HESI PN GERONTOLOGY EXAM 2024/2025 ALL 70 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES || LATEST ACTUAL EXAM || FULLY
UPDATED || A+ GRADED || DETAILED EXPLANATIONS INCLUDED
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.
c. The client's liver function has decreased since last year.
d. The client has gained 40 pounds (18.2 kg) over 3 years. - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. The client's
liver function has decreased since last year.
With aging, liver function decreases, affecting drug metabolism and detoxification. Forgetting to take
doses of medication would not cause drug toxicity; excessive doses could cause toxicity. Elevated white
blood cell counts and weight gain would not likely cause drug toxicity.
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 - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
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." - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
An older client is discharged from the hospital with a prescription for digoxin 0.25 mg daily. Which
instruction should the practical nurse (PN) include in this client's discharge teaching plan?
a. Take the medication in the morning before rising.
b. Take and record radial pulse rate daily.
c. Expect some vision changes due to the medication.
d. Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin K. - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. Take and record radial
pulse rate daily.
Monitoring pulse rate is very important when taking digoxin. The client should be further instructed to
report pulse rates below 60 or greater than 110 beats/min and to withhold the dosage until consulting
with the health care provider.
,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."
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." - CORRECT ANSWERS-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. - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
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. - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
The nurse is caring for an older adult who is at high risk for skin breakdown. Which is the best method
for the nurse to determine if the plan of care for this client is effective?
a. Reviewing the documentation of the client's turn schedule
b. Turning the client at least every 2 hours around the clock
c. Assessing the client's skin for pressure ulcers every shift
d. Completing a nutritional assessment to determine protein needs - CORRECT ANSWERS-c.
Assessing the client's skin for pressure ulcers every shift
The best way to determine if the plan of care to prevent skin breakdown is effective is to actually assess
the client's skin. Reviewing documentation and completing a nutritional assessment will not likely give a
complete picture. Turning the client every 2 hours is an intervention, not a method of evaluating the
effectiveness of care.
The practical nurse (PN) assesses the older adult client's skin for signs of breakdown and observes that
the skin is intact. What interventions by the PN will help maintain healthy skin integrity?
a. Keep the client well hydrated.
b. Remove adhesive tape quickly from the skin.
c. Avoid creams or lotions to ensure that the skin stays dry.
d. Scrub the perineum with a wet cloth after a bowel movement. - CORRECT ANSWERS-a.
Keep the client well hydrated.
Keeping the client well hydrated helps prevent skin cracking and infection.
VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES || LATEST ACTUAL EXAM || FULLY
UPDATED || A+ GRADED || DETAILED EXPLANATIONS INCLUDED
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.
c. The client's liver function has decreased since last year.
d. The client has gained 40 pounds (18.2 kg) over 3 years. - CORRECT ANSWERS-c. The client's
liver function has decreased since last year.
With aging, liver function decreases, affecting drug metabolism and detoxification. Forgetting to take
doses of medication would not cause drug toxicity; excessive doses could cause toxicity. Elevated white
blood cell counts and weight gain would not likely cause drug toxicity.
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 - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
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." - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
An older client is discharged from the hospital with a prescription for digoxin 0.25 mg daily. Which
instruction should the practical nurse (PN) include in this client's discharge teaching plan?
a. Take the medication in the morning before rising.
b. Take and record radial pulse rate daily.
c. Expect some vision changes due to the medication.
d. Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin K. - CORRECT ANSWERS-b. Take and record radial
pulse rate daily.
Monitoring pulse rate is very important when taking digoxin. The client should be further instructed to
report pulse rates below 60 or greater than 110 beats/min and to withhold the dosage until consulting
with the health care provider.
,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."
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." - CORRECT ANSWERS-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. - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
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. - CORRECT ANSWERS-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.
The nurse is caring for an older adult who is at high risk for skin breakdown. Which is the best method
for the nurse to determine if the plan of care for this client is effective?
a. Reviewing the documentation of the client's turn schedule
b. Turning the client at least every 2 hours around the clock
c. Assessing the client's skin for pressure ulcers every shift
d. Completing a nutritional assessment to determine protein needs - CORRECT ANSWERS-c.
Assessing the client's skin for pressure ulcers every shift
The best way to determine if the plan of care to prevent skin breakdown is effective is to actually assess
the client's skin. Reviewing documentation and completing a nutritional assessment will not likely give a
complete picture. Turning the client every 2 hours is an intervention, not a method of evaluating the
effectiveness of care.
The practical nurse (PN) assesses the older adult client's skin for signs of breakdown and observes that
the skin is intact. What interventions by the PN will help maintain healthy skin integrity?
a. Keep the client well hydrated.
b. Remove adhesive tape quickly from the skin.
c. Avoid creams or lotions to ensure that the skin stays dry.
d. Scrub the perineum with a wet cloth after a bowel movement. - CORRECT ANSWERS-a.
Keep the client well hydrated.
Keeping the client well hydrated helps prevent skin cracking and infection.
