HEALTH ASSESSMENT HESI 2026
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS COMPLETE EXAM
PREPARATION RESOURCE PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT, CLINICAL JUDGMENT,
HEAD-TO-TOE ASSESSMENT, DETAILED
RATIONALES AND NURSING STUDY GUIDE
- Are you taking any medications?
Vertigo Questions - CORRECT ANSWER -- Ever felt vertigo, that the room is
spinning around or feel that you are spinning?
- Ever felt dizzy, like you are not quite steady, or falling or losing your
balance? Giddy, lightheaded?
Two pairs of sinuses are accessible to examine during HEENT assessment -
CORRECT ANSWER -- Frontal sinuses in frontal bone above and medial to
orbits
- Maxillary sinuses in maxilla (cheekbone) along side walls of nasal cavity
,Other two sets are smaller and deeper and cannot be examined during a
HEENT assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -- Ethmoid sinuses between the
orbits
- Sphenoid sinuses deep within skull in the sphenoid bone
Sinuses present at birth - CORRECT ANSWER -- Only maxillary and ethmoid
sinuses are present at birth.
- Maxillary sinuses reach full size after all permanent teeth have erupted.
- Ethmoid sinuses grow rapidly between 6 and 8 years of age and after
puberty.
- Frontal sinuses are absent at birth, fairly well developed between ages 7
and 8, and reach full size after puberty.
- Sphenoid sinuses are minute at birth and develop after puberty.
Tonsils - CORRECT ANSWER -- Behind folds, each is a mass of lymphoid
tissue
Nasal cavity Inspection and Palpation - CORRECT ANSWER -- View each
nasal cavity with person's head erect and then with head tilted back.
- Inspect nasal mucosa, noting its normal red color and smooth moist
surface.
- Note any swelling, discharge, bleeding, or foreign body.
Nasal septum Inspection and Palpation - CORRECT ANSWER -- Observe
nasal septum for deviation; deviated septum is common and is not
significant unless air flow is obstructed.
,- If present in hospitalized patient, document deviated septum in event that
person needs nasal suctioning or a nasogastric tube
- Note any perforation or bleeding in septum.
Palpation of Sinus Areas - CORRECT ANSWER -- Using thumbs, press
frontal sinuses by pressing up and under the eyebrows and over maxillary
sinuses below cheekbones.
- Transillumination
You may use this technique when you suspect sinus inflammation, although
it is of limited usefulness.
A diffuse red glow is a normal response; comes from light shining through
air in the healthy sinus.
Inspection of Teeth and Gums - CORRECT ANSWER -Condition of teeth is
an index of person's general health.
Tonsil Grade - CORRECT ANSWER -1+ Visible
2+ Halfway between tonsillar pillars and uvula
3+ Touching uvula
4+ Touching each other
Tonsils in healthy people, and children - CORRECT ANSWER -You may
normally see 1+ or 2+ tonsils in healthy people, especially in children,
because lymphoid tissue is proportionately enlarged until puberty
Cooper's ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER -- Suspensory ligaments
, - Fibrous bands extending vertically from surface to attach on chest wall
muscles
- Support breast tissue
- Become contracted in cancer of breast
- Create a dimple in overlying skin
5 segments of the breast - CORRECT ANSWER -- Divided into 5 segments
- 4 Quadrants
1) Upper Inner Quadrant
2) Lower Inner Quadrant
3) Upper Outer Quadrant
4) Lower Outer Quadrant
- Axillary tail of Spence
Breast Lymphatic Drainage - CORRECT ANSWER -- Breast has extensive
lymphatic drainage
- More than 75%, drains into ipsilateral axillary nodes
Four Groups of Axillary Nodes - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Central axillary
nodes: high up in middle of axilla, over ribs and serratus anterior muscle;
receive lymph from other three groups of nodes
2) Pectoral (anterior): along lateral edge of pectoralis major muscle, just
inside anterior axillary fold
3) Subscapular (posterior): along lateral edge of scapula, deep in posterior
axillary fold
4) Lateral: along the humerus, inside upper arm
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS COMPLETE EXAM
PREPARATION RESOURCE PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT, CLINICAL JUDGMENT,
HEAD-TO-TOE ASSESSMENT, DETAILED
RATIONALES AND NURSING STUDY GUIDE
- Are you taking any medications?
