HESI A2 - Critical Thinking 2026 correct answers
1. The nurse is working in the emergency department (ED) of a children's medical center. Which
client should the nurse assess first?
1. The 1-month-old infant who has developed colic and is crying.
2. The 2-year-old toddler who was bitten by another child at the day-care center. 3. The 6-year-
old school-age child who was hit by a car while riding a bicycle.
4. The 14-year-old adolescent whose mother suspects her child is sexually active. - correct
answers Rationale
Correct - 3-The child hit by a car should be assessed first because he or she may have life-
threatening injuries that must be assessed and treated promptly.
1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or her memory later.
Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the nurse records what
is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient, resulting in an
increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which may increase his or
her level of comfort. - correct answers A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of
the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that
note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it shifts
attention away from the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also may
interrupt the patient's narrative flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior.
,2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis is complaining of a
severe headache. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal cannula.
2. Assess the client's neurological status.
3. Administer a narcotic analgesic by intravenous push (IVP). 4. Increase the client's intravenous
(IV) rate. - correct answers Rationale
Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a headache, the nurse should first rule out
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess- ing the client's neurological status and then
determine whether it is a headache that can be treated with medication.
2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question - correct answers D) Open-ended question
Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It states the topic to be
discussed but only in general terms. The nurse should use it to begin the interview, to introduce
a new section of questions, and whenever the person introduces a new topic.
3. The 6-year-old client who has undergone abdominal surgery is attempting to make a
pinwheel spin by blowing on it with the nurse's assistance. The child starts crying because the
pinwheel won't spin. Which action should the nurse implement first?
1. Praise the child for the attempt to make the pinwheel spin.
2. Notify the respiratory therapist to implement incentive spirometry. 3. Encourage the child to
turn from side to side and cough.
,4. Demonstrate how to make the pinwheel spin by blowing on it. - correct answers Rationale
Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the child for attempts at cooperation even if the child
did not accomplish what the nurse asked.
3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending a wellness
workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks, "You don't smoke, drink, or
take drugs, do you?" This question is an example of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics. - correct answers C) using biased or
leading questions.
Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions. Asking, "You don't smoke, do
you?" implies that one answer is "better" than another. If the person wants to please someone,
he or she is either forced to answer in a way corresponding to their implied values or is made to
feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
4. The nurse is caring for clients on the pediatric medical unit. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose level
of 180 mg/dL.
2. The child diagnosed with pneumonia who is coughing and has a temperature of
100°F.
3. The child diagnosed with gastroenteritis who has a potassium (K+) level
of 3.9 mEq/L.
, 4. The child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who has a pulse oximeter reading of 90%. - correct
answers Rationale
Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than 93% is significant and indicates hypoxia, which
is life threatening; therefore, this child should be assessed first.
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As the
interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however, he suddenly crosses his arms against
his chest and crosses his legs. This would suggest that the parent is:
A) just changing positions.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment. - correct answers D) uncomfortable talking
about his son's treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of large muscle groups
shows relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share information. A closed position
with the arms and legs crossed tends to look defensive and anxious. Note any change in
posture. If a person in a relaxed position suddenly tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with
the new topic.
5. The nurse has received the a.m. shift report for clients on a pediatric unit. Which medication
should the nurse administer first?
1. The third dose of the aminoglycoside antibiotic to the child diagnosed with
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
2. The IVP steroid methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) to the child diagnosed with
asthma.
3. The sliding scale insulin to the child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
1. The nurse is working in the emergency department (ED) of a children's medical center. Which
client should the nurse assess first?
1. The 1-month-old infant who has developed colic and is crying.
2. The 2-year-old toddler who was bitten by another child at the day-care center. 3. The 6-year-
old school-age child who was hit by a car while riding a bicycle.
4. The 14-year-old adolescent whose mother suspects her child is sexually active. - correct
answers Rationale
Correct - 3-The child hit by a car should be assessed first because he or she may have life-
threatening injuries that must be assessed and treated promptly.
1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or her memory later.
Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the nurse records what
is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient, resulting in an
increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which may increase his or
her level of comfort. - correct answers A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of
the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that
note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it shifts
attention away from the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also may
interrupt the patient's narrative flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior.
,2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell crisis is complaining of a
severe headache. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal cannula.
2. Assess the client's neurological status.
3. Administer a narcotic analgesic by intravenous push (IVP). 4. Increase the client's intravenous
(IV) rate. - correct answers Rationale
Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a headache, the nurse should first rule out
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess- ing the client's neurological status and then
determine whether it is a headache that can be treated with medication.
2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question - correct answers D) Open-ended question
Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It states the topic to be
discussed but only in general terms. The nurse should use it to begin the interview, to introduce
a new section of questions, and whenever the person introduces a new topic.
3. The 6-year-old client who has undergone abdominal surgery is attempting to make a
pinwheel spin by blowing on it with the nurse's assistance. The child starts crying because the
pinwheel won't spin. Which action should the nurse implement first?
1. Praise the child for the attempt to make the pinwheel spin.
2. Notify the respiratory therapist to implement incentive spirometry. 3. Encourage the child to
turn from side to side and cough.
,4. Demonstrate how to make the pinwheel spin by blowing on it. - correct answers Rationale
Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the child for attempts at cooperation even if the child
did not accomplish what the nurse asked.
3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending a wellness
workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks, "You don't smoke, drink, or
take drugs, do you?" This question is an example of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics. - correct answers C) using biased or
leading questions.
Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions. Asking, "You don't smoke, do
you?" implies that one answer is "better" than another. If the person wants to please someone,
he or she is either forced to answer in a way corresponding to their implied values or is made to
feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
4. The nurse is caring for clients on the pediatric medical unit. Which client should the nurse
assess first?
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose level
of 180 mg/dL.
2. The child diagnosed with pneumonia who is coughing and has a temperature of
100°F.
3. The child diagnosed with gastroenteritis who has a potassium (K+) level
of 3.9 mEq/L.
, 4. The child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who has a pulse oximeter reading of 90%. - correct
answers Rationale
Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than 93% is significant and indicates hypoxia, which
is life threatening; therefore, this child should be assessed first.
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As the
interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however, he suddenly crosses his arms against
his chest and crosses his legs. This would suggest that the parent is:
A) just changing positions.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment. - correct answers D) uncomfortable talking
about his son's treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of large muscle groups
shows relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share information. A closed position
with the arms and legs crossed tends to look defensive and anxious. Note any change in
posture. If a person in a relaxed position suddenly tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with
the new topic.
5. The nurse has received the a.m. shift report for clients on a pediatric unit. Which medication
should the nurse administer first?
1. The third dose of the aminoglycoside antibiotic to the child diagnosed with
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
2. The IVP steroid methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) to the child diagnosed with
asthma.
3. The sliding scale insulin to the child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
