HESI Health Assessment Exam – Comprehensive Nursing Practice Questions
During her annual OB/GYN exam, a 24-year-old woman asks the nurse when she should
perform her breast exams. The nurse's best response is:
Correct: "One week after your period starts, or when your breasts are least engorged." b/c
In menstruating women, self breast exams are best performed 4-7 days after the start of a woman's
cycle, when the breasts are least engorged and painful.
While assessing for common signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),
the nurse should ask:
"Do you need to strain to start or maintain stream?" b/c
Hesitancy, weak stream, and dribbling are common symptoms of BPH. The other questions are not
useful to determine BPH.
incorrect: "Are you urinating more than twice a day?", Is your urine bloody or cloudy?", "Do you have
to stand further from the toilet?"
A 19-year-old female post-miscarriage presents with "vaginal bleeding." What is a priority
health history question at this time?
,How many pads are you soaking per hour?" b/c
During the History of Present Illness, quantity or severity should be assessed and documented. For
example: "Vaginal bleeding soaking two pads per hour." Soaking one or more pads per hour can
indicate hemorrhage.
The nurse is educating an adolescent male about testicular self-examination (TSE). The
nurse includes which point in the teaching?
"If you notice an enlarged testicle or a lump, call your health care provider." b/c
If the patient notices a firm painless lump, a hard area, or an overall enlarged testicle, then he
should call his health care provider for further evaluation. The testicle normally feels rubbery with a
smooth surface. A good time to examine the testicles is during the shower or bath, when one's
hands are warm and soapy and the scrotum is warm. Testicular self-examination should be
performed once a month.
During a complete physical exam, the RN notices that a female patient has an inverted left
nipple; the right one is everted. What should the nurse do next?
Ask the patient when she first noticed the inversion.
b/c
The nurse should distinguish between a recently retracted nipple from one that has been inverted for
many years or since puberty. Normal nipple inversion may be unilateral or bilateral and usually can
be pulled out; that is, if it is not fixed. Recent nipple retraction signifies acquired disease.
,When examining an adult patient presenting with "scrotal pain", the nurse notices that a
positive glow with transillumination. On the basis of this finding the nurse would:
Suspect the presence of serous fluid in the scrotum.
b/c
Normal scrotal contents do not allow light to pass through the scrotum. However, serous fluid does
transilluminate and shows as a red glow. Neither a mass nor a hernia would transilluminate.
A 30 year-old female who is 4 weeks postpartum calls the OB/GYN clinic to report that her left
breast is red, swollen, and very tender. What should the nurse do next?
Ask if the woman has had a fever, fatigue, or chills.
b/c
If the woman is also experiencing flu-like symptoms,it is suspicious for mastitis, which stems from an
infection or stasis caused by a plugged duct. A plugged duct does not have infection present.
A new mother presses her call light to report that her baby "has had his first poop." The
nurse observes a dark green meconium stool. The RN understands that:
The first stool indicates anal patency.
b/c
The first stool passed by the newborn is dark green meconium and occurs within 24 to 48 hours of
birth, indicating anal patency. The other responses are not correct.
, While assessing for hemorrhoids in a 28-year-old male, the nurse inspect the anus while the
client:
Performs a Valsalva maneuver.
b/c
While inspecting the perianal area, instruct the person to hold the breath and bear down by
performing a Valsalva maneuver. No break in skin integrity or protrusion through the anal opening
should be present.
To assess for common symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the nurse asks:
"How often do you have a period?"
b/c
Clients with PCOS will have amenorrhea or infrequent menses, infertility, acne, hirsutism, and
weight gain. Asking about family history does not assess for common symptoms of PCOS.
When assessing muscle strength, the nurse observes that a patient maintain biceps flexion
against resistance. How should the nurse document muscle strength?
"5/5" -correct
2+
bounding
full tone
b/c
Full strength against resistance is normal muscle strength and is recorded as grade 5/5 muscle
strength. The other options are not correct.
