Gerontology HESI Practice
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 answerB. 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 answerD. 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.
,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 answerB. 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 answerA. Explain that
she is in a new home called an assisted living community.
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 answerD. 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 answerC. 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 understood by a client with end-
stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is not a helpful tool for pain assessment.
An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination. While the nurse assesses
the client, the client states that he is having intimacy problems with his wife. Which information should
the nurse provide to elicit more information from the client?
A. Query client to clarify the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
B. Discuss benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and ejaculation.
C. Explore the frequency that he experiences erectile dysfunction (ED)
D. Determine if the client's wife is young enough to get pregnant - correct answerA. Query client to
clarify the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
Rationale: Clarification of the client's concern is needed to appropriately address the specific concern
about intimacy issues (A). (B), (C), and (D) are details that the client should present, not the RN.
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 answerB. 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 answerD. 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.
,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 answerB. 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 answerA. Explain that
she is in a new home called an assisted living community.
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 answerD. 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 answerC. 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 understood by a client with end-
stage Alzheimer's disease. (D) is not a helpful tool for pain assessment.
An older male client arrives at the clinic for an annual physical examination. While the nurse assesses
the client, the client states that he is having intimacy problems with his wife. Which information should
the nurse provide to elicit more information from the client?
A. Query client to clarify the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
B. Discuss benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and ejaculation.
C. Explore the frequency that he experiences erectile dysfunction (ED)
D. Determine if the client's wife is young enough to get pregnant - correct answerA. Query client to
clarify the client's idea of an intimacy problem.
Rationale: Clarification of the client's concern is needed to appropriately address the specific concern
about intimacy issues (A). (B), (C), and (D) are details that the client should present, not the RN.
