HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED SOLUTIONS
⩥ An 18 year-old presents to the emergency department with
"headache." Which of these assessment findings alerts the nurse to
recent opioid use?
Pupillary constriction
Hallucinations.
Fever.
Tachypnea. Answer: A- constricted pupils are a sign of recent opioid use,
the rest are withdrawals
⩥ While collecting the pulse on a 26 year-old client, the nurse notes that
the heart rate seems to speed up and then slow down in accordance with
respirations. The pulse is counted at 80 beats per minute. What should
the nurse do next?
Obtain orthostatic vital signs.
,Notify the physician.
Document "sinus arrhythmia."
Use a doppler to confirm the finding. Answer: C
⩥ An elderly client with pneumonia is being treated in the intensive care
unit (ICU). He is acutely agitated, restless, and disoriented. The nurse
documents his level of consciousness as:
Manic.
Demented.
Drowsy.
Delirious. Answer: D
⩥ The nurse is assessing a newborn infant. How should the nurse
measure the heart rate (HR)?
Palpate the radial pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
,Palpate the brachial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two.
Auscultate the apical site for 60 seconds.
Apply a pulse oximeter to obtain both the HR and SpO2. Answer: C
⩥ A 28 year-old is brought to the emergency department. He is
disoriented and hallucinating, and vital signs are elevated. The nurse
suspects that the patient is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from
which substance?
Alcohol.
Cocaine.
Cannabis.
Opiates. Answer: A- hallucinations and delirium are commonly seen w
alcohol withdrawal
⩥ When evaluating the temperature of older adults, the nurse should
remember which aspect about an older adult's body temperature?
, Fever is a reliable sign of infection in older adults.
The older adult's body temperature varies widely because of the thinner
subcutaneous layer.
There are no differences in temperature between a young and old adult.
Older adults body temperature runs lower than that of an adult. Answer:
D
⩥ Which error may result in a falsely low blood pressure (BP) reading?
The patient has a full bladder.
The arm is held above the level of the heart.
The cuff size is too small for the client.
The BP cuff is wrapped loosely around the arm. Answer: B- at heart
level
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED SOLUTIONS
⩥ An 18 year-old presents to the emergency department with
"headache." Which of these assessment findings alerts the nurse to
recent opioid use?
Pupillary constriction
Hallucinations.
Fever.
Tachypnea. Answer: A- constricted pupils are a sign of recent opioid use,
the rest are withdrawals
⩥ While collecting the pulse on a 26 year-old client, the nurse notes that
the heart rate seems to speed up and then slow down in accordance with
respirations. The pulse is counted at 80 beats per minute. What should
the nurse do next?
Obtain orthostatic vital signs.
,Notify the physician.
Document "sinus arrhythmia."
Use a doppler to confirm the finding. Answer: C
⩥ An elderly client with pneumonia is being treated in the intensive care
unit (ICU). He is acutely agitated, restless, and disoriented. The nurse
documents his level of consciousness as:
Manic.
Demented.
Drowsy.
Delirious. Answer: D
⩥ The nurse is assessing a newborn infant. How should the nurse
measure the heart rate (HR)?
Palpate the radial pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by four.
,Palpate the brachial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two.
Auscultate the apical site for 60 seconds.
Apply a pulse oximeter to obtain both the HR and SpO2. Answer: C
⩥ A 28 year-old is brought to the emergency department. He is
disoriented and hallucinating, and vital signs are elevated. The nurse
suspects that the patient is experiencing withdrawal symptoms from
which substance?
Alcohol.
Cocaine.
Cannabis.
Opiates. Answer: A- hallucinations and delirium are commonly seen w
alcohol withdrawal
⩥ When evaluating the temperature of older adults, the nurse should
remember which aspect about an older adult's body temperature?
, Fever is a reliable sign of infection in older adults.
The older adult's body temperature varies widely because of the thinner
subcutaneous layer.
There are no differences in temperature between a young and old adult.
Older adults body temperature runs lower than that of an adult. Answer:
D
⩥ Which error may result in a falsely low blood pressure (BP) reading?
The patient has a full bladder.
The arm is held above the level of the heart.
The cuff size is too small for the client.
The BP cuff is wrapped loosely around the arm. Answer: B- at heart
level
