BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment Exam V1
Nightingale College Actual Exam 2026/2027
Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
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Part I: Foundations of Health Assessment & History Taking
(Questions 1-15)
Q1: A nurse is preparing to conduct an initial health history
interview with a 67-year-old male patient admitted for chest
pain. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates therapeutic
communication during the opening phase of the interview?
A. Begin immediately by asking about the chest pain to save
time since the patient appears anxious
B. Introduce yourself, explain the purpose of the interview, and
establish the patient's preferred name
C. Review the patient's medical record first and then confirm
only the information you already have
D. Ask closed-ended yes/no questions to keep the interview
focused and efficient
Correct Answer: B
,2
Rationale: The best answer is B because establishing rapport at
the beginning of any health history interview requires
introducing yourself clearly, explaining why you're there, and
showing respect for how the patient wants to be addressed. This
creates a foundation of trust before diving into sensitive clinical
information. Starting abruptly with symptoms (Option A) can
feel rushed and impersonal, while relying solely on the chart
(Option C) or using only closed-ended questions (Option D)
limits the patient's opportunity to share their story in their own
words.
Q2: During a health history assessment, a nurse uses open-ended
questioning techniques. Which of the following is the BEST
example of an open-ended question?
A. "Do you have any pain right now?"
B. "Can you tell me more about what brought you to the hospital
today?"
C. "Have you taken your medications as prescribed?"
D. "Is your appetite normal?"
Correct Answer: B
,3
Rationale: This choice is correct because open-ended questions
encourage patients to respond with more than a simple "yes" or
"no" and allow them to share information in their own words.
"Can you tell me more about..." invites narrative and detail,
which is exactly what you want during the early parts of a health
history. Options A, C, and D are all closed-ended questions that
limit the patient's response and are better used later when you're
clarifying specific details.
Q3: A 45-year-old female presents for her annual wellness visit.
When collecting her health history using Gordon's Functional
Health Patterns, which pattern would be assessed by asking,
"Tell me about your typical daily routine—what do you eat, how
do you sleep, and how do you manage stress?"
A. Health Perception–Health Management Pattern
B. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern
C. Activity-Exercise Pattern
D. Role-Relationship Pattern
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The best answer is A because the Health Perception–
Health Management Pattern focuses on the patient's overall view
of health and how they manage their daily health practices,
, 4
including lifestyle habits like diet, sleep, and stress management.
While nutrition (B) and activity (C) are components mentioned
in the question, this broader question is really getting at how the
patient perceives and manages their overall health. The Role-
Relationship Pattern (D) deals more with family roles and social
connections, not personal health routines.
Q4: A nurse is documenting a patient's chief complaint. The
patient states, "My stomach has been hurting for three days,
especially after I eat, and I feel nauseous." How should the nurse
document the chief complaint most accurately?
A. "Abdominal pain and nausea"
B. "Patient reports gastrointestinal discomfort"
C. "Stomach hurting for 3 days, worse after eating, with nausea"
D. "Suspected gastritis with associated nausea"
Correct Answer: C
Correct Rationale: This choice is correct because the chief
complaint should be documented in the patient's own words as
much as possible, capturing the key elements: what the symptom
is, how long it's been going on, what makes it worse, and
associated symptoms. Option A is too brief and loses important
detail. Option B uses medical jargon instead of the patient's