BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment V1 Exam Prep- Practice
Questions & Verified Answers 3 VERSIONS
This specialized clinical testing resource provides targeted practice questions and
verified answers designed specifically for Version 1 of the BSN 246 HESI Health
Assessment specialty exam. It delivers deep-dive coverage of core nursing
competencies, including multi-system physical examination techniques, differentiating
normal from abnormal findings, health history interviewing, and documentation
standards. Baccalaureate nursing students will master advanced diagnostic reasoning
and clinical data interpretation parameters to successfully pass this high-stakes
proctored exit assessment.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness using the AVPU
mnemonic. What does the "P" stand for?
A) Pain
B) Painful response
C) Pulse
D) Pupils
Rationale: AVPU stands for Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive. The "P" indicates the
patient responds only to painful stimuli.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin for pressure injury risk using the Braden
Scale. Which subscale is NOT part of the Braden Scale?
A) Sensory perception
B) Moisture
C) Pain
D) Mobility
Rationale: The Braden Scale assesses sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility,
nutrition, and friction/shear. Pain is not a subscale.
,3. A nurse is assessing a patient's pupillary response. Which finding indicates a
normal response?
A) Pupils 2 mm, non-reactive
B) Pupils 3 mm, constrict to light
C) Pupils 6 mm, fixed
D) Pupils 4 mm, unequal
Rationale: Normal pupils are 2–5 mm and constrict briskly to light.
4. A nurse is testing a patient's extraocular eye movements. Which cranial nerves
are being assessed?
A) CN I, II, III
B) CN III, IV, VI
C) CN V, VII, IX
D) CN VIII, X, XII
Rationale: Extraocular movements are controlled by CN III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear),
and VI (abducens).
5. A nurse is assessing a patient's visual fields by confrontation. Which finding
indicates a normal response?
A) Patient sees the nurse's fingers only on one side
B) Patient sees the nurse's fingers in all four quadrants
C) Patient cannot see the nurse's fingers
D) Patient sees the nurse's fingers only centrally
Rationale: Normal visual fields allow the patient to see the examiner's fingers in all four
quadrants when tested by confrontation.
6. A nurse is performing an otoscopic examination. Which finding indicates a
normal tympanic membrane?
A) Red, bulging membrane
,B) Pearly gray, translucent membrane
C) Yellow, retracted membrane
D) Perforated membrane
Rationale: A normal tympanic membrane is pearly gray, translucent, and intact.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient's nasal mucosa. Which finding indicates allergy?
A) Pale, dry mucosa
B) Pale, boggy mucosa with clear discharge
C) Red, swollen mucosa with purulent discharge
D) Normal pink mucosa
Rationale: Allergic rhinitis causes pale, boggy nasal mucosa with clear discharge.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's mouth. Which finding indicates gingivitis?
A) Pink, moist gums
B) Red, swollen gums that bleed easily
C) White patches on the tongue
D) Yellow teeth
Rationale: Gingivitis is characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient's throat. Which finding indicates streptococcal
pharyngitis?
A) Clear throat
B) Red throat with white exudate and fever
C) Mild sore throat
D) Hoarse voice
Rationale: Streptococcal pharyngitis presents with a red throat, white exudate, fever, and
swollen tonsils.
, 10. A nurse is assessing a patient's neck. Which finding indicates thyroid
enlargement?
A) Neck symmetrical
B) Visible swelling at the base of the neck
C) Neck supple
D) Trachea midline
Rationale: Thyroid enlargement (goiter) presents as visible swelling at the base of the neck.
11. A nurse is assessing a patient's chest expansion. Which finding indicates
normal chest expansion?
A) Asymmetrical expansion
B) Symmetrical expansion
C) Decreased expansion
D) Paradoxical movement
Rationale: Normal chest expansion is symmetrical.
12. A nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory rate. Which finding indicates
bradypnea?
A) 16 breaths/min
B) 8 breaths/min
C) 20 breaths/min
D) 24 breaths/min
Rationale: Bradypnea is a respiratory rate below 12 breaths/min in adults.
13. A nurse is assessing a patient's lung sounds. Which finding indicates
pneumonia?
