2025 HESI Physical
Assessment Practice Exam with 120 Detailed
Questions , Answers and Rationales for Nursing
Student Success
What movement from the patient does a nurse request to assess for hyperextension of the
hip?
a. Raise one leg at a time while lying prone.
b. Raise one leg at a time while lying supine.
c. Move one leg at a time laterally, away from midline, while lying prone.
d. Move one leg at a time medially, toward midline, while lying supine. - - correct ans- Ans A
A This procedure tests hyperextension of the hip.
B This procedure tests hip flexion.
C This procedure tests hip abduction.
D This procedure tests hip adduction.
With the patient in a supine position, how does a nurse test the external rotation of the
patient's right hip?
a. Asking the patient to move the right leg laterally with the right knee straight
b. Asking the patient to flex the right knee and turn medially toward the left side (inward)
c. Asking the patient to place the right heel on the left patella
d. Asking the patient to raise the right leg straight up and perpendicular to the body - -
correct ans- -Ans C
,A Moving the right leg laterally with the right knee straight assesses abduction of the right
hip.
B Flexing the right knee and turning medially toward the left side (inward) internally rotates
the right hip.
C Placing the right heel on the left patella externally rotates the right hip.
D Raising the right leg straight up and perpendicular to the body flexes the right hip.
How does a nurse assess the eversion and inversion of a patient's ankle?
a. For eversion, ask the patient to turn the sole of the foot away from the body and for
inversion turn the sole of the foot toward the midline.
b. For eversion, ask the patient to turn the sole of the inward toward the midline and
for inversion turn the sole of the foot away from the body.
c. For eversion, ask the patient to walk on his toes and, for inversion, to walk on his
heels.
d. For eversion, ask the patient to point the toes forward and, for inversion, to point the
toes backward. - - correct ans- -Ans A
A This is the correct maneuver for eversion and inversion of the ankle.
B This movement is the opposite of the correct movement.
C This is the test for muscle strength of the ankles and feet.
D This is the maneuver for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle.
On inspection of a patient's hands, the nurse notices ulnar deviation and swan-neck
deformities bilaterally and correlates this finding with which disorder? a. Osteoarthritis
b. Osteoporosis
c. Rheumatoid arthritis
d. Gout - - correct ans- -Ans C
A The findings are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
B The findings are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
,C Ulnar deviation, swan-neck, and boutonnière deformities of interphalangeal joints are
manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.
D The findings are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
With the patient lying supine, a nurse raises the patient's leg to flex the hip. The patient
complains of pain when the leg is raised to 40 degrees. The nurse correlates this finding with
which disorder?
a. Lumbar nerve compression
b. Cervical disk herniation
c. Osteoarthritis
d. Bursitis - - correct ans- -Ans A
A To evaluate for nerve root irritation or lumbar disk herniation, perform straight leg
raises. Pain in the back of the leg with 30 to 60 degrees of elevation indicates pressure on a
lumbar peripheral nerve by an intervertebral disk.
B Straight leg raises evaluate for herniated disks, but not in the cervical disks in the
neck.
C Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of articular cartilage that affects
weightbearing joints such as vertebrae, hips, knees, and ankles. Straight leg raises is not a
technique to assess for osteoarthritis.
D Bursa become inflamed by constant friction around joints and may be precipitated by
arthritis or injury. The hip is a common site, but not vertebrae. Manifestations include
painful range of motion, point tenderness, and erythema of the affected joint.
While giving a history, the patient reports having carpal tunnel syndrome. Based on this
information, what technique does the nurse include in a focused assessment?
a. Ask the patient to press the pads of the right and left fingers against each other and
hold for 1 minute.
b. Ask the patient to push the hand against the nurse's forearm while attempting to flex
the wrist.
c. Ask the patient to flex both wrists and press the dorsal aspects of the hands together
for 1 minute.
, d. Hold pressure to the radial and ulnar pulses and watch for blanching. - - correct ans- -
Ans C
A This is not the correct technique for Phalen sign. B
This is not the correct technique for Phalen sign.
C This is the correct technique for Phalen sign.
D This is the technique for Allen's test, which is used to detect arterial circulation of the
hand, rather than Phalen sign, which is used to test for carpel tunnel syndrome.
In teaching the group of patients about osteoporosis, the nurse identifies which one of
these participants as having the highest risk for this disease? a. A small-boned, thin white
American woman
b. An American Indian man who smokes
c. A Hispanic woman who has completed menopause
d. An African American man with a family history of osteoporosis - - correct ans- -Ans A
A A small-boned, thin white American woman has three risk factors for osteoporosis: female
gender, white race, and small body size.
B This patient has one risk factor: smoking.
C This patient has two risk factors: female gender and menopause.
D This patient has one risk factor: family history.
