vision.F) There are virtually no symptoms..
Answer: B) The patient experiences tunnel vision in late stages.D) Vision
loss begins with peripheral vision.F) There are virtually no symptoms.Pages:
308-309. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma; there
are virtually no symptoms. Vision loss begins with the peripheral vision,
which often goes unnoticed because individuals learn to compensate
intuitively by turning their heads. The other characteristics are those of
closed-angle glaucoma.
,◍ 35. The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen by palpation. How
should the nurse proceed?A) Avoid palpation of reported "tender" areas
because this may cause the patient pain.B) Quickly palpate a tender area to
avoid any discomfort that the patient may experience.C) Begin the
assessment with deep palpation, encouraging the patient to relax and take
deep breaths.D) Start with light palpation to detect surface characteristics
and to accustom the patient to being touched..
Answer: D) Start with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to
accustom the patient to being touched.Pages: 115-116. Light palpation is
performed initially to detect any surface characteristics and to accustom the
person to being touched. Tender areas should be palpated last, not first.
◍ 97. When performing a peripheral vascular assessment on a patient, the
nurse is unable to palpate the ulnar pulses. The patient's skin is warm and
capillary refill time is normal. The nurse should next:A) check for the
presence of claudication.B) refer the individual for further evaluation.C)
consider this a normal finding and proceed with the peripheral vascular
evaluation.D) ask the patient if he or she has experienced any unusual
cramping or tingling in the arm..
Answer: C) consider this a normal finding and proceed with the peripheral
vascular evaluation.Pages: 506-507. It is not usually necessary to palpate the
ulnar pulses. The ulnar pulses are often not palpable in the normal person.
The other responses are not correct.
◍ 81. When auscultating the lungs of an adult patient, the nurse notes that over
the posterior lower lobes low-pitched, soft breath sounds are heard, with
inspiration being longer than expiration. The nurse interprets that these
are:A) sounds normally auscultated over the trachea.B) bronchial breath
sounds and are normal in that location.C) vesicular breath sounds and are
normal in that location.D) bronchovesicular breath sounds and are normal in
that location..
Answer: C) vesicular breath sounds and are normal in that location.Pages:
428-429. Vesicular breath sounds are low-pitched, soft sounds with
, inspiration being longer than expiration. These breath sounds are expected
over peripheral lung fields where air flows through smaller bronchioles and
alveoli.
◍ 92. During an assessment of a healthy adult, where would the nurse expect
to palpate the apical impulse?A) Third left intercostal space at the
midclavicular lineB) Fourth left intercostal space at the sternal borderC)
Fourth left intercostal space at the anterior axillary lineD) Fifth left
intercostal space at the midclavicular line.
Answer: D) Fifth left intercostal space at the midclavicular linePages:
473-474. The apical impulse should occupy only one intercostal space, the
fourth or fifth, and it should be at or medial to the midclavicular line.
◍ 94. The nurse is assessing a patient's apical impulse. Which of these
statements is true regarding the apical impulse?A) It is palpable in all
adults.B) It occurs with the onset of diastole.C) Its location may be
indicative of heart size.D) It should normally be palpable in the anterior
axillary line..
Answer: C) Its location may be indicative of heart size.Page: 473 | Page:
492. The apical impulse is palpable in about 50% of adults. It is located in
the fifth left intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Horizontal or
downward displacement of the apical impulse may indicate an enlargement
of the left ventricle.
◍ 74. During an examination, the patient states he is hearing a buzzing sound
and says that it is "driving me crazy!" The nurse recognizes that this
symptom indicates:A) vertigo.B) pruritus.C) tinnitus.D) cholesteatoma..
Answer: C) tinnitus.Pages: 328-329. Tinnitus is a sound that comes from
within a person; it can be a ringing, crackling, or buzzing sound. It
accompanies some hearing or ear disorders.
◍ 69. A 68-year-old woman is in the eye clinic for a checkup. She tells the
nurse that she has been having trouble with reading the paper, sewing, and
even seeing the faces of her grandchildren. On examination, the nurse notes
that she has some loss of central vision but her peripheral vision is normal.
