HESI A2 Critical Thinking Questions with
Verified Answers A+ Grade 2026/2027 |
Complete Exam Study Guide
Terms in this set (220)
1. The nurse is working in the Rationale
emergency department (ED) of a
children's medical center. Which Correct - 3-The child hit by a car should be
client should the nurse assess first? assessed first because he or she may have life-
1. The 1-month-old infant who has threatening injuries that must be assessed and
developed colic and is crying. treated promptly.
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.
,1. In an interview, the nurse may find A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's
it necessary to take notes to aid his observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
or her memory later. Which
statement is true regarding note- Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-
taking? taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that
note-taking during the interview has
A) Note-taking may impede the disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often,
nurse's observation of the patient's and it shifts attention away from the patient,
nonverbal behaviors. which diminishes his or her sense of importance.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
continue at his or her own pace as and it impedes the observation of the patient's
the nurse records what is said. nonverbal behavior.
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.
2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed Rationale
with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a
crisis is complaining of a severe headache, the nurse should first rule out
headache. Which intervention cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess- ing
should the nurse implement first? the client's neurological status and then
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal determine whether it is a headache that can be
cannula. treated with medication.
2. Assess the client's neurological
status.
3. Administer a narcotic analgesic
by intravenous push (IVP). 4.
Increase the client's intravenous (IV)
rate.
,2. During an interview, the nurse D) Open-ended question
states, "You mentioned shortness of
breath. Tell me more about that." Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for
Which verbal skill is used with this narrative information. It states the topic to be
statement? discussed but only in general terms. The nurse
should use it to begin the interview, to introduce
A) Reflection a new section of questions, and whenever the
B) Facilitation person introduces a new topic.
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
3. The 6-year-old client who has Rationale
undergone abdominal surgery is
attempting to make a pinwheel spin Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the
by blowing on it with the nurse's child for attempts at cooperation even if the child
assistance. The child starts crying did not accomplish what the nurse asked.
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.
, 3. A nurse is taking complete health C) using biased or leading questions.
histories on all of the patients
attending a wellness workshop. On Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or
the history form, one of the written biased questions. Asking, "You don't smoke, do
questions asks, "You don't smoke, you?" implies that one answer is "better" than
drink, or take drugs, do you?" This another. If the person wants to please someone,
question is an example of: he or she is either forced to answer in a way
corresponding to their implied values or is made
A) talking too much. to feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading
questions.
D) using blunt language to deal
with distasteful topics.
4. The nurse is caring for clients on Rationale
the pediatric medical unit. Which
client should the nurse assess first? Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 93% is significant and indicates hypoxia, which is
diabetes who has a blood glucose life threatening; therefore, this child should be
level assessed first.
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%.
Verified Answers A+ Grade 2026/2027 |
Complete Exam Study Guide
Terms in this set (220)
1. The nurse is working in the Rationale
emergency department (ED) of a
children's medical center. Which Correct - 3-The child hit by a car should be
client should the nurse assess first? assessed first because he or she may have life-
1. The 1-month-old infant who has threatening injuries that must be assessed and
developed colic and is crying. treated promptly.
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.
,1. In an interview, the nurse may find A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's
it necessary to take notes to aid his observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
or her memory later. Which
statement is true regarding note- Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-
taking? taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that
note-taking during the interview has
A) Note-taking may impede the disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often,
nurse's observation of the patient's and it shifts attention away from the patient,
nonverbal behaviors. which diminishes his or her sense of importance.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
continue at his or her own pace as and it impedes the observation of the patient's
the nurse records what is said. nonverbal behavior.
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.
2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed Rationale
with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a
crisis is complaining of a severe headache, the nurse should first rule out
headache. Which intervention cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess- ing
should the nurse implement first? the client's neurological status and then
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal determine whether it is a headache that can be
cannula. treated with medication.
2. Assess the client's neurological
status.
3. Administer a narcotic analgesic
by intravenous push (IVP). 4.
Increase the client's intravenous (IV)
rate.
,2. During an interview, the nurse D) Open-ended question
states, "You mentioned shortness of
breath. Tell me more about that." Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for
Which verbal skill is used with this narrative information. It states the topic to be
statement? discussed but only in general terms. The nurse
should use it to begin the interview, to introduce
A) Reflection a new section of questions, and whenever the
B) Facilitation person introduces a new topic.
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
3. The 6-year-old client who has Rationale
undergone abdominal surgery is
attempting to make a pinwheel spin Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the
by blowing on it with the nurse's child for attempts at cooperation even if the child
assistance. The child starts crying did not accomplish what the nurse asked.
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.
, 3. A nurse is taking complete health C) using biased or leading questions.
histories on all of the patients
attending a wellness workshop. On Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or
the history form, one of the written biased questions. Asking, "You don't smoke, do
questions asks, "You don't smoke, you?" implies that one answer is "better" than
drink, or take drugs, do you?" This another. If the person wants to please someone,
question is an example of: he or she is either forced to answer in a way
corresponding to their implied values or is made
A) talking too much. to feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading
questions.
D) using blunt language to deal
with distasteful topics.
4. The nurse is caring for clients on Rationale
the pediatric medical unit. Which
client should the nurse assess first? Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 93% is significant and indicates hypoxia, which is
diabetes who has a blood glucose life threatening; therefore, this child should be
level assessed first.
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%.
