Tarrant County College District BIOL 2401
HESI A2 - Critical Thinking Questions Verified and Provided
with A+ Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
1. The
nurse is working in the emergency Rationale
department (ED) of a children's medical center.
Which client should the nurse assess first? Correct - 3-The child hit by a car should be assessed first because he or
1. The 1-month-old infant who has developed colic
she may have life- threatening injuries that must be assessed and and is crying. treated promptly.
2. The 2-year-old toddler who was bitten by
another child at the day-care center. 3. The 6-year-
old school-age child who was hit by a car
while
riding a bicycle.
4. The 14-year-old adolescent whose mother
suspects her child is sexually active.
,1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to A)
Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's take notes to aid his or her memory later. Which
nonverbal behaviors.
statement is true regarding note-taking?
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's unavoidable. But be aware that note-taking during the interview
has observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors. disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it
shifts attention
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his away from the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of
importance. or her own pace as the nurse records what is said. It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
and it impedes the
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior. 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.
2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed with a vaso- Rationale
occlusive sickle cell crisis is complaining of a Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a headache, the nurse
severe headache. Which intervention should the should first rule out cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess- ing
the nurse implement first? client's neurological status and then determine whether it is a
headache
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal cannula. that can be treated
with medication.
2. Assess the client's neurological status.
3.Administer a narcotic analgesic by intravenous
push (IVP). 4. Increase the client's intravenous (IV)
rate.
2.During an interview, the nurse states, "You D) Open-ended question
mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It
statement? 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
A) Reflection questions, and whenever the person introduces a new topic.
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
3. The 6-year-old client who has undergone Rationale
abdominal surgery is attempting to make a
pinwheel spin by blowing on it with the nurse's Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the child for attempts at
assistance. The child starts crying because the cooperation even if the child did not accomplish what the nurse
asked. pinwheel won't spin. Which action should the nurse
implement first?
1. Praise the child for the attempt to
make the pinwheel spin.
2.Notify the respiratory therapist to implement
incentive spirometry. 3. Encourage the child to turn
from side to side and cough.
4. Demonstrate how to make the pinwheel spin by
blowing on it.
3.A nurse is taking complete health histories on all C) using biased or leading
questions. of the patients attending a wellness workshop. On
the history form, one of the written questions asks, Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions.
Asking, "You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" "You don't smoke, do you?" implies that one answer is
"better" than
This question is an example of: 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
A) talking too much. made to feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
B) using confrontation.
, C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with
distasteful topics.
4. The nurse is caring for clients on the pediatric Rationale
medical unit. Which client should the nurse assess
first? Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than 93% is significant and
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who indicates hypoxia,
which is life threatening; therefore, this child should has a blood glucose level be assessed first.
of 180 mg/dL.
2. The child diagnosed with pneumonia
who is coughing and has a temperature of
100°F.
3.The child diagnosed with gastroenteritis who has
a potassium (K+) level
of 3.9 mEq/L.
4.The child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who has
a pulse oximeter reading of 90%.
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
child is sitting in an open position. As the
interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the
however, he suddenly crosses his arms against his extension of large muscle groups shows relaxation, physical
comfort, chest and crosses his legs. This would suggest that and a willingness to share information. A closed position
with the arms
the parent is: 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
A) just changing positions. possible discomfort with the new topic.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
5. The nurse has received the a.m. shift report forRationale
clients on a pediatric unit. Which medication
should the nurse administer first? Correct - 3-Sliding scale insulin is ordered ac, which is before meals;
1. The third dose of the aminoglycoside antibiotic
therefore, this medication must be administered first after receiving the to the child diagnosed with a.m. shift report.
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 4-Routine medications have a 1-hour leeway before and after the
(MRSA). scheduled time; therefore, this medication does not have to be adminis-
2. The IVP steroid methylprednisolone (Solu- tered first.
Medrol) to the child diagnosed with
asthma.
3.The sliding scale insulin to the child diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
4.The stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) to a child
diagnosed with attention
deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
5.The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a A) Determine the communication method he
prefers. hearing impairment. What techniques would be
most beneficial in communicating with this patient? 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
A) Determine the communication method he lip reading, then the nurse should be sure to face him or her
squarely prefers. and have good lighting on the nurse's face. The nurse should not
B)Avoid using facial and hand gestures because exaggerate lip movements because this distorts words. Similarly,
most hearing-impaired people find this degrading. shouting distorts the reception of a hearing aid the person may
wear.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before The nurse should speak slowly and should supplement his or her
voice meeting with him to help facilitate the with appropriate hand gestures or pantomime.
communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated
facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading.
HESI A2 - Critical Thinking Questions Verified and Provided
with A+ Graded Answers Latest Updated 2026
1. The
nurse is working in the emergency Rationale
department (ED) of a children's medical center.
