2025-2026 HESI PREP EXAM - HEALTH ASSESSMENT
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|120QS&AS|
1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or
her memory later. Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal
behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the
nurse records what is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient,
resulting in an increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which
may increase his or her level of comfort.
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal
behaviors.
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But
be aware that note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks
eye contact too often, and it shifts attention away from the patient, which
diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also may interrupt the patient's
narrative flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior.
,2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath.
Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
D) Open-ended question
Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It states the
topic to be discussed but only in general terms. The nurse should use it to
begin the interview, to introduce a new section of questions, and whenever the
person introduces a new topic.
3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending a
wellness workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks,
"You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This question is an example
of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics.
C) using biased or leading questions.
,Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions. Asking, "You
don't smoke, do you?" implies that one answer is "better" than another. If the
person wants to please someone, he or she is either forced to answer in a way
corresponding to their implied values or is made to feel guilty when admitting
the other answer.
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open
position. As the interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however, he
suddenly crosses his arms against his chest and crosses his legs. This would
suggest that the parent is:
A) just changing positions.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of
large muscle groups shows relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to
share information. A closed position with the arms and legs crossed tends to
look defensive and anxious. Note any change in posture. If a person in a
relaxed position suddenly tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with the new
topic.
5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What
techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
, B) Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired people
find this degrading.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help
facilitate the communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading.
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to
communicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If the person prefers lip
reading, then the nurse should be sure to face him or her squarely and have
good lighting on the nurse's face. The nurse should not exaggerate lip
movements because this distorts words. Similarly, shouting distorts the
reception of a hearing aid the person may wear. The nurse should speak slowly
and should supplement his or her voice with appropriate hand gestures or
pantomime.
6. The nurse is performing a health interview on a patient who has a language
barrier, and no interpreter is available. Which is the best example of an
appropriate question for the nurse to ask in this situation?
A) "Do you take medicine?"
B) "Do you sterilize the bottles?"
C) "Do you have nausea and vomiting?"
D) "You have been taking your medicine, haven't you?"
A) "Do you take medicine?"
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES|120QS&AS|
1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to take notes to aid his or
her memory later. Which statement is true regarding note-taking?
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal
behaviors.
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his or her own pace as the
nurse records what is said.
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention away from the patient,
resulting in an increased comfort level.
D) Note-taking allows the nurse to break eye contact with the patient, which
may increase his or her level of comfort.
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's nonverbal
behaviors.
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But
be aware that note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks
eye contact too often, and it shifts attention away from the patient, which
diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also may interrupt the patient's
narrative flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior.
,2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath.
Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
D) Open-ended question
Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It states the
topic to be discussed but only in general terms. The nurse should use it to
begin the interview, to introduce a new section of questions, and whenever the
person introduces a new topic.
3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all of the patients attending a
wellness workshop. On the history form, one of the written questions asks,
"You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This question is an example
of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics.
C) using biased or leading questions.
,Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions. Asking, "You
don't smoke, do you?" implies that one answer is "better" than another. If the
person wants to please someone, he or she is either forced to answer in a way
corresponding to their implied values or is made to feel guilty when admitting
the other answer.
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open
position. As the interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, however, he
suddenly crosses his arms against his chest and crosses his legs. This would
suggest that the parent is:
A) just changing positions.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of
large muscle groups shows relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to
share information. A closed position with the arms and legs crossed tends to
look defensive and anxious. Note any change in posture. If a person in a
relaxed position suddenly tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with the new
topic.
5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What
techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
, B) Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired people
find this degrading.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help
facilitate the communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading.
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to
communicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If the person prefers lip
reading, then the nurse should be sure to face him or her squarely and have
good lighting on the nurse's face. The nurse should not exaggerate lip
movements because this distorts words. Similarly, shouting distorts the
reception of a hearing aid the person may wear. The nurse should speak slowly
and should supplement his or her voice with appropriate hand gestures or
pantomime.
6. The nurse is performing a health interview on a patient who has a language
barrier, and no interpreter is available. Which is the best example of an
appropriate question for the nurse to ask in this situation?
A) "Do you take medicine?"
B) "Do you sterilize the bottles?"
C) "Do you have nausea and vomiting?"
D) "You have been taking your medicine, haven't you?"
A) "Do you take medicine?"
