Nightingale College BSN 225 HESI Assessment Exam (pdf) |
2026/2027 | HESI Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to perform an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis on a
patient. How should the nurse use Allen's test prior to the procedure?
A) To measure the patient's blood pressure
B) To ensure adequate blood flow through the ulnar artery
C) To check for signs of infection at the site
D) To assess the patient's respiratory rate
Correct Answer: To ensure adequate blood flow through the ulnar artery
Rationale: Allen's test is performed prior to arterial puncture to verify
collateral circulation. The nurse occludes both the radial and ulnar arteries,
then releases the ulnar artery to check for blood flow to the hand. If the hand
does not flush pink, the ulnar artery is inadequate and the radial artery
should not be used. This is a critical safety step before ABG collection.
2. A nurse is taking a complete health history at a wellness workshop. One
question asks, "You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This is an
example of which type of questioning?
A) Talking too much
B) Using confrontation
C) Using biased or leading questions
D) Using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics
Correct Answer: Using biased or leading questions
Rationale: This is a leading question because it implies that one answer is
"better" than another. The phrasing pressures the patient to respond in a
,socially desirable way. Effective interviewing uses open-ended, neutral
questions to elicit accurate information without judgment.
3. A nurse is interviewing a parent of a hospitalized child. The parent sits in
an open position but suddenly crosses their arms and legs when the
discussion turns to the child's treatment. This change in posture suggests:
A) The parent is just changing positions
B) The parent is more comfortable in this position
C) The parent is tired and needs a break
D) The parent is uncomfortable talking about the child's treatment
Correct Answer: The parent is uncomfortable talking about the child's
treatment
Rationale: A sudden shift from an open to a closed position (crossed arms
and legs) during a specific topic suggests discomfort or defensiveness. This
non-verbal cue indicates anxiety about the topic being discussed. The nurse
should acknowledge the change and explore the parent's concerns.
4. Which of the following is an example of "back channeling" during a patient
interview?
A) Asking the patient to describe their pain
B) Responding with "all right," "go on," or "uh-huh"
C) Asking closed-ended questions about symptoms
D) Interpreting the patient's non-verbal cues
Correct Answer: Responding with "all right," "go on," or "uh-huh"
,Rationale: Back channeling consists of short verbal cues that encourage the
speaker to continue without interrupting the flow of conversation. These
responses demonstrate active listening and help the patient feel heard.
5. A patient with dilated cardiomyopathy asks the nurse for more information
on heart failure. The nurse identifies this patient as someone who is ready to
learn because:
A) The patient is on a PCA pump for pain
B) The patient is NPO awaiting a CT scan
C) The patient is requesting information about the disease process
D) The patient was diagnosed yesterday with cancer
Correct Answer: The patient is requesting information about the disease
process
Rationale: A patient who actively requests information demonstrates
emotional readiness and motivation to learn. This is the optimal time for
teaching. Patients who are in pain, anxious, or physically uncomfortable are
less likely to retain new information.
6. Strategies the nurse can use to increase the effectiveness of patient
education include:
A) Use the nurse's preferred teaching style to present information
B) Cover only two to three key points at a time
C) Review previous information before starting new material
D) Encourage the patient to ask questions
E) B, C, and D
Correct Answer: B, C, and D
, Rationale: Effective teaching involves focusing on a few key points at a time,
reviewing prior information to reinforce learning, and encouraging questions
to clarify understanding. The teaching should be tailored to the patient's
learning style, not the nurse's preference.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient's health literacy. Which tasks are
indicators of adequate health literacy? Select all that apply.
A) Filling out a health questionnaire
B) Solving simple mathematical equations
C) Reading discharge instructions
D) Following medication instructions
E) Pursuing education after high school
Correct Answer: A, B, C, and D
Rationale: Health literacy involves the ability to obtain, process, and
understand basic health information. Filling out forms, reading instructions,
following medication directions, and performing basic calculations are all
components of health literacy. Pursuing higher education is not a direct
measure of health literacy.
8. The nurse should assess the patient's health literacy at which point in the
care process?
A) Only during the admission assessment
B) During the initial encounter and throughout the hospital stay
C) Only when discharge instructions are given
D) Only if the patient asks questions
Correct Answer: During the initial encounter and throughout the hospital stay
2026/2027 | HESI Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to perform an arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis on a
patient. How should the nurse use Allen's test prior to the procedure?
