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HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT PRACTICE QUESTIONS
(2025–2026 LATEST EDITION) | EXAM-STYLE
QUESTIONS, CORRECT ANSWERS & WELL-
ELABORATED RATIONALES | A+ SUCCESS
GUARANTEED
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.
- ANSWER-A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's
observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
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RATIONEL: Some use of history forms and note-
taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that
note-taking during the interview has
disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often,
and it shifts attention away from the patient,
which diminishes his or her sense of importance.
It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
and it impedes the observation of the patient's
nonverbal behavior.
2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You
mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this
statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
- ANSWER-D) Open-ended question
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RATIONEL: 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. 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:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful
topics.
- ANSWER-C) using biased or leading questions.
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RATIONEL: 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. 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:
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.
HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT PRACTICE QUESTIONS
(2025–2026 LATEST EDITION) | EXAM-STYLE
QUESTIONS, CORRECT ANSWERS & WELL-
ELABORATED RATIONALES | A+ SUCCESS
GUARANTEED
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.
- ANSWER-A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's
observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
,2|Page
RATIONEL: Some use of history forms and note-
taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that
note-taking during the interview has
disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often,
and it shifts attention away from the patient,
which diminishes his or her sense of importance.
It also may interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
and it impedes the observation of the patient's
nonverbal behavior.
2. During an interview, the nurse states, "You
mentioned shortness of breath. Tell me more
about that." Which verbal skill is used with this
statement?
A) Reflection
B) Facilitation
C) Direct question
D) Open-ended question
- ANSWER-D) Open-ended question
,3|Page
RATIONEL: 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. 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:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful
topics.
- ANSWER-C) using biased or leading questions.
, 4|Page
RATIONEL: 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. 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:
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.
