Page 1 of 58
HESI RN GERONTOLOGY EXIT EXAM 2025 VERSION
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS/A+ GRADE
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 .....ANSWER.....B. Confusion and
dehydration
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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.
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D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients
should use other seasonings instead of salt. .....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.
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?
, Page 4 of 58
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
.....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.
HESI RN GERONTOLOGY EXIT EXAM 2025 VERSION
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS/A+ GRADE
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 .....ANSWER.....B. Confusion and
dehydration
,Page 2 of 58
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.
,Page 3 of 58
D. Taste buds often are dull due to atrophy so older clients
should use other seasonings instead of salt. .....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.
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?
, Page 4 of 58
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
.....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.