A) Clear breath sounds
Questions & Verified Answers 3 VERSIONS
This specialized clinical testing resource provides targeted practice questions and
verified answers designed specifically for Version 1 of the BSN 246 HESI Health
Assessment specialty exam. It delivers deep-dive coverage of core nursing
competencies, including multi-system physical examination techniques, differentiating
normal from abnormal findings, health history interviewing, and documentation
standards. Baccalaureate nursing students will master advanced diagnostic reasoning
and clinical data interpretation parameters to successfully pass this high-stakes
proctored exit assessment.
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness using the AVPU
mnemonic. What does the "P" stand for?
A) Pain
B) Painful response
C) Pulse
D) Pupils
Rationale: AVPU stands for Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive. The "P" indicates the
patient responds only to painful stimuli.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin for pressure injury risk using the Braden
Scale. Which subscale is NOT part of the Braden Scale?
A) Sensory perception
B) Moisture
C) Pain
D) Mobility
Rationale: The Braden Scale assesses sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility,
nutrition, and friction/shear. Pain is not a subscale.
,3. A nurse is assessing a patient's pupillary response. Which finding indicates a
normal response?
A) Pupils 2 mm, non-reactive
B) Pupils 3 mm, constrict to light
C) Pupils 6 mm, fixed
D) Pupils 4 mm, unequal
Rationale: Normal pupils are 2–5 mm and constrict briskly to light.
4. A nurse is testing a patient's extraocular eye movements. Which cranial nerves
are being assessed?
A) CN I, II, III
B) CN III, IV, VI
C) CN V, VII, IX
D) CN VIII, X, XII
Rationale: Extraocular movements are controlled by CN III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear),
and VI (abducens).
5. A nurse is assessing a patient's visual fields by confrontation. Which finding
indicates a normal response?
A) Patient sees the nurse's fingers only on one side
B) Patient sees the nurse's fingers in all four quadrants
C) Patient cannot see the nurse's fingers
D) Patient sees the nurse's fingers only centrally
Rationale: Normal visual fields allow the patient to see the examiner's fingers in all four
quadrants when tested by confrontation.
6. A nurse is performing an otoscopic examination. Which finding indicates a
normal tympanic membrane?
A) Red, bulging membrane
,B) Pearly gray, translucent membrane
C) Yellow, retracted membrane
D) Perforated membrane
Rationale: A normal tympanic membrane is pearly gray, translucent, and intact.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient's nasal mucosa. Which finding indicates allergy?
A) Pale, dry mucosa
B) Pale, boggy mucosa with clear discharge
C) Red, swollen mucosa with purulent discharge
D) Normal pink mucosa
Rationale: Allergic rhinitis causes pale, boggy nasal mucosa with clear discharge.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's mouth. Which finding indicates gingivitis?
A) Pink, moist gums
B) Red, swollen gums that bleed easily
C) White patches on the tongue
D) Yellow teeth
Rationale: Gingivitis is characterized by red, swollen gums that bleed easily.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient's throat. Which finding indicates streptococcal
pharyngitis?
A) Clear throat
B) Red throat with white exudate and fever
C) Mild sore throat
D) Hoarse voice
Rationale: Streptococcal pharyngitis presents with a red throat, white exudate, fever, and
swollen tonsils.
, 10. A nurse is assessing a patient's neck. Which finding indicates thyroid
enlargement?
A) Neck symmetrical
B) Visible swelling at the base of the neck
C) Neck supple
D) Trachea midline
Rationale: Thyroid enlargement (goiter) presents as visible swelling at the base of the neck.
11. A nurse is assessing a patient's chest expansion. Which finding indicates
normal chest expansion?
A) Asymmetrical expansion
B) Symmetrical expansion
C) Decreased expansion
D) Paradoxical movement
Rationale: Normal chest expansion is symmetrical.
12. A nurse is assessing a patient's respiratory rate. Which finding indicates
bradypnea?
A) 16 breaths/min
B) 8 breaths/min
C) 20 breaths/min
D) 24 breaths/min
Rationale: Bradypnea is a respiratory rate below 12 breaths/min in adults.
13. A nurse is assessing a patient's lung sounds. Which finding indicates
pneumonia?
A) Clear breath sounds
