,Nightingale BSN 246 Exam 2 | Concepts of Nursing I HESI Health
Assessment (2026) Q&A
1. The nurse is performing a comprehensive health history on a 45-year-old patient.
Which of the following is the most appropriate opening question to build rapport?
A) "What is your chief complaint today?"
B) "Tell me about your current health concerns."
C) "How are you feeling today?"
D) "What medications are you taking?"
Correct Answer: "How are you feeling today?"
Rationale: Starting with an open-ended, empathetic question like "How are you feeling
today?" encourages the patient to share freely, establishing trust and rapport, which is
foundational in the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.
2. A nurse is assessing a client for an apical-radial pulse deficit. One nurse counts an
apical pulse of 72 beats/minute while another nurse counts a radial pulse of 88
beats/minute. Which action should the primary nurse take?
A) Check the reading after the other nurse leaves the room
B) Document a pulse deficit of 16 beats per minute
C) Report the results of the deficit to the healthcare provider
D) Repeat the assessment to obtain another reading
Correct Answer: Repeat the assessment to obtain another reading
Rationale: Repeating the assessment to obtain another reading is appropriate. This option
prioritizes patient safety by acknowledging the need to confirm the accuracy of the
,measurements. Repeating the assessment allows the nurses to ensure consistency and
reliability in their findings before taking further action or reporting to the healthcare
provider.
3. A nurse observes that a client is experiencing melena. Which serum laboratory test
should the nurse monitor in response to this finding?
A) White blood cell count (WBC)
B) Glucose
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Hematocrit
Correct Answer: Hematocrit
Rationale: Hematocrit levels are crucial to monitor in cases of melena because they
provide information about the client's red blood cell volume and can indicate the extent
of blood loss. Melena (black, tarry stools) indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and
monitoring hematocrit helps assess the severity of blood loss.
4. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A) 8–10 breaths/min
B) 12–20 breaths/min
C) 22–30 breaths/min
D) 30–40 breaths/min
Correct Answer: 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths/min. This is the standard range
for a resting adult.
, 5. What is the first step in performing a physical examination?
A) Palpation
B) Inspection
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is always the first step in a physical examination because it involves
the visual examination of the patient's overall appearance, body structure, and any
observable signs. Palpation, percussion, and auscultation follow to gather further data.
6. What is the best position for lung assessment?
A) Supine
B) Sitting upright
C) Prone
D) Trendelenburg
Correct Answer: Sitting upright
Rationale: The upright position allows for full lung expansion and is the optimal position
for assessing the respiratory system.
7. What is the normal adult heart rate?
A) 40–60 beats/min
B) 60–100 beats/min
Assessment (2026) Q&A
1. The nurse is performing a comprehensive health history on a 45-year-old patient.
Which of the following is the most appropriate opening question to build rapport?
A) "What is your chief complaint today?"
B) "Tell me about your current health concerns."
C) "How are you feeling today?"
D) "What medications are you taking?"
Correct Answer: "How are you feeling today?"
Rationale: Starting with an open-ended, empathetic question like "How are you feeling
today?" encourages the patient to share freely, establishing trust and rapport, which is
foundational in the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.
2. A nurse is assessing a client for an apical-radial pulse deficit. One nurse counts an
apical pulse of 72 beats/minute while another nurse counts a radial pulse of 88
beats/minute. Which action should the primary nurse take?
A) Check the reading after the other nurse leaves the room
B) Document a pulse deficit of 16 beats per minute
C) Report the results of the deficit to the healthcare provider
D) Repeat the assessment to obtain another reading
Correct Answer: Repeat the assessment to obtain another reading
Rationale: Repeating the assessment to obtain another reading is appropriate. This option
prioritizes patient safety by acknowledging the need to confirm the accuracy of the
,measurements. Repeating the assessment allows the nurses to ensure consistency and
reliability in their findings before taking further action or reporting to the healthcare
provider.
3. A nurse observes that a client is experiencing melena. Which serum laboratory test
should the nurse monitor in response to this finding?
A) White blood cell count (WBC)
B) Glucose
C) Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
D) Hematocrit
Correct Answer: Hematocrit
Rationale: Hematocrit levels are crucial to monitor in cases of melena because they
provide information about the client's red blood cell volume and can indicate the extent
of blood loss. Melena (black, tarry stools) indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and
monitoring hematocrit helps assess the severity of blood loss.
4. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A) 8–10 breaths/min
B) 12–20 breaths/min
C) 22–30 breaths/min
D) 30–40 breaths/min
Correct Answer: 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths/min. This is the standard range
for a resting adult.
, 5. What is the first step in performing a physical examination?
A) Palpation
B) Inspection
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is always the first step in a physical examination because it involves
the visual examination of the patient's overall appearance, body structure, and any
observable signs. Palpation, percussion, and auscultation follow to gather further data.
6. What is the best position for lung assessment?
A) Supine
B) Sitting upright
C) Prone
D) Trendelenburg
Correct Answer: Sitting upright
Rationale: The upright position allows for full lung expansion and is the optimal position
for assessing the respiratory system.
7. What is the normal adult heart rate?
A) 40–60 beats/min
B) 60–100 beats/min
