HESI CASE STUDY: RESPIRATORY
ASSESSMENT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
100% COMPLETELY VERIFIED ANSWERS
[2026/2027]
1. to ensure that the clients respiratory status is stable upon his arrival on the medical unit, the
nurse should complete which assessment first? - Correct Answers -oxygen saturation
(measurement of the clients oxygen saturation provides information about the effectiveness of
gas exchange. a low oxygen saturation level requires immediate nursing intervention)
the initial assessment of Mr. Jackson continues. the nurse measures the clients vital signs. Mr.
Jackson's respiratory rate is 32 breaths per minute.
2. what follow-up assessment date should the nurse obtain first? - Correct Answers -use of
accessory muscles
(use of accessory muscles indicates an increased respiratory effort by the client and indicates
that the client may be experiencing respiratory distress)
the nurse applies oxygen at 2 liters per minute via a nasal cannula and ensures that the client is
comfortable. his oxygen saturation is stable at 95%, and his respiratory rate decreases to 24
breaths per minute. Mr. Jackson reports that he feels able to continue with the admission
interview and assessment.
3. after answering a few questions, the client begins to cough. What assessment should the
nurse perform? - Correct Answers -note the amount and appearance of any sputum.
(the amount and appearance of any sputum when the client coughs provides useful data related
to the cause of the client's cough and any underlying problems)
, Mr. Jackson's cough is non-productive.
4. after Mr. Jackson stops coughing, the nurse continues the interview. the assess the client's
history related to dyspnea on exertion (DOE), what question should the nurse ask Mr. Jackson? -
Correct Answers -"what activities cause you to feel short of breath?"
(the type of activity and the amount of physical effort should elicit information about the
client's DOE)
the nurse asks Mr. Jackson about his history of cigarette smoking. Mr. Jackson tells the nurse
that he smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for more than 40 years, but then he quit
smoking 10 years ago. He then looks away and remarks that he is very fatigued from answering
all the interview questions.
5. how should the nurse respond? - Correct Answers -advise the client to rest in the bed while
the nurse performs a physical assessment of the client.
(since it is important to obtain as much assessment date as possible to ensure the client's
physiologic stability, the nurse should continue with the client's physical assessment but allow
the client to rest by curtailing the interview)
while Mr. Jackson rests, the nurse continues the physical assessment. the nurse observes the
appearance of Mr. Jackson's thorax and notes that the ratio of his anteroposterior and
transverse chest diameters is 1:1.
6. how should this finding be documented? - Correct Answers -barrel chest
(a barrel chest is the description for an increased anteroposterior (AP) to transverse ratio. the
normal ratio is 1:2, so a 1:1 ratio represents an increased ratio)
ASSESSMENT EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
100% COMPLETELY VERIFIED ANSWERS
[2026/2027]
1. to ensure that the clients respiratory status is stable upon his arrival on the medical unit, the
nurse should complete which assessment first? - Correct Answers -oxygen saturation
(measurement of the clients oxygen saturation provides information about the effectiveness of
gas exchange. a low oxygen saturation level requires immediate nursing intervention)
the initial assessment of Mr. Jackson continues. the nurse measures the clients vital signs. Mr.
Jackson's respiratory rate is 32 breaths per minute.
2. what follow-up assessment date should the nurse obtain first? - Correct Answers -use of
accessory muscles
(use of accessory muscles indicates an increased respiratory effort by the client and indicates
that the client may be experiencing respiratory distress)
the nurse applies oxygen at 2 liters per minute via a nasal cannula and ensures that the client is
comfortable. his oxygen saturation is stable at 95%, and his respiratory rate decreases to 24
breaths per minute. Mr. Jackson reports that he feels able to continue with the admission
interview and assessment.
3. after answering a few questions, the client begins to cough. What assessment should the
nurse perform? - Correct Answers -note the amount and appearance of any sputum.
(the amount and appearance of any sputum when the client coughs provides useful data related
to the cause of the client's cough and any underlying problems)
, Mr. Jackson's cough is non-productive.
4. after Mr. Jackson stops coughing, the nurse continues the interview. the assess the client's
history related to dyspnea on exertion (DOE), what question should the nurse ask Mr. Jackson? -
Correct Answers -"what activities cause you to feel short of breath?"
(the type of activity and the amount of physical effort should elicit information about the
client's DOE)
the nurse asks Mr. Jackson about his history of cigarette smoking. Mr. Jackson tells the nurse
that he smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for more than 40 years, but then he quit
smoking 10 years ago. He then looks away and remarks that he is very fatigued from answering
all the interview questions.
5. how should the nurse respond? - Correct Answers -advise the client to rest in the bed while
the nurse performs a physical assessment of the client.
(since it is important to obtain as much assessment date as possible to ensure the client's
physiologic stability, the nurse should continue with the client's physical assessment but allow
the client to rest by curtailing the interview)
while Mr. Jackson rests, the nurse continues the physical assessment. the nurse observes the
appearance of Mr. Jackson's thorax and notes that the ratio of his anteroposterior and
transverse chest diameters is 1:1.
6. how should this finding be documented? - Correct Answers -barrel chest
(a barrel chest is the description for an increased anteroposterior (AP) to transverse ratio. the
normal ratio is 1:2, so a 1:1 ratio represents an increased ratio)
