HESI Prep - Health Assessment Practice Questions
1. 1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or
her memory later. Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal
behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the
nurse records what is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient,
resulting in an increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which
may increase his or her level of comfort <Ans> A) Note-taking may impede the
nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But be
aware that note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact
too often, and it shifts attention away from the patient, which diminishes his or her
sense of importance. It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow, and it impedes
the observation of the patient's nonverbal behavior.
2. 2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of
,breath. Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this state-
ment?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question: D) Open-ended question
Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It states the
topic to be discussed but only in general terms. The nurse should use it to begin
the interview, to introduce a new section of questions, and whenever the person
introduces a new topic.
3. 3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending
a wellness workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks,
"You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This question is an example
of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
,D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics <Ans> C) using
biased or leading questions.
Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions. Asking, "You don't
smoke, do you?" implies that one answer is "better" than another. If the person wants
to please someone, he or she is either forced to answer in a way corresponding to
their implied values or is made to feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
4. 4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open
position. As the interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however,
he suddenly crosses his arms against his chest and crosses his legs. This
would suggest that the parent is:
A) just changing positions.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment <Ans> D) uncomfortable
talking about his son's treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of large
muscle groups shows relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share
information. A closed position with the arms and legs crossed tends to look defensive
, and anxious. Note any change in posture. If a person in a relaxed position suddenly
tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with the new topic.
5. 5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What
techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
B) Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired
people find this degrading.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help
facilitate the communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading <Ans> A) Determine the communication
method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to commu-
nicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If the person prefers lip reading, then the
nurse should be sure to face him or her squarely and have good lighting on the
nurse's face. The nurse should not exaggerate lip movements because this distorts
1. 1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or
her memory later. Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal
behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the
nurse records what is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient,
resulting in an increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which
may increase his or her level of comfort <Ans> A) Note-taking may impede the
nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But be
aware that note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact
too often, and it shifts attention away from the patient, which diminishes his or her
sense of importance. It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow, and it impedes
the observation of the patient's nonverbal behavior.
2. 2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of
,breath. Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this state-
ment?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question: D) Open-ended question
Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It states the
topic to be discussed but only in general terms. The nurse should use it to begin
the interview, to introduce a new section of questions, and whenever the person
introduces a new topic.
3. 3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending
a wellness workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks,
"You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This question is an example
of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
,D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics <Ans> C) using
biased or leading questions.
Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions. Asking, "You don't
smoke, do you?" implies that one answer is "better" than another. If the person wants
to please someone, he or she is either forced to answer in a way corresponding to
their implied values or is made to feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
4. 4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open
position. As the interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however,
he suddenly crosses his arms against his chest and crosses his legs. This
would suggest that the parent is:
A) just changing positions.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment <Ans> D) uncomfortable
talking about his son's treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of large
muscle groups shows relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share
information. A closed position with the arms and legs crossed tends to look defensive
, and anxious. Note any change in posture. If a person in a relaxed position suddenly
tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with the new topic.
5. 5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What
techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
B) Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired
people find this degrading.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help
facilitate the communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading <Ans> A) Determine the communication
method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to commu-
nicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If the person prefers lip reading, then the
nurse should be sure to face him or her squarely and have good lighting on the
nurse's face. The nurse should not exaggerate lip movements because this distorts
