BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment V1 Exam Prep- Practice
Questions & Verified Answers
This specialized clinical testing resource provides 300 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.
A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's mental status. Which tool is most
appropriate for a brief cognitive assessment in an older adult?
A) Glasgow Coma Scale
B) Mini-Cog
C) Morse Fall Scale
D) Braden Scale
Rationale: The Mini-Cog is a brief, validated tool for cognitive screening in older adults,
combining a 3-item recall and clock drawing test.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the FLACC scale. Which patient
population is this tool designed for?
A) Older adults with dementia
B) Infants and young children who cannot verbalize pain
C) Adolescents with chronic pain
D) Adults with cancer pain
Rationale: The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is used for infants and
young children who cannot self-report pain.
,3. A nurse is performing a nutritional assessment. Which method provides the
most accurate account of a patient's typical dietary intake?
A) 24-hour recall
B) Food diary kept for several days
C) Food frequency questionnaire
D) Body mass index calculation
Rationale: A food diary kept over several days provides a more accurate picture of usual
intake than a single 24-hour recall.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin for melanoma. Which finding is
characteristic of the "E" in the ABCDE rule?
A) Asymmetry
B) Border irregularity
C) Color variation
D) Evolution (change in size, shape, or color)
Rationale: The ABCDE rule for melanoma includes Evolution, which refers to changes in
the mole over time.
5. A nurse is testing a patient's visual acuity using a Snellen chart. At what distance
should the patient stand?
A) 10 feet
B) 20 feet
C) 15 feet
D) 25 feet
Rationale: The Snellen chart is standardized for a testing distance of 20 feet.
,6. A nurse is performing the whisper test to assess hearing. Which action is
correct?
A) Whisper into both ears simultaneously
B) Mask the sound in the non-test ear and whisper into the test ear
C) Ask the patient to repeat words spoken at a normal volume
D) Use a tuning fork
Rationale: The whisper test is performed by masking the non-test ear and whispering into
the test ear from about 1–2 feet away.
7. A nurse is performing the Rinne test. Which finding indicates normal hearing?
A) Air conduction is shorter than bone conduction
B) Air conduction is longer than bone conduction
C) Bone conduction is equal to air conduction
D) Bone conduction is longer than air conduction
Rationale: In normal hearing, air conduction is greater than bone conduction (AC > BC).
8. A nurse is performing the Weber test. Which finding suggests conductive
hearing loss in the right ear?
A) Sound is heard equally in both ears
B) Sound lateralizes to the right ear
C) Sound lateralizes to the left ear
D) No sound is heard
Rationale: In conductive hearing loss, the Weber test lateralizes to the affected ear.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient's thyroid gland. Which technique is correct?
A) Auscultate the thyroid for bruits
B) Palpate the thyroid while the patient swallows
C) Percuss the thyroid for dullness
D) Inspect the thyroid with the patient's neck flexed forward
, Rationale: The thyroid is best palpated while the patient swallows, as it moves upward
with swallowing.
10. A nurse is assessing a patient's lymph nodes. Which finding requires further
investigation?
A) Mobile, tender nodes
B) Fixed, non-tender nodes
C) Soft, small nodes
D) Bilateral, mobile nodes
Rationale: Fixed, non-tender lymph nodes are concerning for malignancy and require
further evaluation.
11. A nurse is teaching a patient about breast self-examination (BSE). When should
the patient perform BSE?
A) On the first day of menstruation
B) A few days after menstruation ends
C) During ovulation
D) At the end of the menstrual cycle
Rationale: BSE is best performed a few days after menstruation when breasts are least
tender and lumpy.
12. A nurse is assessing a male patient for an inguinal hernia. Which action is
correct?
A) Ask the patient to lie flat and cough
B) Ask the patient to stand and bear down
C) Palpate the scrotum while the patient is supine
D) Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds
Rationale: Inguinal hernias are best detected by asking the patient to stand and bear down
(Valsalva maneuver).
