1
BSN 246 HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT V1
EXAM 2026/2027 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS –
NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE
A client is in the clinical for a yearly physical examination. Which action should the
nurse take when preparing to examine the client's abdomen? - correct-answer -
Ask the client to urinate before beginning the examination.
Which respiratory condition should the nurse document after measuring a
respiratory rate of 8 breaths/minute? - correct-answer -Bradypnea.
Which procedure should the nurse use to assessfor a pulse deficit? - correct-
answer -Measure the apical pulse and compare it to the peripheral pulse.
*A pulse deficit is a palpable difference between the apical pulse at the point of
maximal impulse and the radial pulse palpated at the wrist.
A client has been diagnosed with bilateral lower lobe atelectasis. What percussion
sound should the nurse expect to hear when percussing over the client's lower
lobes? - correct-answer -Dull, thud-like.
, 2
A client is being assessed upon admission to the medical-surgical unit. The nurse
is preparing to complete a head-to-toe assessment and will begin at the head of
the client. Which technique should the nurse use to begin the assessment? -
correct-answer -Inspect the hair and skin.
The nurse is assessing a healthy young adult during an annual physical
examination. Which assessment technique should the nurse implement when
palpating the abdominal aorta? - correct-answer -Deep palpation above and to
the left of the umbilicus.
The nurse is conducting a family history as part of the assessment interview.
Which action should the nurse take to ensure that sufficient information about
the client's blood relatives is obtained? - correct-answer -Document at least 3
generations of the client's family medical history.
The nurse is testing the client's shoulders for range of motion. What should the
nurse document to record normal internal rotation? - correct-answer -Range of 90
degrees when the hands are placed at the small of the back.
A client presents with a rash along the occipital area of the hairline and reports
intense itching. How should the nurse begin the objective part of the
examination? - correct-answer -Inspect the scalp looking for nits.
The nurse is assessing a client's range of motion as the client bends the right knee
up to the chest while keeping the left leg straight, but is unable to keep the left
thigh on the table. The assessment is repeated for the left knee, and the client is
unable to keep the right thigh on the table. How should the nurse document this
, 3
finding? - correct-answer -A flexion deformity referred to as a positive Thomas
test.
During a skin asssessment, the nurse notes, round and discrete lesions that are
dark red in color and will not blanch. The lesions range from 1 to 3 mm in size.
What is the first question the nurse should ask the client? - correct-answer -Have
you notice any irregular bleeding
A client with progressive hearing loss appears distressed when the registered
nurse (RN) asks open-ended questions about the client's health history. Which
forms of communication should the RN use? - correct-answer -Face the client so
the client can see the RN's mouth.
Check if the client's hearing aides are working properly.
Reduce environmental noise surrounding the client.
A client states that she had a mastectomy of her left breast last year and now
experiences lymphedema. What should the nurse expect to find when examining
the client? - correct-answer -Swelling of the left arm and non-pitting edema.
A client has just returned from the recovery room and asks to get out of bed to go
to the bathroom. The nurse decides to obtain orthostatic vital signs first. How will
the nurse position the client to begin this procedure? - correct-answer -Lying.
A postmenopausal female client is undergoing a routine physical examination. She
has reported nothing out of the ordinary. When performing the examination of
the genitourinary system, the nurse finds an irregularly enlarged uterus with firm,
mobile, painless nodules in the uterine wall. How should the nurse explain this
, 4
finding to the client? - correct-answer -You have benign fibroid tumors, a common
occurrence in women your age.
A client is reporting chest pain. What statement made by the client, helps the
nurse to understand this client has a naturalistic belief in the cause of illness? -
correct-answer -"My life is really out of balance."
The nurse is preparing to assess the hearing of a client with a history of prolonged
exposure to occupational noise. Which hearing test provides the most reliable
assessment of hearing status? - correct-answer -Audiometry.
The nurse is performing a routine physical examination on an adult client. When
gathering a health history, which question is included in the CAGE questionnaire?
- correct-answer -Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?
*CAGE is the acronym for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener. Nurse can
use it to assess for possible alcohol abuse.
The nurse is examining the hip joint of a client who reports hip pain. Which other
assessment is most helpful in determining the cause of the client's pain? - correct-
answer -Knee joint evaluation.
The nurse performs a series of cranial nerve tests on a client with a head injury.
Which test should the nurse use to assess damage to the first cranial nerve? -
correct-answer -Occlude one nostril and have the client identify various odors.