A) To measure the patient's blood pressure
B) To ensure adequate blood flow through the ulnar artery
C) To check for signs of infection at the site
D) To assess the patient's respiratory rate
Correct Answer: To ensure adequate blood flow through the ulnar artery
Rationale: Allen's test is performed prior to arterial puncture to verify
collateral circulation. The nurse occludes both the radial and ulnar arteries,
then releases the ulnar artery to check for blood flow to the hand. If the hand
does not flush pink, the ulnar artery is inadequate and the radial artery
should not be used. This is a critical safety step before ABG collection.
2. A nurse is taking a complete health history at a wellness workshop. One
question asks, "You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" This is an
example of which type of questioning?
A) Talking too much
B) Using confrontation
C) Using biased or leading questions
D) Using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics
Correct Answer: Using biased or leading questions
Rationale: This is a leading question because it implies that one answer is
"better" than another. The phrasing pressures the patient to respond in a
,socially desirable way. Effective interviewing uses open-ended, neutral
questions to elicit accurate information without judgment.
3. A nurse is interviewing a parent of a hospitalized child. The parent sits in
an open position but suddenly crosses their arms and legs when the
discussion turns to the child's treatment. This change in posture suggests:
A) The parent is just changing positions
B) The parent is more comfortable in this position
C) The parent is tired and needs a break
D) The parent is uncomfortable talking about the child's treatment
Correct Answer: The parent is uncomfortable talking about the child's
treatment
Rationale: A sudden shift from an open to a closed position (crossed arms
and legs) during a specific topic suggests discomfort or defensiveness. This
non-verbal cue indicates anxiety about the topic being discussed. The nurse
should acknowledge the change and explore the parent's concerns.
4. Which of the following is an example of "back channeling" during a patient
interview?
A) Asking the patient to describe their pain
B) Responding with "all right," "go on," or "uh-huh"
C) Asking closed-ended questions about symptoms
D) Interpreting the patient's non-verbal cues
Correct Answer: Responding with "all right," "go on," or "uh-huh"
,Rationale: Back channeling consists of short verbal cues that encourage the
speaker to continue without interrupting the flow of conversation. These
responses demonstrate active listening and help the patient feel heard.
5. A patient with dilated cardiomyopathy asks the nurse for more information
on heart failure. The nurse identifies this patient as someone who is ready to
learn because:
A) The patient is on a PCA pump for pain
B) The patient is NPO awaiting a CT scan
C) The patient is requesting information about the disease process
D) The patient was diagnosed yesterday with cancer
Correct Answer: The patient is requesting information about the disease
process
Rationale: A patient who actively requests information demonstrates
emotional readiness and motivation to learn. This is the optimal time for
teaching. Patients who are in pain, anxious, or physically uncomfortable are
less likely to retain new information.
6. Strategies the nurse can use to increase the effectiveness of patient
education include:
A) Use the nurse's preferred teaching style to present information
B) Cover only two to three key points at a time
C) Review previous information before starting new material
D) Encourage the patient to ask questions
E) B, C, and D
Correct Answer: B, C, and D
, Rationale: Effective teaching involves focusing on a few key points at a time,
reviewing prior information to reinforce learning, and encouraging questions
to clarify understanding. The teaching should be tailored to the patient's
learning style, not the nurse's preference.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient's health literacy. Which tasks are
indicators of adequate health literacy? Select all that apply.
A) Filling out a health questionnaire
B) Solving simple mathematical equations
C) Reading discharge instructions
D) Following medication instructions
E) Pursuing education after high school
Correct Answer: A, B, C, and D
Rationale: Health literacy involves the ability to obtain, process, and
understand basic health information. Filling out forms, reading instructions,
following medication directions, and performing basic calculations are all
components of health literacy. Pursuing higher education is not a direct
measure of health literacy.
8. The nurse should assess the patient's health literacy at which point in the
care process?
A) Only during the admission assessment
B) During the initial encounter and throughout the hospital stay
C) Only when discharge instructions are given
D) Only if the patient asks questions
Correct Answer: During the initial encounter and throughout the hospital stay
