BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment V1 Exam Prep: 300
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.
SECTION 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT FUNDAMENTALS
(Questions 1–50)
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a health history on a new patient. Which
component should the nurse collect first?
A) Review of systems
B) Biographical data
C) Family history
D) Present health concern
Rationale: Biographical data is collected first to establish patient identity and basic
demographics before proceeding with the health history.
,2. A nurse is performing a physical assessment. Which technique should the nurse
use first?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Inspection
D) Auscultation
Rationale: Inspection is always performed first because it provides an overview and
prevents alteration of findings by other techniques.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen. Which sequence of assessment
techniques should the nurse use?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, auscultation precedes percussion and palpation to
prevent altering bowel sounds.
4. A nurse is performing deep palpation of a patient's abdomen. Which finding
requires immediate notification of the provider?
A) Soft, non-tender abdomen
B) Rigid, board-like abdomen
C) Bowel sounds in all quadrants
D) Mild tenderness on palpation
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen indicates peritoneal irritation and requires
immediate intervention.
,5. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin turgor. Which finding indicates
dehydration?
A) Skin returns to normal immediately
B) Skin remains tented after release
C) Skin is warm and dry
D) Skin is pink and intact
Rationale: Poor skin turgor (tenting) indicates dehydration.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient's capillary refill. Which finding is normal?
A) 5 seconds
B) Less than 3 seconds
C) 4 seconds
D) 10 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill is less than 3 seconds.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. Which finding indicates
the patient is alert?
A) Responds to painful stimuli
B) Spontaneous, awake, and responsive
C) Responds to verbal stimuli only
D) Unresponsive
Rationale: An alert patient is awake, spontaneous, and responds appropriately to stimuli.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's orientation. Which questions should the nurse
ask?
A) Name, address, and phone number
B) Person, place, and time
C) Date of birth, age, and gender
D) Medical history and medications
, Rationale: Orientation is assessed by asking about person, place, and time.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What does the
"P" stand for?
A) Pain level
B) Precipitating factors
C) Palliative measures
D) Patient position
Rationale: PQRST stands for Precipitating factors, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and
Timing.
10. A nurse is assessing a patient's vital signs. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg
B) Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
C) Heart rate 88 beats/min
D) Temperature 99°F
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 8 is below normal and indicates respiratory depression.
11. A nurse is assessing a patient's pulse. Which finding indicates a weak, thready
pulse?
A) Pulse 1+ (weak, thready)
B) Pulse 1+ (weak, thready)
C) Pulse 3+ (full, bounding)
D) Pulse 4+ (bounding)
Rationale: A 1+ pulse is weak and thready, indicating decreased cardiac output.
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.
SECTION 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT FUNDAMENTALS
(Questions 1–50)
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a health history on a new patient. Which
component should the nurse collect first?
A) Review of systems
B) Biographical data
C) Family history
D) Present health concern
Rationale: Biographical data is collected first to establish patient identity and basic
demographics before proceeding with the health history.
,2. A nurse is performing a physical assessment. Which technique should the nurse
use first?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Inspection
D) Auscultation
Rationale: Inspection is always performed first because it provides an overview and
prevents alteration of findings by other techniques.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen. Which sequence of assessment
techniques should the nurse use?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, auscultation precedes percussion and palpation to
prevent altering bowel sounds.
4. A nurse is performing deep palpation of a patient's abdomen. Which finding
requires immediate notification of the provider?
A) Soft, non-tender abdomen
B) Rigid, board-like abdomen
C) Bowel sounds in all quadrants
D) Mild tenderness on palpation
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen indicates peritoneal irritation and requires
immediate intervention.
,5. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin turgor. Which finding indicates
dehydration?
A) Skin returns to normal immediately
B) Skin remains tented after release
C) Skin is warm and dry
D) Skin is pink and intact
Rationale: Poor skin turgor (tenting) indicates dehydration.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient's capillary refill. Which finding is normal?
A) 5 seconds
B) Less than 3 seconds
C) 4 seconds
D) 10 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill is less than 3 seconds.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. Which finding indicates
the patient is alert?
A) Responds to painful stimuli
B) Spontaneous, awake, and responsive
C) Responds to verbal stimuli only
D) Unresponsive
Rationale: An alert patient is awake, spontaneous, and responds appropriately to stimuli.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's orientation. Which questions should the nurse
ask?
A) Name, address, and phone number
B) Person, place, and time
C) Date of birth, age, and gender
D) Medical history and medications
, Rationale: Orientation is assessed by asking about person, place, and time.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What does the
"P" stand for?
A) Pain level
B) Precipitating factors
C) Palliative measures
D) Patient position
Rationale: PQRST stands for Precipitating factors, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and
Timing.
10. A nurse is assessing a patient's vital signs. Which finding requires immediate
intervention?
A) Blood pressure 120/80 mm Hg
B) Respiratory rate 8 breaths/min
C) Heart rate 88 beats/min
D) Temperature 99°F
Rationale: A respiratory rate of 8 is below normal and indicates respiratory depression.
11. A nurse is assessing a patient's pulse. Which finding indicates a weak, thready
pulse?
A) Pulse 1+ (weak, thready)
B) Pulse 1+ (weak, thready)
C) Pulse 3+ (full, bounding)
D) Pulse 4+ (bounding)
Rationale: A 1+ pulse is weak and thready, indicating decreased cardiac output.
