GERONTOLOGY HESI TEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
The cleansing of the stomach with solution delivered through a nasogastric tube is
known as what?
Gavage
Emesis
Lavage
Stomach pumping
Lavage
Gastric lavage is used to cleanse the stomach of a poison, overdose of medication,
or other toxic substance. It is delivered through a nasogastric tube
You are providing care to a patient who has recently begun dialysis. Her daughter,
with whom she lives and who prepares many of her meals, asks what types of
foods she should incorporate into her diet and which she should avoid. Which of
the following is NOT a food that this patient should be advised to avoid?
Avocado.
Lean red meat.
Dried fruit. Bananas.
Lean red meat
Dialysis patients are encouraged to eat lean meat, including red meat. High quality
proteins produce less waste and help the body heal and maintain regular processes.
Dialysis patients should avoid foods high in potassium, including avocado, banana,
and dried fruit, and should eat other potassium-containing foods in moderation.
Your 89-year-old patient presents with dyspepsia and nausea. After testing, you
determine she is positive for Peptic Ulcer Disease. Of the following, which would
LEAST likely be a differential diagnosis for Peptic Ulcer Disease?
,Cholecystitis.
Migraines.
Gastric carcinoma.
Cardiovascular disease.
Migraines
Peptic Ulcer Disease is a gastrointestinal disorder. Other differential diagnoses of
the condition are pancreatitis and biliary tract disease.
There are a good many diseases affecting the elderly that are the result of smoking.
Counseling regarding smoking cessation is part of the GNP's job. The components
of brief intervention for treating tobacco use are:
Counsel, Document, Caution, Describe, Demonstrate
Advise, Confer, Describe, Document, Prescribe
Advise, Counsel, Intervene, Prescribe, Follow-up
Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
Ask about tobacco use, Advise to quit, Assess willingness to make an attempt to
quit, Assist in this quit attempt. Arrange a follow-up.
Mrs. Frasier, an 50-year-old patient, presents with a mosquito bite that she is
concerned about. How do you diagnose this?
Cyst.
Bulla.
Wheal.
Plaques.
Wheal
Cyst: encapsulated, fluid-filled mass that varies in size. Bulla: fluid-filled, elevated,
circumscribed lesion that's larger than 5mm. Wheal: circumscribed, reddening with
transient elevation lesion that's 0.5 to 10mm diameter. Plaques: usually a grouping
of papules; elevated and a variety of shapes; larger than 5mm.
Which of the following groups should be tested for abdominal aortic aneurysm?
,males aged 65-75 who have ever smoked
females aged 65-75 who have hypertension
males and females over 75 females over 75
males aged 65-75 who have ever smoked
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is more prevalent in males than in females. The
American Heart Association recommends screening males once between ages 65-
75 if they have ever smoked since that increases the risk of AAA.
With a giardia lamblia diagnosis, the NP would MOST likely prescribe what
medication?
Metronidazole.
Erythromycin.
Ampicillin.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Metronidazole.
The preceding drugs are typically used in treating the following: - Campylobacter
jejuni: Erythromycin - Salmonella: Ampicillin - Shigella:
Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole - Giardia lamblia: Metronidazole
A 65-year-old Caucasian male calls your office. He tells you he just came in from
the woods and discovered a tick on his upper right thigh. He reports self removal
of the tick and now the area is slightly red. What should you advise him to do?
He should come to the office for a ceftriaxone (Rocephin) injection.
He should be prescribed doxycycline.
He needs no treatment.
He needs a topical scrub to prevent Lyme Disease.
He needs no treatment.
To develop Lyme Disease from a tick bite, many factors must be present. The tick
must belong to Ixodes species and must have been attached for at least 48 hours
before the disease can spread. There is no need for prophylactic treatment in this
case because the tick has not been present long enough.
, As part of the treatment plan for your elderly patient, you recommend he see an
Ophthalmologist. What body part(s) will this doctor evaluate?
Brain / nerves.
Eyes.
Bones / Joints / Muscles. Ears
/ Throat.
Eyes
Neurologist - Brain / nerves Ophthalmologist - Eyes Orthopedist - Bones / Joints /
Muscles Otolaryngologist - Ears / Throat
As a GNP you understand that due to physiological changes of aging, some
laboratory test results will have age-related changes. Which of the following values
would be the least likely to be affected?
red blood cell values
white blood cell counts
platelet range hemoglobin
values
platelet range
Due to the physiological changes of aging, red blood cell values tend to decrease,
white blood cell counts tend to decrease slightly, hemoglobin values slightly
decrease, but platelet range does not vary.
The family of a patient with dementia has asked you to tell them more about this
condition. You would tell them all of the following except:
Dementia is the leading reason for institutionalization of older adults.
Some persons diagnosed with dementia have reversible pseudodementia.
Irreversible dementia has a gradual onset and a progressive downward course.
50% of the older adult population suffer from some form of dementia.
