HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT NIGHTINGALE COLLEGE
FALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES Q &A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following are components of a comprehensive
health assessment?
A. Health history
B. Physical examination
C. Laboratory tests
D. Diagnostic imaging
Answer: A, B
Rationale: A comprehensive health assessment focuses on
health history and physical examination. Labs and imaging are
diagnostic tools used as needed, not part of the standard
assessment.
2. When assessing a patient’s vital signs, which are considered
primary vital signs?
A. Temperature
B. Pulse
C. Respiratory rate
D. Pain assessment
,Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and blood
pressure are primary vital signs. Pain is often called the “fifth
vital sign” but is subjective.
3. What is the correct order of performing a physical
assessment on the abdomen?
A. Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Palpation, inspection, percussion, auscultation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Answer: B
Rationale: Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion →
Palpation is the correct order for abdominal assessment to
avoid altering bowel sounds.
4. Which statements are true regarding auscultation of heart
sounds?
A. S1 is louder at the apex
B. S2 is louder at the base
C. Murmurs are always abnormal
D. Use the diaphragm for high-pitched sounds
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: S1 is heard at the apex, S2 at the base, and the
,diaphragm is used for high-pitched sounds. Some murmurs can
be physiologic.
5. While taking a patient’s history, which techniques are
important?
A. Open-ended questions
B. Leading questions
C. Reflective listening
D. Medical jargon
Answer: A, C
Rationale: Use open-ended questions and reflective listening
to gather accurate information. Leading questions and jargon
may confuse patients.
6. Which techniques are used in physical examination?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Interpretation
Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation
are the four physical assessment techniques; interpretation is
part of clinical reasoning.
, 7. What are normal findings when assessing the skin?
A. Moist, warm, intact
B. Dry, cool, intact
C. Pallor, mottled
D. Erythema, intact
Answer: A
Rationale: Healthy skin is warm, moist, and intact. Dry, pallor,
or erythema may indicate pathology.
8. During a neurological assessment, which cranial nerves are
tested with eye movements?
A. II – Optic
B. III – Oculomotor
C. IV – Trochlear
D. VI – Abducens
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: Cranial nerves III, IV, and VI control extraocular
movements. II is for vision.
9. What techniques are appropriate for assessing the lungs?
A. Inspection
B. Percussion
C. Palpation
D. Auscultation
FALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES Q &A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following are components of a comprehensive
health assessment?
A. Health history
B. Physical examination
C. Laboratory tests
D. Diagnostic imaging
Answer: A, B
Rationale: A comprehensive health assessment focuses on
health history and physical examination. Labs and imaging are
diagnostic tools used as needed, not part of the standard
assessment.
2. When assessing a patient’s vital signs, which are considered
primary vital signs?
A. Temperature
B. Pulse
C. Respiratory rate
D. Pain assessment
,Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, and blood
pressure are primary vital signs. Pain is often called the “fifth
vital sign” but is subjective.
3. What is the correct order of performing a physical
assessment on the abdomen?
A. Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Palpation, inspection, percussion, auscultation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Answer: B
Rationale: Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion →
Palpation is the correct order for abdominal assessment to
avoid altering bowel sounds.
4. Which statements are true regarding auscultation of heart
sounds?
A. S1 is louder at the apex
B. S2 is louder at the base
C. Murmurs are always abnormal
D. Use the diaphragm for high-pitched sounds
Answer: A, B, D
Rationale: S1 is heard at the apex, S2 at the base, and the
,diaphragm is used for high-pitched sounds. Some murmurs can
be physiologic.
5. While taking a patient’s history, which techniques are
important?
A. Open-ended questions
B. Leading questions
C. Reflective listening
D. Medical jargon
Answer: A, C
Rationale: Use open-ended questions and reflective listening
to gather accurate information. Leading questions and jargon
may confuse patients.
6. Which techniques are used in physical examination?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Interpretation
Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation
are the four physical assessment techniques; interpretation is
part of clinical reasoning.
, 7. What are normal findings when assessing the skin?
A. Moist, warm, intact
B. Dry, cool, intact
C. Pallor, mottled
D. Erythema, intact
Answer: A
Rationale: Healthy skin is warm, moist, and intact. Dry, pallor,
or erythema may indicate pathology.
8. During a neurological assessment, which cranial nerves are
tested with eye movements?
A. II – Optic
B. III – Oculomotor
C. IV – Trochlear
D. VI – Abducens
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: Cranial nerves III, IV, and VI control extraocular
movements. II is for vision.
9. What techniques are appropriate for assessing the lungs?
A. Inspection
B. Percussion
C. Palpation
D. Auscultation