Questions & Verified Answers
This specialized clinical testing resource provides 300 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.
A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's mental status. Which tool is most
appropriate for a brief cognitive assessment in an older adult?
A) Glasgow Coma Scale
B) Mini-Cog
C) Morse Fall Scale
D) Braden Scale
Rationale: The Mini-Cog is a brief, validated tool for cognitive screening in older adults,
combining a 3-item recall and clock drawing test.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the FLACC scale. Which patient
population is this tool designed for?
A) Older adults with dementia
B) Infants and young children who cannot verbalize pain
C) Adolescents with chronic pain
D) Adults with cancer pain
Rationale: The FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) scale is used for infants and
young children who cannot self-report pain.
,3. A nurse is performing a nutritional assessment. Which method provides the
most accurate account of a patient's typical dietary intake?
A) 24-hour recall
B) Food diary kept for several days
C) Food frequency questionnaire
D) Body mass index calculation
Rationale: A food diary kept over several days provides a more accurate picture of usual
intake than a single 24-hour recall.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin for melanoma. Which finding is
characteristic of the "E" in the ABCDE rule?
A) Asymmetry
B) Border irregularity
C) Color variation
D) Evolution (change in size, shape, or color)
Rationale: The ABCDE rule for melanoma includes Evolution, which refers to changes in
the mole over time.
5. A nurse is testing a patient's visual acuity using a Snellen chart. At what distance
should the patient stand?
A) 10 feet
B) 20 feet
C) 15 feet
D) 25 feet
Rationale: The Snellen chart is standardized for a testing distance of 20 feet.
,6. A nurse is performing the whisper test to assess hearing. Which action is
correct?
A) Whisper into both ears simultaneously
B) Mask the sound in the non-test ear and whisper into the test ear
C) Ask the patient to repeat words spoken at a normal volume
D) Use a tuning fork
Rationale: The whisper test is performed by masking the non-test ear and whispering into
the test ear from about 1–2 feet away.
7. A nurse is performing the Rinne test. Which finding indicates normal hearing?
A) Air conduction is shorter than bone conduction
B) Air conduction is longer than bone conduction
C) Bone conduction is equal to air conduction
D) Bone conduction is longer than air conduction
Rationale: In normal hearing, air conduction is greater than bone conduction (AC > BC).
8. A nurse is performing the Weber test. Which finding suggests conductive
hearing loss in the right ear?
A) Sound is heard equally in both ears
B) Sound lateralizes to the right ear
C) Sound lateralizes to the left ear
D) No sound is heard
Rationale: In conductive hearing loss, the Weber test lateralizes to the affected ear.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient's thyroid gland. Which technique is correct?
A) Auscultate the thyroid for bruits
B) Palpate the thyroid while the patient swallows
C) Percuss the thyroid for dullness
D) Inspect the thyroid with the patient's neck flexed forward
, Rationale: The thyroid is best palpated while the patient swallows, as it moves upward
with swallowing.
10. A nurse is assessing a patient's lymph nodes. Which finding requires further
investigation?
A) Mobile, tender nodes
B) Fixed, non-tender nodes
C) Soft, small nodes
D) Bilateral, mobile nodes
Rationale: Fixed, non-tender lymph nodes are concerning for malignancy and require
further evaluation.
11. A nurse is teaching a patient about breast self-examination (BSE). When should
the patient perform BSE?
A) On the first day of menstruation
B) A few days after menstruation ends
C) During ovulation
D) At the end of the menstrual cycle
Rationale: BSE is best performed a few days after menstruation when breasts are least
tender and lumpy.
12. A nurse is assessing a male patient for an inguinal hernia. Which action is
correct?
A) Ask the patient to lie flat and cough
B) Ask the patient to stand and bear down
C) Palpate the scrotum while the patient is supine
D) Auscultate the abdomen for bowel sounds
Rationale: Inguinal hernias are best detected by asking the patient to stand and bear down
(Valsalva maneuver).