Vertigo Questions - CORRECT ANSWER -- Ever felt vertigo, that the room is
spinning around or feel that you are spinning?
- Ever felt dizzy, like you are not quite steady, or falling or losing your
balance? Giddy, lightheaded?
Two pairs of sinuses are accessible to examine during HEENT assessment -
CORRECT ANSWER -- Frontal sinuses in frontal bone above and medial to
orbits
- Maxillary sinuses in maxilla (cheekbone) along side walls of nasal cavity
,Other two sets are smaller and deeper and cannot be examined during a
HEENT assessment - CORRECT ANSWER -- Ethmoid sinuses between the
orbits
- Sphenoid sinuses deep within skull in the sphenoid bone
Sinuses present at birth - CORRECT ANSWER -- Only maxillary and ethmoid
sinuses are present at birth.
- Maxillary sinuses reach full size after all permanent teeth have erupted.
- Ethmoid sinuses grow rapidly between 6 and 8 years of age and after
puberty.
- Frontal sinuses are absent at birth, fairly well developed between ages 7
and 8, and reach full size after puberty.
- Sphenoid sinuses are minute at birth and develop after puberty.
Tonsils - CORRECT ANSWER -- Behind folds, each is a mass of lymphoid
tissue
Nasal cavity Inspection and Palpation - CORRECT ANSWER -- View each
nasal cavity with person's head erect and then with head tilted back.
- Inspect nasal mucosa, noting its normal red color and smooth moist
surface.
- Note any swelling, discharge, bleeding, or foreign body.
Nasal septum Inspection and Palpation - CORRECT ANSWER -- Observe
nasal septum for deviation; deviated septum is common and is not
significant unless air flow is obstructed.
,- If present in hospitalized patient, document deviated septum in event that
person needs nasal suctioning or a nasogastric tube
- Note any perforation or bleeding in septum.
Palpation of Sinus Areas - CORRECT ANSWER -- Using thumbs, press
frontal sinuses by pressing up and under the eyebrows and over maxillary
sinuses below cheekbones.
- Transillumination
You may use this technique when you suspect sinus inflammation, although
it is of limited usefulness.
A diffuse red glow is a normal response; comes from light shining through
air in the healthy sinus.
Inspection of Teeth and Gums - CORRECT ANSWER -Condition of teeth is
an index of person's general health.
Tonsil Grade - CORRECT ANSWER -1+ Visible
2+ Halfway between tonsillar pillars and uvula
3+ Touching uvula
4+ Touching each other
Tonsils in healthy people, and children - CORRECT ANSWER -You may
normally see 1+ or 2+ tonsils in healthy people, especially in children,
because lymphoid tissue is proportionately enlarged until puberty
Cooper's ligaments - CORRECT ANSWER -- Suspensory ligaments
, - Fibrous bands extending vertically from surface to attach on chest wall
muscles
- Support breast tissue
- Become contracted in cancer of breast
- Create a dimple in overlying skin
5 segments of the breast - CORRECT ANSWER -- Divided into 5 segments
- 4 Quadrants
1) Upper Inner Quadrant
2) Lower Inner Quadrant
3) Upper Outer Quadrant
4) Lower Outer Quadrant
- Axillary tail of Spence
Breast Lymphatic Drainage - CORRECT ANSWER -- Breast has extensive
lymphatic drainage
- More than 75%, drains into ipsilateral axillary nodes
Four Groups of Axillary Nodes - CORRECT ANSWER -1) Central axillary
nodes: high up in middle of axilla, over ribs and serratus anterior muscle;
receive lymph from other three groups of nodes
2) Pectoral (anterior): along lateral edge of pectoralis major muscle, just
inside anterior axillary fold
3) Subscapular (posterior): along lateral edge of scapula, deep in posterior
axillary fold
4) Lateral: along the humerus, inside upper arm
