BSN246 HESI Health Assessment Complete
Exam Prep – Nightingale College 2025/2026 |
Verified Questions and Correct Answers (Grade
A, Latest Update)
Below are 70 verified questions with answers and rationales for the BSN246 HESI Health
Assessment exam, aligned with the 2025/2026 HESI guidelines and Nightingale College
curriculum. The questions cover health history interviewing, physical examination techniques,
vital signs interpretation, and clinical reasoning. Use to achieve a score of ≥900.
Section 1: Health History and Interviewing (20 Questions)
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a health history interview?
Answer: To establish rapport and gather comprehensive subjective data.
Rationale: The health history builds rapport and collects subjective data to guide assessment, not
for diagnosis or objective measures.
Question 2: A client reports “feeling tired all the time.” What is the most appropriate follow-up
question?
Answer: Can you describe the fatigue and what makes it better or worse?
Rationale: Open-ended questions elicit detailed symptom information, aiding accurate
assessment.
Question 3: Which techniques enhance effective communication during a health history
interview? (Select all that apply)
Answer: Maintain eye contact with the client; Use simple, clear language for clients with
cognitive impairments; Summarize key points at the end of the interview.
Rationale: Eye contact builds rapport, simple language aids understanding, and summarizing
confirms accuracy. Entering data during or interrupting disrupts communication.
Question 4: A client with a magicoreligious health belief system refuses a procedure. What is
the nurse’s best response?
Answer: Ask about the client’s beliefs regarding the procedure.
Rationale: Understanding cultural beliefs respects the client’s perspective and informs care
planning.
Question 5: A client reports “occasional chest pain.” What is the next step?
Answer: Explore onset, duration, and triggers of the pain.
, Rationale: Clarifying symptom details ensures accurate assessment before assuming a diagnosis
or intervening.
Question 6: When interviewing a client with limited English proficiency, what is the best
practice?
Answer: Use a trained medical interpreter.
Rationale: Trained interpreters ensure accuracy and confidentiality, avoiding bias or errors.
Question 7: A client reports smoking 1.5 packs/day for 20 years. How many pack-years is this?
Answer: 30 pack-years.
Rationale: Pack-years = packs per day × years smoked. 1.5 × 20 = 30 pack-years.
Question 8: A client reports a family history of hypertension. What is the priority question?
Answer: Which family members have hypertension and at what age?
Rationale: Family history details assess genetic risk for targeted screening.
Question 9: Which components are included in a comprehensive health history? (Select all that
apply)
Answer: Past medical history; Social history; Review of systems.
Rationale: Health history includes medical, social, and systems review. Vital signs and physical
findings are objective data.
Question 10: A client appears anxious during the interview. What is the best approach?
Answer: Acknowledge anxiety and offer reassurance.
Rationale: Acknowledging emotions builds trust and facilitates communication.
Question 11: A client reports “stomach pain after eating.” What is the priority question?
Answer: Can you describe the pain and its timing?
Rationale: Descriptive details clarify the symptom’s nature for accurate assessment.
Question 12: When interviewing an elderly client with mild dementia, what is the best
technique?
Answer: Speak slowly with simple language.
Rationale: Simple, slow communication enhances understanding in cognitive impairment.
Question 13: A client reports a recent fall. What is the priority history question?
Answer: What were you doing when you fell?
Rationale: Understanding the fall’s circumstances guides risk assessment.
Question 14: A client identifies as transgender. How should the nurse approach the health
history?
Answer: Use gender-neutral language and ask about pronouns.
Rationale: Gender-neutral language and pronoun clarification show respect and ensure accuracy.
Exam Prep – Nightingale College 2025/2026 |
Verified Questions and Correct Answers (Grade
A, Latest Update)
Below are 70 verified questions with answers and rationales for the BSN246 HESI Health
Assessment exam, aligned with the 2025/2026 HESI guidelines and Nightingale College
curriculum. The questions cover health history interviewing, physical examination techniques,
vital signs interpretation, and clinical reasoning. Use to achieve a score of ≥900.
Section 1: Health History and Interviewing (20 Questions)
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a health history interview?
Answer: To establish rapport and gather comprehensive subjective data.
Rationale: The health history builds rapport and collects subjective data to guide assessment, not
for diagnosis or objective measures.
Question 2: A client reports “feeling tired all the time.” What is the most appropriate follow-up
question?
Answer: Can you describe the fatigue and what makes it better or worse?
Rationale: Open-ended questions elicit detailed symptom information, aiding accurate
assessment.
Question 3: Which techniques enhance effective communication during a health history
interview? (Select all that apply)
Answer: Maintain eye contact with the client; Use simple, clear language for clients with
cognitive impairments; Summarize key points at the end of the interview.
Rationale: Eye contact builds rapport, simple language aids understanding, and summarizing
confirms accuracy. Entering data during or interrupting disrupts communication.
Question 4: A client with a magicoreligious health belief system refuses a procedure. What is
the nurse’s best response?
Answer: Ask about the client’s beliefs regarding the procedure.
Rationale: Understanding cultural beliefs respects the client’s perspective and informs care
planning.
Question 5: A client reports “occasional chest pain.” What is the next step?
Answer: Explore onset, duration, and triggers of the pain.
, Rationale: Clarifying symptom details ensures accurate assessment before assuming a diagnosis
or intervening.
Question 6: When interviewing a client with limited English proficiency, what is the best
practice?
Answer: Use a trained medical interpreter.
Rationale: Trained interpreters ensure accuracy and confidentiality, avoiding bias or errors.
Question 7: A client reports smoking 1.5 packs/day for 20 years. How many pack-years is this?
Answer: 30 pack-years.
Rationale: Pack-years = packs per day × years smoked. 1.5 × 20 = 30 pack-years.
Question 8: A client reports a family history of hypertension. What is the priority question?
Answer: Which family members have hypertension and at what age?
Rationale: Family history details assess genetic risk for targeted screening.
Question 9: Which components are included in a comprehensive health history? (Select all that
apply)
Answer: Past medical history; Social history; Review of systems.
Rationale: Health history includes medical, social, and systems review. Vital signs and physical
findings are objective data.
Question 10: A client appears anxious during the interview. What is the best approach?
Answer: Acknowledge anxiety and offer reassurance.
Rationale: Acknowledging emotions builds trust and facilitates communication.
Question 11: A client reports “stomach pain after eating.” What is the priority question?
Answer: Can you describe the pain and its timing?
Rationale: Descriptive details clarify the symptom’s nature for accurate assessment.
Question 12: When interviewing an elderly client with mild dementia, what is the best
technique?
Answer: Speak slowly with simple language.
Rationale: Simple, slow communication enhances understanding in cognitive impairment.
Question 13: A client reports a recent fall. What is the priority history question?
Answer: What were you doing when you fell?
Rationale: Understanding the fall’s circumstances guides risk assessment.
Question 14: A client identifies as transgender. How should the nurse approach the health
history?
Answer: Use gender-neutral language and ask about pronouns.
Rationale: Gender-neutral language and pronoun clarification show respect and ensure accuracy.
