BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment
Complete Exam Prep (2025/2026 Update)
100% Correct Questions and Verified
Answers | Grade A Nightingale
Prepared for Nightingale Colleges BSN 246 Health Assessment
Curriculum
June 13, 2025
This document contains 80 multiple-choice questions designed to reflect the 2025/2026 BSN
246 HESI curriculum. Each question includes a verified correct answer and an expert-level
explanation. For educational use only.
, BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment Complete Exam Prep (2025/2026 Update)
1 Health Assessment Exam Questions
1.1 Question 1
Which technique is used to assess for tactile fremitus during a lung examination?
A. Percussion
B. Palpation
C. Auscultation
D. Inspection
Correct Answer: B. Palpation
Explanation: Tactile fremitus is assessed by palpating the chest with the palms while the pa-
tient says "ninety-nine." Increased fremitus suggests consolidation (e.g., pneumonia), while
decreased fremitus indicates obstruction (e.g., pneumothorax). Percussion assesses resonance,
auscultation evaluates breath sounds, and inspection observes chest movement.
1.2 Question 2
What is the normal range for an adults respiratory rate at rest?
A. 812 breaths per minute
B. 1220 breaths per minute
C. 2028 breaths per minute
D. 2836 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B. 1220 breaths per minute
Explanation: A normal resting respiratory rate for adults is 1220 breaths per minute. Rates
below 12 (bradypnea) may indicate neurological or metabolic issues, while rates above 20
(tachypnea) suggest conditions like fever, anxiety, or hypoxia. Accurate assessment involves
counting breaths for one minute while observing chest movement.
1.3 Question 3
Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking a patient to shrug their shoulders?
A. Cranial nerve IX
B. Cranial nerve X
C. Cranial nerve XI
D. Cranial nerve XII
Correct Answer: C. Cranial nerve XI
Explanation: Cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve) innervates the trapezius and sternocleido-
mastoid muscles, enabling shoulder shrugging and head turning. Testing involves asking the
patient to shrug against resistance. Other listed nerves control different functions, such as
swallowing (IX, X) or tongue movement (XII).
1.4 Question 4
What is the expected finding when percussing a healthy lung?
A. Dullness
1
, BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment Complete Exam Prep (2025/2026 Update)
B. Resonance
C. Hyperresonance
D. Tympany
Correct Answer: B. Resonance
Explanation: Percussion over a healthy lung produces a resonant sound due to air-filled alveoli.
Dullness indicates consolidation (e.g., pneumonia), hyperresonance suggests pneumothorax or
emphysema, and tympany is typical over hollow organs like the stomach.
1.5 Question 5
Which heart sound is associated with the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves?
A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4
Correct Answer: B. S2
Explanation: S2 is produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves at the onset
of diastole. S1 results from mitral and tricuspid valve closure, S3 indicates rapid ventricular
filling (often pathological in adults), and S4 reflects atrial contraction against a stiff ventricle.
1.6 Question 6
What is the correct sequence for a complete abdominal assessment?
A. Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D. Inspection, percussion, auscultation, palpation
Correct Answer: B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Explanation: The abdominal assessment sequence is inspection (visualizing contour and sym-
metry), auscultation (listening for bowel sounds before manipulation), percussion (assessing
for tympany or dullness), and palpation (checking for tenderness or masses). This order pre-
vents palpation from altering bowel sounds.
1.7 Question 7
Which finding indicates a positive Romberg test?
A. Patient maintains balance with eyes closed
B. Patient sways or falls with eyes closed
C. Patient cannot stand with feet together
D. Patient reports dizziness with eyes open
Correct Answer: B. Patient sways or falls with eyes closed
Explanation: A positive Romberg test occurs when a patient sways or falls when standing
with feet together and eyes closed, indicating impaired proprioception or cerebellar function.
2
Complete Exam Prep (2025/2026 Update)
100% Correct Questions and Verified
Answers | Grade A Nightingale
Prepared for Nightingale Colleges BSN 246 Health Assessment
Curriculum
June 13, 2025
This document contains 80 multiple-choice questions designed to reflect the 2025/2026 BSN
246 HESI curriculum. Each question includes a verified correct answer and an expert-level
explanation. For educational use only.
, BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment Complete Exam Prep (2025/2026 Update)
1 Health Assessment Exam Questions
1.1 Question 1
Which technique is used to assess for tactile fremitus during a lung examination?
A. Percussion
B. Palpation
C. Auscultation
D. Inspection
Correct Answer: B. Palpation
Explanation: Tactile fremitus is assessed by palpating the chest with the palms while the pa-
tient says "ninety-nine." Increased fremitus suggests consolidation (e.g., pneumonia), while
decreased fremitus indicates obstruction (e.g., pneumothorax). Percussion assesses resonance,
auscultation evaluates breath sounds, and inspection observes chest movement.
1.2 Question 2
What is the normal range for an adults respiratory rate at rest?
A. 812 breaths per minute
B. 1220 breaths per minute
C. 2028 breaths per minute
D. 2836 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: B. 1220 breaths per minute
Explanation: A normal resting respiratory rate for adults is 1220 breaths per minute. Rates
below 12 (bradypnea) may indicate neurological or metabolic issues, while rates above 20
(tachypnea) suggest conditions like fever, anxiety, or hypoxia. Accurate assessment involves
counting breaths for one minute while observing chest movement.
1.3 Question 3
Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking a patient to shrug their shoulders?
A. Cranial nerve IX
B. Cranial nerve X
C. Cranial nerve XI
D. Cranial nerve XII
Correct Answer: C. Cranial nerve XI
Explanation: Cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve) innervates the trapezius and sternocleido-
mastoid muscles, enabling shoulder shrugging and head turning. Testing involves asking the
patient to shrug against resistance. Other listed nerves control different functions, such as
swallowing (IX, X) or tongue movement (XII).
1.4 Question 4
What is the expected finding when percussing a healthy lung?
A. Dullness
1
, BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment Complete Exam Prep (2025/2026 Update)
B. Resonance
C. Hyperresonance
D. Tympany
Correct Answer: B. Resonance
Explanation: Percussion over a healthy lung produces a resonant sound due to air-filled alveoli.
Dullness indicates consolidation (e.g., pneumonia), hyperresonance suggests pneumothorax or
emphysema, and tympany is typical over hollow organs like the stomach.
1.5 Question 5
Which heart sound is associated with the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves?
A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4
Correct Answer: B. S2
Explanation: S2 is produced by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves at the onset
of diastole. S1 results from mitral and tricuspid valve closure, S3 indicates rapid ventricular
filling (often pathological in adults), and S4 reflects atrial contraction against a stiff ventricle.
1.6 Question 6
What is the correct sequence for a complete abdominal assessment?
A. Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D. Inspection, percussion, auscultation, palpation
Correct Answer: B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Explanation: The abdominal assessment sequence is inspection (visualizing contour and sym-
metry), auscultation (listening for bowel sounds before manipulation), percussion (assessing
for tympany or dullness), and palpation (checking for tenderness or masses). This order pre-
vents palpation from altering bowel sounds.
1.7 Question 7
Which finding indicates a positive Romberg test?
A. Patient maintains balance with eyes closed
B. Patient sways or falls with eyes closed
C. Patient cannot stand with feet together
D. Patient reports dizziness with eyes open
Correct Answer: B. Patient sways or falls with eyes closed
Explanation: A positive Romberg test occurs when a patient sways or falls when standing
with feet together and eyes closed, indicating impaired proprioception or cerebellar function.
2