BSN 246 HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT V1
EXAM 2026/2027 ACTUAL QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS –
NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE
A client is in the clinical for a yearly physical examination. Which action should the
nurse take when preparing to examine the client's abdomen? - correct-answer -
Ask the client to urinate before beginning the examination.
Which respiratory condition should the nurse document after measuring a
respiratory rate of 8 breaths/minute? - correct-answer -Bradypnea.
Which procedure should the nurse use to assessfor a pulse deficit? - correct-
answer -Measure the apical pulse and compare it to the peripheral pulse.
*A pulse deficit is a palpable difference between the apical pulse at the point of
maximal impulse and the radial pulse palpated at the wrist.
A client has been diagnosed with bilateral lower lobe atelectasis. What percussion
sound should the nurse expect to hear when percussing over the client's lower
lobes? - correct-answer -Dull, thud-like.
, 2
A client is being assessed upon admission to the medical-surgical unit. The nurse
is preparing to complete a head-to-toe assessment and will begin at the head of
the client. Which technique should the nurse use to begin the assessment? -
correct-answer -Inspect the hair and skin.
The nurse is assessing a healthy young adult during an annual physical
examination. Which assessment technique should the nurse implement when
palpating the abdominal aorta? - correct-answer -Deep palpation above and to
the left of the umbilicus.
The nurse is conducting a family history as part of the assessment interview.
Which action should the nurse take to ensure that sufficient information about
the client's blood relatives is obtained? - correct-answer -Document at least 3
generations of the client's family medical history.
The nurse is testing the client's shoulders for range of motion. What should the
nurse document to record normal internal rotation? - correct-answer -Range of 90
degrees when the hands are placed at the small of the back.
A client presents with a rash along the occipital area of the hairline and reports
intense itching. How should the nurse begin the objective part of the
examination? - correct-answer -Inspect the scalp looking for nits.
The nurse is assessing a client's range of motion as the client bends the right knee
up to the chest while keeping the left leg straight, but is unable to keep the left
thigh on the table. The assessment is repeated for the left knee, and the client is
unable to keep the right thigh on the table. How should the nurse document this
, 3
finding? - correct-answer -A flexion deformity referred to as a positive Thomas
test.
During a skin asssessment, the nurse notes, round and discrete lesions that are
dark red in color and will not blanch. The lesions range from 1 to 3 mm in size.
What is the first question the nurse should ask the client? - correct-answer -Have
you notice any irregular bleeding
A client with progressive hearing loss appears distressed when the registered
nurse (RN) asks open-ended questions about the client's health history. Which
forms of communication should the RN use? - correct-answer -Face the client so
the client can see the RN's mouth.
Check if the client's hearing aides are working properly.
Reduce environmental noise surrounding the client.
A client states that she had a mastectomy of her left breast last year and now
experiences lymphedema. What should the nurse expect to find when examining
the client? - correct-answer -Swelling of the left arm and non-pitting edema.
A client has just returned from the recovery room and asks to get out of bed to go
to the bathroom. The nurse decides to obtain orthostatic vital signs first. How will
the nurse position the client to begin this procedure? - correct-answer -Lying.
A postmenopausal female client is undergoing a routine physical examination. She
has reported nothing out of the ordinary. When performing the examination of
the genitourinary system, the nurse finds an irregularly enlarged uterus with firm,
mobile, painless nodules in the uterine wall. How should the nurse explain this
, 4
finding to the client? - correct-answer -You have benign fibroid tumors, a common
occurrence in women your age.
A client is reporting chest pain. What statement made by the client, helps the
nurse to understand this client has a naturalistic belief in the cause of illness? -
correct-answer -"My life is really out of balance."
The nurse is preparing to assess the hearing of a client with a history of prolonged
exposure to occupational noise. Which hearing test provides the most reliable
assessment of hearing status? - correct-answer -Audiometry.
The nurse is performing a routine physical examination on an adult client. When
gathering a health history, which question is included in the CAGE questionnaire?
- correct-answer -Have you ever felt guilty about your drinking?
*CAGE is the acronym for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener. Nurse can
use it to assess for possible alcohol abuse.
The nurse is examining the hip joint of a client who reports hip pain. Which other
assessment is most helpful in determining the cause of the client's pain? - correct-
answer -Knee joint evaluation.
The nurse performs a series of cranial nerve tests on a client with a head injury.
Which test should the nurse use to assess damage to the first cranial nerve? -
correct-answer -Occlude one nostril and have the client identify various odors.
