PN HESI GERONTOLOGY NEW UPDATED
VERSION WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS CURRENTLY TESTED
AND APPROVED 2025/2026 NEW UPDATE
An older client at a long-term care facility is to be monitored for early signs of
pneumonia. The practical nurse's (PN) observation of the client will most likely
show which early sign(s)/symptom(s)? (Select all that apply.)
a. Fever
b. Abnormal breath sounds
c. Tachycardia
d. Confusion
e. Tachypnea ---- ANSWER----c. Tachycardia
d. Confusion
e. Tachypnea
The onset of pneumonia in the older adult may be signaled by general
deterioration, confusion, increased heart rate, or increased respiratory rate.
Fever and abnormal breath sounds occur later with the older adult.
Page | 1
,The nurse is assisting with data collection for an older adult who is taking daily
aspirin to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event. Which concern should the
nurse report to the health care provider as soon as possible?
a. "I feel really cold much of the time."
b. "I wish my children would visit more."
c. "Lately it's harder to drive a car at night."
d. "My stools are sticky and are dark black." ---- ANSWER----d. "My stools are
sticky and are dark black."
Dark tarry stools are an indication of gastrointestinal bleeding, an adverse effect
of the daily aspirin this client is taking. There is no immediate need to contact
the health care provider about the client feeling cold or wishing children would
visit more. This client's inability to drive at night is a concern, and should be
discussed, but gastrointestinal bleeding needs to be dealt with first.
The nurse is reinforcing education with an older adult regarding smoking
cessation. The nurse recognizes teaching has been effective if the client makes
which statement?
a. "Stopping smoking reverses damage from emphysema."
Page | 2
,b. "Stopping smoking will not really benefit me at my age anyway."
c. "Stopping smoking can also improve my heart's functioning."
d. "Stopping smoking is likely impossible for people my age." ---- ANSWER---
c. "Stopping smoking can also improve my heart's functioning."
Stopping smoking can improve cardiovascular functioning. Smoking cessation
will not reverse damage already done by emphysema. Stopping smoking is
possible at any age and will be of benefit.
The practical nurse (PN) educates the client diagnosed with Parkinson about
levodopa-carbidopa. Which instruction about this medication should the PN
include in the client's discharge teaching plan?
a. Notify the health care provider immediately if the urine turns bright orange.
b. Notify health care provider if tremors worsen.
c. Take levodopa-carbidopa with a high-protein meal.
d. Client may discontinue medication if side effects occur. ---- ANSWER----b.
Notify health care provider if tremors worsen.
The client should call the health care provider if tremors become worse because
the dose may need to be adjusted. A bright orange color to the urine is harmless.
Page | 3
, A client who resides in a long-term care facility has a seizure disorder that has
been managed with phenobarbital for several years. Lately, the client has
become more difficult to arouse. What intervention should the PN implement?
a. Carefully monitor the client's intake and output.
b. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
c. Continue to monitor the client closely for the next 24 hours.
d. Determine the amount of medication the client has taken. ---- ANSWER----b.
Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
The client is exhibiting signs of antiepileptic drug toxicity (AED), and a serum
phenobarbital level needs to be obtained to determine if the client is
experiencing drug toxicity.
An older adult client is being treated for toxicity related to medication use.
When reviewing the client's medical records, the nurse is most likely to find
which factor is correlated with this problem?
a. The client has forgotten to take several doses of medication.
b. The client's white blood cell count has steadily increased.
Page | 4
VERSION WITH PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS CURRENTLY TESTED
AND APPROVED 2025/2026 NEW UPDATE
An older client at a long-term care facility is to be monitored for early signs of
pneumonia. The practical nurse's (PN) observation of the client will most likely
show which early sign(s)/symptom(s)? (Select all that apply.)
a. Fever
b. Abnormal breath sounds
c. Tachycardia
d. Confusion
e. Tachypnea ---- ANSWER----c. Tachycardia
d. Confusion
e. Tachypnea
The onset of pneumonia in the older adult may be signaled by general
deterioration, confusion, increased heart rate, or increased respiratory rate.
Fever and abnormal breath sounds occur later with the older adult.
Page | 1
,The nurse is assisting with data collection for an older adult who is taking daily
aspirin to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event. Which concern should the
nurse report to the health care provider as soon as possible?
a. "I feel really cold much of the time."
b. "I wish my children would visit more."
c. "Lately it's harder to drive a car at night."
d. "My stools are sticky and are dark black." ---- ANSWER----d. "My stools are
sticky and are dark black."
Dark tarry stools are an indication of gastrointestinal bleeding, an adverse effect
of the daily aspirin this client is taking. There is no immediate need to contact
the health care provider about the client feeling cold or wishing children would
visit more. This client's inability to drive at night is a concern, and should be
discussed, but gastrointestinal bleeding needs to be dealt with first.
The nurse is reinforcing education with an older adult regarding smoking
cessation. The nurse recognizes teaching has been effective if the client makes
which statement?
a. "Stopping smoking reverses damage from emphysema."
Page | 2
,b. "Stopping smoking will not really benefit me at my age anyway."
c. "Stopping smoking can also improve my heart's functioning."
d. "Stopping smoking is likely impossible for people my age." ---- ANSWER---
c. "Stopping smoking can also improve my heart's functioning."
Stopping smoking can improve cardiovascular functioning. Smoking cessation
will not reverse damage already done by emphysema. Stopping smoking is
possible at any age and will be of benefit.
The practical nurse (PN) educates the client diagnosed with Parkinson about
levodopa-carbidopa. Which instruction about this medication should the PN
include in the client's discharge teaching plan?
a. Notify the health care provider immediately if the urine turns bright orange.
b. Notify health care provider if tremors worsen.
c. Take levodopa-carbidopa with a high-protein meal.
d. Client may discontinue medication if side effects occur. ---- ANSWER----b.
Notify health care provider if tremors worsen.
The client should call the health care provider if tremors become worse because
the dose may need to be adjusted. A bright orange color to the urine is harmless.
Page | 3
, A client who resides in a long-term care facility has a seizure disorder that has
been managed with phenobarbital for several years. Lately, the client has
become more difficult to arouse. What intervention should the PN implement?
a. Carefully monitor the client's intake and output.
b. Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
c. Continue to monitor the client closely for the next 24 hours.
d. Determine the amount of medication the client has taken. ---- ANSWER----b.
Hold the medication and notify the health care provider.
The client is exhibiting signs of antiepileptic drug toxicity (AED), and a serum
phenobarbital level needs to be obtained to determine if the client is
experiencing drug toxicity.
An older adult client is being treated for toxicity related to medication use.
When reviewing the client's medical records, the nurse is most likely to find
which factor is correlated with this problem?
a. The client has forgotten to take several doses of medication.
b. The client's white blood cell count has steadily increased.
Page | 4