During her annual OB/GYN exam, a 24-year-old woman asks the nurse when she should
perform her breast exams. The nurse's best response is:
Correct: "One week after your period starts, or when your breasts are least engorged." b/c
In menstruating women, self breast exams are best performed 4-7 days after the start of a woman's
cycle, when the breasts are least engorged and painful.
While assessing for common signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),
the nurse should ask:
"Do you need to strain to start or maintain stream?" b/c
Hesitancy, weak stream, and dribbling are common symptoms of BPH. The other questions are not
useful to determine BPH.
incorrect: "Are you urinating more than twice a day?", Is your urine bloody or cloudy?", "Do you have
to stand further from the toilet?"
A 19-year-old female post-miscarriage presents with "vaginal bleeding." What is a priority
health history question at this time?
,How many pads are you soaking per hour?" b/c
During the History of Present Illness, quantity or severity should be assessed and documented. For
example: "Vaginal bleeding soaking two pads per hour." Soaking one or more pads per hour can
indicate hemorrhage.
The nurse is educating an adolescent male about testicular self-examination (TSE). The
nurse includes which point in the teaching?
"If you notice an enlarged testicle or a lump, call your health care provider." b/c
If the patient notices a firm painless lump, a hard area, or an overall enlarged testicle, then he
should call his health care provider for further evaluation. The testicle normally feels rubbery with a
smooth surface. A good time to examine the testicles is during the shower or bath, when one's
hands are warm and soapy and the scrotum is warm. Testicular self-examination should be
performed once a month.
During a complete physical exam, the RN notices that a female patient has an inverted left
nipple; the right one is everted. What should the nurse do next?
Ask the patient when she first noticed the inversion.
b/c
The nurse should distinguish between a recently retracted nipple from one that has been inverted for
many years or since puberty. Normal nipple inversion may be unilateral or bilateral and usually can
be pulled out; that is, if it is not fixed. Recent nipple retraction signifies acquired disease.
,When examining an adult patient presenting with "scrotal pain", the nurse notices that a
positive glow with transillumination. On the basis of this finding the nurse would:
Suspect the presence of serous fluid in the scrotum.
b/c
Normal scrotal contents do not allow light to pass through the scrotum. However, serous fluid does
transilluminate and shows as a red glow. Neither a mass nor a hernia would transilluminate.
A 30 year-old female who is 4 weeks postpartum calls the OB/GYN clinic to report that her left
breast is red, swollen, and very tender. What should the nurse do next?
Ask if the woman has had a fever, fatigue, or chills.
b/c
If the woman is also experiencing flu-like symptoms,it is suspicious for mastitis, which stems from an
infection or stasis caused by a plugged duct. A plugged duct does not have infection present.
A new mother presses her call light to report that her baby "has had his first poop." The
nurse observes a dark green meconium stool. The RN understands that:
The first stool indicates anal patency.
b/c
The first stool passed by the newborn is dark green meconium and occurs within 24 to 48 hours of
birth, indicating anal patency. The other responses are not correct.
, While assessing for hemorrhoids in a 28-year-old male, the nurse inspect the anus while the
client:
Performs a Valsalva maneuver.
b/c
While inspecting the perianal area, instruct the person to hold the breath and bear down by
performing a Valsalva maneuver. No break in skin integrity or protrusion through the anal opening
should be present.
To assess for common symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the nurse asks:
"How often do you have a period?"
b/c
Clients with PCOS will have amenorrhea or infrequent menses, infertility, acne, hirsutism, and
weight gain. Asking about family history does not assess for common symptoms of PCOS.
When assessing muscle strength, the nurse observes that a patient maintain biceps flexion
against resistance. How should the nurse document muscle strength?
"5/5" -correct
2+
bounding
full tone
b/c
Full strength against resistance is normal muscle strength and is recorded as grade 5/5 muscle
strength. The other options are not correct.