Which findings are expected from a musculoskeletal assessment of a left-handed healthy
adult? Select all that apply.
a. Cervical concave, thoracic convex, and lumbar concave contours of the spine
b. Muscle strength of 3/5 bilaterally
c. Circumference of left upper arm larger than right upper arm
d. Lumbar and thoracic spine flexion of 75 degrees
e. External rotation and abduction of left arm of 90 degrees
Assessment Practice Exam with 120 Detailed
Questions , Answers and Rationales for Nursing
Student Success
What movement from the patient does a nurse request to assess for hyperextension of the
hip?
a. Raise one leg at a time while lying prone.
b. Raise one leg at a time while lying supine.
c. Move one leg at a time laterally, away from midline, while lying prone.
d. Move one leg at a time medially, toward midline, while lying supine. - - correct ans- Ans A
A This procedure tests hyperextension of the hip.
B This procedure tests hip flexion.
C This procedure tests hip abduction.
D This procedure tests hip adduction.
With the patient in a supine position, how does a nurse test the external rotation of the
patient's right hip?
a. Asking the patient to move the right leg laterally with the right knee straight
b. Asking the patient to flex the right knee and turn medially toward the left side (inward)
c. Asking the patient to place the right heel on the left patella
d. Asking the patient to raise the right leg straight up and perpendicular to the body - -
correct ans- -Ans C
,A Moving the right leg laterally with the right knee straight assesses abduction of the right
hip.
B Flexing the right knee and turning medially toward the left side (inward) internally rotates
the right hip.
C Placing the right heel on the left patella externally rotates the right hip.
D Raising the right leg straight up and perpendicular to the body flexes the right hip.
How does a nurse assess the eversion and inversion of a patient's ankle?
a. For eversion, ask the patient to turn the sole of the foot away from the body and for
inversion turn the sole of the foot toward the midline.
b. For eversion, ask the patient to turn the sole of the inward toward the midline and
for inversion turn the sole of the foot away from the body.
c. For eversion, ask the patient to walk on his toes and, for inversion, to walk on his
heels.
d. For eversion, ask the patient to point the toes forward and, for inversion, to point the
toes backward. - - correct ans- -Ans A
A This is the correct maneuver for eversion and inversion of the ankle.
B This movement is the opposite of the correct movement.
C This is the test for muscle strength of the ankles and feet.
D This is the maneuver for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the ankle.
On inspection of a patient's hands, the nurse notices ulnar deviation and swan-neck
deformities bilaterally and correlates this finding with which disorder? a. Osteoarthritis
b. Osteoporosis
c. Rheumatoid arthritis
d. Gout - - correct ans- -Ans C
A The findings are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
B The findings are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
,C Ulnar deviation, swan-neck, and boutonnière deformities of interphalangeal joints are
manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.
D The findings are consistent with rheumatoid arthritis.
With the patient lying supine, a nurse raises the patient's leg to flex the hip. The patient
complains of pain when the leg is raised to 40 degrees. The nurse correlates this finding with
which disorder?
a. Lumbar nerve compression
b. Cervical disk herniation
c. Osteoarthritis
d. Bursitis - - correct ans- -Ans A
A To evaluate for nerve root irritation or lumbar disk herniation, perform straight leg
raises. Pain in the back of the leg with 30 to 60 degrees of elevation indicates pressure on a
lumbar peripheral nerve by an intervertebral disk.
B Straight leg raises evaluate for herniated disks, but not in the cervical disks in the
neck.
C Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of articular cartilage that affects
weightbearing joints such as vertebrae, hips, knees, and ankles. Straight leg raises is not a
technique to assess for osteoarthritis.
D Bursa become inflamed by constant friction around joints and may be precipitated by
arthritis or injury. The hip is a common site, but not vertebrae. Manifestations include
painful range of motion, point tenderness, and erythema of the affected joint.
While giving a history, the patient reports having carpal tunnel syndrome. Based on this
information, what technique does the nurse include in a focused assessment?
a. Ask the patient to press the pads of the right and left fingers against each other and
hold for 1 minute.
b. Ask the patient to push the hand against the nurse's forearm while attempting to flex
the wrist.
c. Ask the patient to flex both wrists and press the dorsal aspects of the hands together
for 1 minute.
, d. Hold pressure to the radial and ulnar pulses and watch for blanching. - - correct ans- -
Ans C
A This is not the correct technique for Phalen sign. B
This is not the correct technique for Phalen sign.
C This is the correct technique for Phalen sign.
D This is the technique for Allen's test, which is used to detect arterial circulation of the
hand, rather than Phalen sign, which is used to test for carpel tunnel syndrome.
In teaching the group of patients about osteoporosis, the nurse identifies which one of
these participants as having the highest risk for this disease? a. A small-boned, thin white
American woman
b. An American Indian man who smokes
c. A Hispanic woman who has completed menopause
d. An African American man with a family history of osteoporosis - - correct ans- -Ans A
A A small-boned, thin white American woman has three risk factors for osteoporosis: female
gender, white race, and small body size.
B This patient has one risk factor: smoking.
C This patient has two risk factors: female gender and menopause.
D This patient has one risk factor: family history.
Which findings are expected from a musculoskeletal assessment of a left-handed healthy
adult? Select all that apply.
a. Cervical concave, thoracic convex, and lumbar concave contours of the spine
b. Muscle strength of 3/5 bilaterally
c. Circumference of left upper arm larger than right upper arm
d. Lumbar and thoracic spine flexion of 75 degrees
e. External rotation and abduction of left arm of 90 degrees