Which client should the nurse assess first? Correct - 3-The child hit by a car should be assessed first because he or
1. The 1-month-old infant who has developed colic
she may have life- threatening injuries that must be assessed and and is crying. treated promptly.
2. The 2-year-old toddler who was bitten by
another child at the day-care center. 3. The 6-year-
old school-age child who was hit by a car
while
riding a bicycle.
4. The 14-year-old adolescent whose mother
suspects her child is sexually active.
,1. In an interview, the nurse may find it necessary to A)
Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's take notes to aid his or her memory later. Which
nonverbal behaviors.
statement is true regarding note-taking?
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be
A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's unavoidable. But be aware that note-taking during the interview
has observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors. disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it
shifts attention
B) Note-taking allows the patient to continue at his away from the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of
importance. or her own pace as the nurse records what is said. It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
and it impedes the
C) Note-taking allows the nurse to shift attention observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior. 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.
2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed with a vaso- Rationale
occlusive sickle cell crisis is complaining of a Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a headache, the nurse
severe headache. Which intervention should the should first rule out cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess- ing
the nurse implement first? client's neurological status and then determine whether it is a
headache
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal cannula. that can be treated
with medication.
2. Assess the client's neurological status.
3.Administer a narcotic analgesic by intravenous
push (IVP). 4. Increase the client's intravenous (IV)
rate.
2.During an interview, the nurse states, "You D) Open-ended question
mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this Page: 32 The open-ended question asks for narrative information. It
statement? 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
A) Reflection questions, and whenever the person introduces a new topic.
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
3. The 6-year-old client who has undergone Rationale
abdominal surgery is attempting to make a
pinwheel spin by blowing on it with the nurse's Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the child for attempts at
assistance. The child starts crying because the cooperation even if the child did not accomplish what the nurse
asked. pinwheel won't spin. Which action should the nurse
implement first?
1. Praise the child for the attempt to
make the pinwheel spin.
2.Notify the respiratory therapist to implement
incentive spirometry. 3. Encourage the child to turn
from side to side and cough.
4. Demonstrate how to make the pinwheel spin by
blowing on it.
3.A nurse is taking complete health histories on all C) using biased or leading
questions. of the patients attending a wellness workshop. On
the history form, one of the written questions asks, Page: 36 This is an example of using leading or biased questions.
Asking, "You don't smoke, drink, or take drugs, do you?" "You don't smoke, do you?" implies that one answer is
"better" than
This question is an example of: 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
A) talking too much. made to feel guilty when admitting the other answer.
B) using confrontation.
, C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with
distasteful topics.
4. The nurse is caring for clients on the pediatric Rationale
medical unit. Which client should the nurse assess
first? Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than 93% is significant and
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who indicates hypoxia,
which is life threatening; therefore, this child should has a blood glucose level be assessed first.
of 180 mg/dL.
2. The child diagnosed with pneumonia
who is coughing and has a temperature of
100°F.
3.The child diagnosed with gastroenteritis who has
a potassium (K+) level
of 3.9 mEq/L.
4.The child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who has
a pulse oximeter reading of 90%.
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
child is sitting in an open position. As the
interviewer begins to discuss his son's treatment, Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the
however, he suddenly crosses his arms against his extension of large muscle groups shows relaxation, physical
comfort, chest and crosses his legs. This would suggest that and a willingness to share information. A closed position
with the arms
the parent is: 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
A) just changing positions. possible discomfort with the new topic.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
5. The nurse has received the a.m. shift report forRationale
clients on a pediatric unit. Which medication
should the nurse administer first? Correct - 3-Sliding scale insulin is ordered ac, which is before meals;
1. The third dose of the aminoglycoside antibiotic
therefore, this medication must be administered first after receiving the to the child diagnosed with a.m. shift report.
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 4-Routine medications have a 1-hour leeway before and after the
(MRSA). scheduled time; therefore, this medication does not have to be adminis-
2. The IVP steroid methylprednisolone (Solu- tered first.
Medrol) to the child diagnosed with
asthma.
3.The sliding scale insulin to the child diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
4.The stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) to a child
diagnosed with attention
deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
5.The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a A) Determine the communication method he
prefers. hearing impairment. What techniques would be
most beneficial in communicating with this patient? 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
A) Determine the communication method he lip reading, then the nurse should be sure to face him or her
squarely prefers. and have good lighting on the nurse's face. The nurse should not
B)Avoid using facial and hand gestures because exaggerate lip movements because this distorts words. Similarly,
most hearing-impaired people find this degrading. shouting distorts the reception of a hearing aid the person may
wear.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before The nurse should speak slowly and should supplement his or her
voice meeting with him to help facilitate the with appropriate hand gestures or pantomime.
communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated
facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading.
