Hesi Health Assessment Test Bank 100
Questions And Detailed Answers
Exam Preparation Study Guide
Comprehensive HESI-Style Question Bank
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Health History & Patient Interview — Questions 1–10
2. Neurological & Cranial Nerve Assessment — Questions 11–14
3. Cardiovascular & Peripheral Vascular Assessment — Questions 15–20
4. Skin, Thyroid & Lymphatic Assessment — Questions 21–25
5. Abdominal & General Assessment — Questions 26–40
6. Health History & Communication — Questions 41–50
7. Respiratory & Cardiovascular Examination — Questions 51–60
8. Airway, Cardiac & Abdominal Assessment — Questions 61–70
9. Urinary & Musculoskeletal Assessment — Questions 71–80
10. Neurological & Vascular Assessment — Questions 81–90
11. Skin, Nutrition, Aging & Clinical Reasoning — Questions 91–100
1. A nurse begins a health history with a patient who appears anxious and gives short
answers. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ask only yes-or-no questions
B. Use open-ended questions and therapeutic silence
C. Tell the patient to provide more detailed answers
D. Begin the physical examination immediately
Correct Answer: B. Use open-ended questions and therapeutic silence
,Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe concerns in their own words.
Therapeutic silence gives the patient time to organize thoughts and continue speaking. Closed-
ended questions are useful later for clarification but may restrict the initial narrative.
2. Which statement is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg.
B. Skin is warm and dry.
C. Patient reports having severe abdominal pain.
D. Respirations are 24/minute.
Correct Answer: C. Patient reports having severe abdominal pain.
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or experiences reported by the patient. Blood pressure,
skin findings, and respiratory rate are objective findings that the nurse can observe or measure.
3. The nurse asks a patient, "Tell me what brought you to the clinic today." What type of
question is this?
A. Closed-ended
B. Leading
C. Open-ended
D. Confrontational
Correct Answer: C. Open-ended
Rationale: An open-ended question encourages the patient to provide a narrative response rather
than limiting the response to yes or no. This approach is particularly useful at the beginning of an
interview.
, 4. A patient describes pain as "burning and stabbing." Which component of a pain
assessment does this describe?
A. Severity
B. Quality
C. Timing
D. Location
Correct Answer: B. Quality
Rationale: Quality describes what the pain feels like, such as burning, stabbing, aching,
pressure, or throbbing. Severity refers to intensity, commonly rated on a 0–10 scale.
5. Which sequence is generally used for examining most body systems?
A. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Auscultation, percussion, inspection, palpation
D. Percussion, auscultation, palpation, inspection
Correct Answer: B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Rationale: The standard physical-examination sequence is inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. The abdomen is an important exception: auscultation is performed before
percussion and palpation because manipulating the abdomen can alter bowel sounds.
6. When assessing the abdomen, which technique should the nurse use first?
A. Deep palpation
B. Light palpation
Questions And Detailed Answers
Exam Preparation Study Guide
Comprehensive HESI-Style Question Bank
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Health History & Patient Interview — Questions 1–10
2. Neurological & Cranial Nerve Assessment — Questions 11–14
3. Cardiovascular & Peripheral Vascular Assessment — Questions 15–20
4. Skin, Thyroid & Lymphatic Assessment — Questions 21–25
5. Abdominal & General Assessment — Questions 26–40
6. Health History & Communication — Questions 41–50
7. Respiratory & Cardiovascular Examination — Questions 51–60
8. Airway, Cardiac & Abdominal Assessment — Questions 61–70
9. Urinary & Musculoskeletal Assessment — Questions 71–80
10. Neurological & Vascular Assessment — Questions 81–90
11. Skin, Nutrition, Aging & Clinical Reasoning — Questions 91–100
1. A nurse begins a health history with a patient who appears anxious and gives short
answers. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Ask only yes-or-no questions
B. Use open-ended questions and therapeutic silence
C. Tell the patient to provide more detailed answers
D. Begin the physical examination immediately
Correct Answer: B. Use open-ended questions and therapeutic silence
,Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe concerns in their own words.
Therapeutic silence gives the patient time to organize thoughts and continue speaking. Closed-
ended questions are useful later for clarification but may restrict the initial narrative.
2. Which statement is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure is 148/92 mmHg.
B. Skin is warm and dry.
C. Patient reports having severe abdominal pain.
D. Respirations are 24/minute.
Correct Answer: C. Patient reports having severe abdominal pain.
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or experiences reported by the patient. Blood pressure,
skin findings, and respiratory rate are objective findings that the nurse can observe or measure.
3. The nurse asks a patient, "Tell me what brought you to the clinic today." What type of
question is this?
A. Closed-ended
B. Leading
C. Open-ended
D. Confrontational
Correct Answer: C. Open-ended
Rationale: An open-ended question encourages the patient to provide a narrative response rather
than limiting the response to yes or no. This approach is particularly useful at the beginning of an
interview.
, 4. A patient describes pain as "burning and stabbing." Which component of a pain
assessment does this describe?
A. Severity
B. Quality
C. Timing
D. Location
Correct Answer: B. Quality
Rationale: Quality describes what the pain feels like, such as burning, stabbing, aching,
pressure, or throbbing. Severity refers to intensity, commonly rated on a 0–10 scale.
5. Which sequence is generally used for examining most body systems?
A. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Auscultation, percussion, inspection, palpation
D. Percussion, auscultation, palpation, inspection
Correct Answer: B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Rationale: The standard physical-examination sequence is inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. The abdomen is an important exception: auscultation is performed before
percussion and palpation because manipulating the abdomen can alter bowel sounds.
6. When assessing the abdomen, which technique should the nurse use first?
A. Deep palpation
B. Light palpation
