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GERONTOLOGY HESI PRACTICE EXAM
WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
An older client is transferred to a telemetry unit after placement of a pacemaker.
What action should the registered nurse (RN) take first?
A. View incision site
B. Obtain a blood pressure
C. Establish telemetry monitoring
D. Evaluate client for pain - correct-answer -C. Establish telemetry monitoring.
Rationale: The first action is to establish continuous telemetry monitoring (C) to
ensure the pacemaker is functioning properly. (A, B and D) should be
implemented after the client's heart rate and rhythm are successfully being
monitored.
Older clients are at highest risk for abuse and neglect due to which factors?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Needs are greater than the caretaker's abilities
B. Client's declining strength
C. Fixed income
D. Longer life expectancy
E. Lack of exposure to technology and trends - correct-answer -A. Needs regretter
than the caretaker's abilities
B. Client's declining strength
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Rationale: When needs are not being met due to lack of ability of the caretaker
(A), stress and feelings of failure may be expressed through neglect and abuse.
Decline in strength (B) increases the older client's vulnerability to resist or
respond to elder abuse. (C, D, E) do not increase the risk for neglect and abuse.
An older female client who has been taking hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Lortab)
q4 hours for chronic back pain for the past 5 years tells the registered nurse (RN)
that she cannot live without her pain pills. When asked if she is addicted, the
client states that she is not an addict because the healthcare provider prescribed
the pain pills. Which coping mechanism should the RN determine the client is
using about her addiction?
A. Lack of knowledge about narcotic medications
B. Rationalization to support narcotic use
C. Transfer of blame to healthcare provider
D. Justification of narcotic use due to chronic pain - correct-answer -B.
Rationalization to support narcotic use.
Rationale: The client is using rationalization to maintain self-esteem when she is
questioned by stating that she is not addicted because she is taking medication
prescribed by a healthcare provider. (A) may be possible, but the client is being
specifically asked about possible addiction. (C) and (D) underlie the complexity of
denial in addiction, but the client is trying to maintain self-esteem through
rationalization.
A family member brings their aging father to the clinic because he has been alert
and oriented during the day but agitated and disoriented in the evening. The
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registered nurse (RN) reviews the client's list of current medications with the
client and family. Which action taken by the RN is most important?
A. Medication review with family caregivers is the RN's responsibility
B. Multiple medications can contribute to sundowner-like symptoms
C. Medication recall is the best way to evaluate the client's memory
D. Reviewing medication actions is a component of effective client care - correct-
answer -B. Multiple medications can contribute to sundowner like symptoms.
Rationale: Older clients may see a variety of HCP which can increase the chance of
polypharmacy that compounds the workload of metabolic pathways that may be
less efficient due to the aging process. Multiple medication interactions may
contribute to sundowner like symptoms; reviewing medication actions and
interactions provides the information that may indicate polypharmacy leading to
sundowner syndromes.
Since his arrival in an assisted living community, an older male client is having
difficulty going to sleep. Which intervention should the registered nurse (RN)
implement first?
A. Encourage client to take a warm bath at night
B. Ask the client what has helped him in the past
C. Recommend that the client not take daytime naps
D. Offer the client a glass of warm milk before bedtime - correct-answer -B. Ask
the client what has helped him in the past.
Rationale: Asking the client (B) about his sleeping habits involves the client in his
own care and preserves his autonomy as he adapts to living in a new community.
GERONTOLOGY HESI PRACTICE EXAM
WITH 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
An older client is transferred to a telemetry unit after placement of a pacemaker.
What action should the registered nurse (RN) take first?
A. View incision site
B. Obtain a blood pressure
C. Establish telemetry monitoring
D. Evaluate client for pain - correct-answer -C. Establish telemetry monitoring.
Rationale: The first action is to establish continuous telemetry monitoring (C) to
ensure the pacemaker is functioning properly. (A, B and D) should be
implemented after the client's heart rate and rhythm are successfully being
monitored.
Older clients are at highest risk for abuse and neglect due to which factors?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Needs are greater than the caretaker's abilities
B. Client's declining strength
C. Fixed income
D. Longer life expectancy
E. Lack of exposure to technology and trends - correct-answer -A. Needs regretter
than the caretaker's abilities
B. Client's declining strength
,2|Page
Rationale: When needs are not being met due to lack of ability of the caretaker
(A), stress and feelings of failure may be expressed through neglect and abuse.
Decline in strength (B) increases the older client's vulnerability to resist or
respond to elder abuse. (C, D, E) do not increase the risk for neglect and abuse.
An older female client who has been taking hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Lortab)
q4 hours for chronic back pain for the past 5 years tells the registered nurse (RN)
that she cannot live without her pain pills. When asked if she is addicted, the
client states that she is not an addict because the healthcare provider prescribed
the pain pills. Which coping mechanism should the RN determine the client is
using about her addiction?
A. Lack of knowledge about narcotic medications
B. Rationalization to support narcotic use
C. Transfer of blame to healthcare provider
D. Justification of narcotic use due to chronic pain - correct-answer -B.
Rationalization to support narcotic use.
Rationale: The client is using rationalization to maintain self-esteem when she is
questioned by stating that she is not addicted because she is taking medication
prescribed by a healthcare provider. (A) may be possible, but the client is being
specifically asked about possible addiction. (C) and (D) underlie the complexity of
denial in addiction, but the client is trying to maintain self-esteem through
rationalization.
A family member brings their aging father to the clinic because he has been alert
and oriented during the day but agitated and disoriented in the evening. The
, 3|Page
registered nurse (RN) reviews the client's list of current medications with the
client and family. Which action taken by the RN is most important?
A. Medication review with family caregivers is the RN's responsibility
B. Multiple medications can contribute to sundowner-like symptoms
C. Medication recall is the best way to evaluate the client's memory
D. Reviewing medication actions is a component of effective client care - correct-
answer -B. Multiple medications can contribute to sundowner like symptoms.
Rationale: Older clients may see a variety of HCP which can increase the chance of
polypharmacy that compounds the workload of metabolic pathways that may be
less efficient due to the aging process. Multiple medication interactions may
contribute to sundowner like symptoms; reviewing medication actions and
interactions provides the information that may indicate polypharmacy leading to
sundowner syndromes.
Since his arrival in an assisted living community, an older male client is having
difficulty going to sleep. Which intervention should the registered nurse (RN)
implement first?
A. Encourage client to take a warm bath at night
B. Ask the client what has helped him in the past
C. Recommend that the client not take daytime naps
D. Offer the client a glass of warm milk before bedtime - correct-answer -B. Ask
the client what has helped him in the past.
Rationale: Asking the client (B) about his sleeping habits involves the client in his
own care and preserves his autonomy as he adapts to living in a new community.
