Health Assessment HESI V2 Study Guide | Updated 2025/2026 Nursing Exam Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed Explanations | Covers Physical Assessment, Patient History & Clinical Skills

HESI V2 Health Assessment Exam Prep 2025/2026 |
Complete Test Bank with 300+ Practice Questions,
Correct Answers & Rationales | Comprehensive
Guide for Nursing Students Preparing for HESI
Health Assessment Exam

Question 1
What is the primary purpose of a health assessment?
(A) To diagnose a specific disease
(B) To obtain baseline data for patient care
(C) To determine insurance coverage
(D) To provide educational resources
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The primary purpose of a health assessment is to gather baseline data that
can be used to guide patient care.


Question 2
Which technique is most appropriate for assessing skin turgor in an adult?
(A) Palpation
(B) Pinching the skin on the forearm
(C) Observing color changes
(D) Percussion
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: Pinching the skin on the forearm effectively assesses skin turgor and
hydration status.


Vital Signs
Question 3
What is the normal range for adult respiratory rate?
(A) 8-12 breaths per minute
(B) 12-20 breaths per minute
(C) 16-24 breaths per minute
(D) 20-30 breaths per minute
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for adults is typically between 12 and 20 breaths
per minute.


Question 4
When assessing blood pressure, what is the correct position for the patient?

,(A) Supine
(B) Sitting with the arm at heart level
(C) Standing
(D) Prone
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The patient should be sitting with the arm at heart level to ensure an
accurate blood pressure reading.


Head and Neck Assessment
Question 5
What is the expected finding when inspecting the neck?
(A) Swelling or deformities
(B) Symmetrical appearance
(C) Restricted movement
(D) Tenderness
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The neck should appear symmetrical without swelling or deformities.


Question 6
Which cranial nerve is tested by asking the patient to shrug their shoulders?
(A) Cranial nerve VII
(B) Cranial nerve XI
(C) Cranial nerve III
(D) Cranial nerve V
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: Cranial nerve XI, the accessory nerve, is responsible for shoulder shrugging.


Respiratory Assessment
Question 7
What is the best position for a patient experiencing difficulty breathing?
(A) Supine
(B) Sitting upright
(C) Lying flat
(D) Prone
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: Sitting upright helps facilitate breathing and improves lung expansion.

,Question 8
When auscultating lung sounds, what does a wheezing sound indicate?
(A) Fluid in the lungs
(B) Narrowed airways
(C) Normal breath sounds
(D) Consolidation
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: Wheezing suggests narrowed airways, often due to asthma or
bronchospasm.


Cardiovascular Assessment
Question 9
What is the appropriate location for auscultating the mitral valve?
(A) Right second intercostal space
(B) Left fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line
(C) Left second intercostal space
(D) Right fifth intercostal space
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The mitral valve is best auscultated at the left fifth intercostal space at the
midclavicular line.


Question 10
What characteristic of a pulse should be documented?
(A) Color
(B) Rhythm
(C) Temperature
(D) Size
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The rhythm of the pulse is an important characteristic that indicates cardiac
function.


Abdominal Assessment
Question 11
What is the correct sequence for conducting an abdominal assessment?
(A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
(B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
(C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
(D) Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation

, Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: The correct sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and then
palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.


Question 12
What sound is expected when percussing over a full bladder?
(A) Dullness
(B) Tympany
(C) Hyperresonance
(D) Flatness
Correct Option: (A)
Rationale: A full bladder would produce a dull sound upon percussion.


Musculoskeletal Assessment
Question 13
What is the primary purpose of assessing muscle strength?
(A) To measure body mass index
(B) To evaluate neuromuscular function
(C) To determine hydration status
(D) To assess respiratory function
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: Assessing muscle strength helps evaluate neuromuscular function and
overall physical health.


Question 14
What does the term “crepitus” refer to in a musculoskeletal assessment?
(A) Swelling
(B) A grating or crackling sound
(C) Pain with movement
(D) Increased range of motion
Correct Option: (B)
Rationale: Crepitus refers to a grating or crackling sound that may indicate joint issues.


Neurological Assessment
Question 15
Which test assesses the function of cranial nerve II?
(A) Visual acuity test