HESI Prep - Health Assessment Practice Questions
With Correct ANSWERS
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. - Correct answer- 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. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
,C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question - Correct answer- 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. 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. - Correct answer- 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. 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. - Correct answer- 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. 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. - Correct answer- A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to communicate—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 words. Similarly, shouting distorts the reception
of a hearing aid the person may wear. The nurse should speak slowly and should supplement his
or her voice with appropriate hand gestures or pantomime.
6. The nurse is performing a health interview on a patient who has a language barrier, and no
interpreter is available. Which is the best example of an appropriate question for the nurse to
ask in this situation?
, A) "Do you take medicine?"
B) "Do you sterilize the bottles?"
C) "Do you have nausea and vomiting?"
D) "You have been taking your medicine, haven't you?" - Correct answer- A) "Do you take
medicine?"
Page: 46 In a situation where there is a language barrier and no interpreter available, use simple
words avoiding medical jargon. Avoid using contractions and pronouns. Use nouns repeatedly
and discuss one topic at a time.
7. A female patient does not speak English well, and the nurse needs to choose an interpreter.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate choice?
A) A trained interpreter
B) A male family member
C) A female family member
D) A volunteer college student from the foreign language studies department - Correct answer-
A) A trained interpreter
Page: 46 whenever possible, the nurse should use a trained interpreter, preferably one who
knows medical terminology. In general, an older, more mature interpreter is preferred to a
younger, less experienced one, and the same gender is preferred when possible.
8. The nurse is conducting an interview. Which of these statements is true regarding open-
ended questions? Select all that apply.
A) They elicit cold facts.
B) They allow for self-expression.
C) They build and enhance rapport.
With Correct ANSWERS
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. - Correct answer- 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. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
,C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question - Correct answer- 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. 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. - Correct answer- 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. 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. - Correct answer- 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. 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. - Correct answer- A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to communicate—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 words. Similarly, shouting distorts the reception
of a hearing aid the person may wear. The nurse should speak slowly and should supplement his
or her voice with appropriate hand gestures or pantomime.
6. The nurse is performing a health interview on a patient who has a language barrier, and no
interpreter is available. Which is the best example of an appropriate question for the nurse to
ask in this situation?
, A) "Do you take medicine?"
B) "Do you sterilize the bottles?"
C) "Do you have nausea and vomiting?"
D) "You have been taking your medicine, haven't you?" - Correct answer- A) "Do you take
medicine?"
Page: 46 In a situation where there is a language barrier and no interpreter available, use simple
words avoiding medical jargon. Avoid using contractions and pronouns. Use nouns repeatedly
and discuss one topic at a time.
7. A female patient does not speak English well, and the nurse needs to choose an interpreter.
Which of the following would be the most appropriate choice?
A) A trained interpreter
B) A male family member
C) A female family member
D) A volunteer college student from the foreign language studies department - Correct answer-
A) A trained interpreter
Page: 46 whenever possible, the nurse should use a trained interpreter, preferably one who
knows medical terminology. In general, an older, more mature interpreter is preferred to a
younger, less experienced one, and the same gender is preferred when possible.
8. The nurse is conducting an interview. Which of these statements is true regarding open-
ended questions? Select all that apply.
A) They elicit cold facts.
B) They allow for self-expression.
C) They build and enhance rapport.
