HESI Health Assessment Exam 2026
Practice Questions and Verified Answers |
Complete Nursing Study Guide with
Rationales
• This guide contains 200 verified HESI Health Assessment practice questions with
correct answers and EXPERT RATIONALE, designed to mirror the actual exam
format and difficulty level.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the correct option, then studying the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
clinical reasoning.
HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 2026
Practice Questions and Verified Answers | Complete Nursing Study Guide
with EXPERT RATIONALE
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a health history on a new patient. Which
component is considered the MOST important part of the health history?
A. Family history
B. Review of systems
C. Social history
D. Chief complaint
E. Past medical history
Correct Answer: D. Chief complaint
EXPERT RATIONALE: The chief complaint is the most important component because it
identifies the primary reason the patient is seeking care and directs the entire
assessment. It is recorded in the patient's own words.
,2. When performing a health history, the nurse uses open-ended questions.
Which question is the BEST example of an open-ended question?
A. "Does your chest hurt?"
B. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
C. "Do you have shortness of breath?"
D. "Tell me about what brings you in today."
E. "Have you had this before?"
Correct Answer: D. "Tell me about what brings you in today."
EXPERT RATIONALE: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to elaborate and
provide detailed information in their own words. The other options are closed-ended
questions that elicit only yes/no or limited responses.
3. The nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which mnemonic is commonly used
to obtain a complete pain history?
A. PERRLA
B. SAMPLE
C. OLDCARTS
D. SOAP
E. ABCDE
Correct Answer: C. OLDCARTS
EXPERT RATIONALE: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, and Severity. It provides a systematic
approach to pain assessment.
4. During a health history, a patient reports a family history of hypertension
and diabetes. This information belongs to which section?
,A. Past medical history
B. Chief complaint
C. Family history
D. Review of systems
E. Social history
Correct Answer: C. Family history
EXPERT RATIONALE: Family history documents health conditions in biological relatives,
including parents, siblings, and grandparents, and is important for identifying genetic
predispositions.
5. A nurse is documenting vital signs. Which vital sign is considered the FIFTH
vital sign?
A. Temperature
B. Blood pressure
C. Respiratory rate
D. Pain
E. Pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: D. Pain
EXPERT RATIONALE: Pain is considered the fifth vital sign and should be assessed and
documented alongside temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure with every
encounter.
6. The nurse is assessing a patient's blood pressure. Which site is considered
the MOST accurate for measuring blood pressure?
A. Radial artery
B. Brachial artery
, C. Popliteal artery
D. Femoral artery
E. Dorsalis pedis artery
Correct Answer: B. Brachial artery
EXPERT RATIONALE: The brachial artery in the antecubital fossa is the standard and
most accurate site for blood pressure measurement using a sphygmomanometer.
7. A nurse obtains a blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg on two separate
occasions. How should the nurse classify this finding?
A. Normal
B. Elevated
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
E. Hypertensive crisis
Correct Answer: D. Stage 2 hypertension
EXPERT RATIONALE: According to AHA/ACC 2017 guidelines, Stage 2 hypertension is
defined as systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg on two separate occasions.
8. When auscultating heart sounds, the nurse hears S1 best at which location?
A. Second right intercostal space
B. Second left intercostal space
C. Mitral area (fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line)
D. Third left intercostal space
E. Xiphoid process
Correct Answer: C. Mitral area (fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line)
Practice Questions and Verified Answers |
Complete Nursing Study Guide with
Rationales
• This guide contains 200 verified HESI Health Assessment practice questions with
correct answers and EXPERT RATIONALE, designed to mirror the actual exam
format and difficulty level.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the correct option, then studying the EXPERT RATIONALE to reinforce
clinical reasoning.
HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 2026
Practice Questions and Verified Answers | Complete Nursing Study Guide
with EXPERT RATIONALE
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a health history on a new patient. Which
component is considered the MOST important part of the health history?
A. Family history
B. Review of systems
C. Social history
D. Chief complaint
E. Past medical history
Correct Answer: D. Chief complaint
EXPERT RATIONALE: The chief complaint is the most important component because it
identifies the primary reason the patient is seeking care and directs the entire
assessment. It is recorded in the patient's own words.
,2. When performing a health history, the nurse uses open-ended questions.
Which question is the BEST example of an open-ended question?
A. "Does your chest hurt?"
B. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
C. "Do you have shortness of breath?"
D. "Tell me about what brings you in today."
E. "Have you had this before?"
Correct Answer: D. "Tell me about what brings you in today."
EXPERT RATIONALE: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to elaborate and
provide detailed information in their own words. The other options are closed-ended
questions that elicit only yes/no or limited responses.
3. The nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which mnemonic is commonly used
to obtain a complete pain history?
A. PERRLA
B. SAMPLE
C. OLDCARTS
D. SOAP
E. ABCDE
Correct Answer: C. OLDCARTS
EXPERT RATIONALE: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, and Severity. It provides a systematic
approach to pain assessment.
4. During a health history, a patient reports a family history of hypertension
and diabetes. This information belongs to which section?
,A. Past medical history
B. Chief complaint
C. Family history
D. Review of systems
E. Social history
Correct Answer: C. Family history
EXPERT RATIONALE: Family history documents health conditions in biological relatives,
including parents, siblings, and grandparents, and is important for identifying genetic
predispositions.
5. A nurse is documenting vital signs. Which vital sign is considered the FIFTH
vital sign?
A. Temperature
B. Blood pressure
C. Respiratory rate
D. Pain
E. Pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: D. Pain
EXPERT RATIONALE: Pain is considered the fifth vital sign and should be assessed and
documented alongside temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure with every
encounter.
6. The nurse is assessing a patient's blood pressure. Which site is considered
the MOST accurate for measuring blood pressure?
A. Radial artery
B. Brachial artery
, C. Popliteal artery
D. Femoral artery
E. Dorsalis pedis artery
Correct Answer: B. Brachial artery
EXPERT RATIONALE: The brachial artery in the antecubital fossa is the standard and
most accurate site for blood pressure measurement using a sphygmomanometer.
7. A nurse obtains a blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg on two separate
occasions. How should the nurse classify this finding?
A. Normal
B. Elevated
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
E. Hypertensive crisis
Correct Answer: D. Stage 2 hypertension
EXPERT RATIONALE: According to AHA/ACC 2017 guidelines, Stage 2 hypertension is
defined as systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg on two separate occasions.
8. When auscultating heart sounds, the nurse hears S1 best at which location?
A. Second right intercostal space
B. Second left intercostal space
C. Mitral area (fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line)
D. Third left intercostal space
E. Xiphoid process
Correct Answer: C. Mitral area (fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line)