50% of the older adult population suffer from some form of dementia.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
The cleansing of the stomach with solution delivered through a nasogastric tube is
known as what?
Gavage
Emesis
Lavage
Stomach pumping
Lavage
Gastric lavage is used to cleanse the stomach of a poison, overdose of medication,
or other toxic substance. It is delivered through a nasogastric tube
You are providing care to a patient who has recently begun dialysis. Her daughter,
with whom she lives and who prepares many of her meals, asks what types of
foods she should incorporate into her diet and which she should avoid. Which of
the following is NOT a food that this patient should be advised to avoid?
Avocado.
Lean red meat.
Dried fruit. Bananas.
Lean red meat
Dialysis patients are encouraged to eat lean meat, including red meat. High quality
proteins produce less waste and help the body heal and maintain regular processes.
Dialysis patients should avoid foods high in potassium, including avocado, banana,
and dried fruit, and should eat other potassium-containing foods in moderation.
Your 89-year-old patient presents with dyspepsia and nausea. After testing, you
determine she is positive for Peptic Ulcer Disease. Of the following, which would
LEAST likely be a differential diagnosis for Peptic Ulcer Disease?
,Cholecystitis.
Migraines.
Gastric carcinoma.
Cardiovascular disease.
Migraines
Peptic Ulcer Disease is a gastrointestinal disorder. Other differential diagnoses of
the condition are pancreatitis and biliary tract disease.
There are a good many diseases affecting the elderly that are the result of smoking.
Counseling regarding smoking cessation is part of the GNP's job. The components
of brief intervention for treating tobacco use are:
Counsel, Document, Caution, Describe, Demonstrate
Advise, Confer, Describe, Document, Prescribe
Advise, Counsel, Intervene, Prescribe, Follow-up
Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange
Ask about tobacco use, Advise to quit, Assess willingness to make an attempt to
quit, Assist in this quit attempt. Arrange a follow-up.
Mrs. Frasier, an 50-year-old patient, presents with a mosquito bite that she is
concerned about. How do you diagnose this?
Cyst.
Bulla.
Wheal.
Plaques.
Wheal
Cyst: encapsulated, fluid-filled mass that varies in size. Bulla: fluid-filled, elevated,
circumscribed lesion that's larger than 5mm. Wheal: circumscribed, reddening with
transient elevation lesion that's 0.5 to 10mm diameter. Plaques: usually a grouping
of papules; elevated and a variety of shapes; larger than 5mm.
Which of the following groups should be tested for abdominal aortic aneurysm?
,males aged 65-75 who have ever smoked
females aged 65-75 who have hypertension
males and females over 75 females over 75
males aged 65-75 who have ever smoked
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is more prevalent in males than in females. The
American Heart Association recommends screening males once between ages 65-
75 if they have ever smoked since that increases the risk of AAA.
With a giardia lamblia diagnosis, the NP would MOST likely prescribe what
medication?
Metronidazole.
Erythromycin.
Ampicillin.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Metronidazole.
The preceding drugs are typically used in treating the following: - Campylobacter
jejuni: Erythromycin - Salmonella: Ampicillin - Shigella:
Trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole - Giardia lamblia: Metronidazole
A 65-year-old Caucasian male calls your office. He tells you he just came in from
the woods and discovered a tick on his upper right thigh. He reports self removal
of the tick and now the area is slightly red. What should you advise him to do?
He should come to the office for a ceftriaxone (Rocephin) injection.
He should be prescribed doxycycline.
He needs no treatment.
He needs a topical scrub to prevent Lyme Disease.
He needs no treatment.
To develop Lyme Disease from a tick bite, many factors must be present. The tick
must belong to Ixodes species and must have been attached for at least 48 hours
before the disease can spread. There is no need for prophylactic treatment in this
case because the tick has not been present long enough.
, As part of the treatment plan for your elderly patient, you recommend he see an
Ophthalmologist. What body part(s) will this doctor evaluate?
Brain / nerves.
Eyes.
Bones / Joints / Muscles. Ears
/ Throat.
Eyes
Neurologist - Brain / nerves Ophthalmologist - Eyes Orthopedist - Bones / Joints /
Muscles Otolaryngologist - Ears / Throat
As a GNP you understand that due to physiological changes of aging, some
laboratory test results will have age-related changes. Which of the following values
would be the least likely to be affected?
red blood cell values
white blood cell counts
platelet range hemoglobin
values
platelet range
Due to the physiological changes of aging, red blood cell values tend to decrease,
white blood cell counts tend to decrease slightly, hemoglobin values slightly
decrease, but platelet range does not vary.
The family of a patient with dementia has asked you to tell them more about this
condition. You would tell them all of the following except:
Dementia is the leading reason for institutionalization of older adults.
Some persons diagnosed with dementia have reversible pseudodementia.
Irreversible dementia has a gradual onset and a progressive downward course.
50% of the older adult population suffer from some form of dementia.
50% of the older adult population suffer from some form of dementia.
