HESI Prep - Health Assessment Practice Questions
1. 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 Ans Ans: 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 tha
note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it shi
attention away from the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also ma
interrupt the patient's narrative flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverba
behavior.
2. 2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath.
Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this state- ment?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question Ans: 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. 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 Ans:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
,D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics Ans Ans: 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. 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 Ans:
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 Ans Ans: 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. 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 Ans Ans: A) Determine the communication method
he prefers.
Pages Ans: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to commu-
nicate—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
1. 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 Ans Ans: 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 tha
note-taking during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it shi
attention away from the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also ma
interrupt the patient's narrative flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverba
behavior.
2. 2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You mentioned shortness of breath.
Tell me more about that." Which verbal skill is used with this state- ment?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question Ans: 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. 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 Ans:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
,D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics Ans Ans: 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. 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 Ans:
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 Ans Ans: 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. 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 Ans Ans: A) Determine the communication method
he prefers.
Pages Ans: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to commu-
nicate—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
