HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
1. During her annual OB/GYN exam, a 24-year-old woman asks the
nurse when she should perform her breast exams. The nurse's best
response is correct answer: correct answer: Correct correct answer: "One
week after your period starts, or when your breasts are least engorged."
b/c
In menstruating women, self breast exams are best performed 4-7 days after the start of a woman's cycle,
when the breasts are least engorged and painful.
2. While assessing for common signs and symptoms of benign prostatic
hyper- trophy (BPH), the nurse should ask correct answer: correct answer: "Do you
need to strain to start or maintain stream?"
b/c
Hesitancy, weak stream, and dribbling are common symptoms of BPH. The other questions are not useful to
determine BPH.
incorrect correct answer: "Are you urinating more than twice a day?", Is your urine bloody or cloudy?", "Do
you have to stand further from the toilet?"
3. A 19-year-old female post-miscarriage presents with "vaginal
bleeding." What is a priority health history question at this time? correct
answer: How many pads are you soaking per hour?" b/c
During the History of Present Illness, quantity or severity should be assessed and documented. For
example correct answer: "Vaginal bleeding soaking two pads per hour." Soaking one or more pads per
hour can indicate hemorrhage.
4. The nurse is educating an adolescent male about testicular self-
examination (TSE). The nurse includes which point in the teaching? correct
answer: "If you notice an enlarged testicle or a lump, call your health care provider."
b/c
If the patient notices a firm painless lump, a hard area, or an overall enlarged testicle, then he should
call his health care provider for further evaluation. The testicle normally feels rubbery with a smooth
surface. A good time to examine the testicles is during the shower or bath, when one's hands are warm
and soapy and the scrotum is warm. Testicular self-examination should be performed once a month.
5. During a complete physical exam, the RN notices that a female
,HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
patient has an inverted left nipple; the right one is everted. What should
the nurse do next? correct answer: Ask the patient when she first noticed the
inversion.
b/c
The nurse should distinguish between a recently retracted nipple from one that has been inverted for many
years or
,HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
since puberty. Normal nipple inversion may be unilateral or bilateral and usually can be pulled out; that is,
if it is not fixed. Recent nipple retraction signifies acquired disease.
6. When examining an adult patient presenting with "scrotal pain",
the nurse notices that a positive glow with transillumination. On the
basis of this finding the nurse would correct answer: correct answer: Suspect the
presence of serous fluid in the scrotum.
b/c
Normal scrotal contents do not allow light to pass through the scrotum. However, serous fluid does
transilluminate and shows as a red glow. Neither a mass nor a hernia would transilluminate.
7. A 30 year-old female who is 4 weeks postpartum calls the
OB/GYN clinic to report that her left breast is red, swollen, and very
tender. What should the nurse do next? correct answer: Ask if the woman has had a
fever, fatigue, or chills.
b/c
If the woman is also experiencing flu-like symptoms,it is suspicious for mastitis, which stems from an
infection or stasis caused by a plugged duct. A plugged duct does not have infection present.
8. A new mother presses her call light to report that her baby "has had
his first poop." The nurse observes a dark green meconium stool. The
RN understands that correct answer: correct answer: The first stool indicates anal
patency.
b/c
The first stool passed by the newborn is dark green meconium and occurs within 24 to 48 hours of
birth, indicating anal patency. The other responses are not correct.
9. While assessing for hemorrhoids in a 28-year-old male, the nurse
inspect the anus while the client correct answer: correct answer: Performs a
Valsalva maneuver.
b/c
While inspecting the perianal area, instruct the person to hold the breath and bear down by performing a
Valsalva maneuver. No break in skin integrity or protrusion through the anal opening should be present.
10. To assess for common symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS), the nurse asks correct answer: correct answer: "How often do you have a
,HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
period?"
b/c
Clients with PCOS will have amenorrhea or infrequent menses, infertility, acne, hirsutism, and weight gain.
Asking about family history does not assess for common symptoms of PCOS.
11. When assessing muscle strength, the nurse observes that a
patient maintain biceps flexion against resistance. How should the
nurse document muscle
Answers
1. During her annual OB/GYN exam, a 24-year-old woman asks the
nurse when she should perform her breast exams. The nurse's best
response is correct answer: correct answer: Correct correct answer: "One
week after your period starts, or when your breasts are least engorged."
b/c
In menstruating women, self breast exams are best performed 4-7 days after the start of a woman's cycle,
when the breasts are least engorged and painful.
2. While assessing for common signs and symptoms of benign prostatic
hyper- trophy (BPH), the nurse should ask correct answer: correct answer: "Do you
need to strain to start or maintain stream?"
b/c
Hesitancy, weak stream, and dribbling are common symptoms of BPH. The other questions are not useful to
determine BPH.
incorrect correct answer: "Are you urinating more than twice a day?", Is your urine bloody or cloudy?", "Do
you have to stand further from the toilet?"
3. A 19-year-old female post-miscarriage presents with "vaginal
bleeding." What is a priority health history question at this time? correct
answer: How many pads are you soaking per hour?" b/c
During the History of Present Illness, quantity or severity should be assessed and documented. For
example correct answer: "Vaginal bleeding soaking two pads per hour." Soaking one or more pads per
hour can indicate hemorrhage.
4. The nurse is educating an adolescent male about testicular self-
examination (TSE). The nurse includes which point in the teaching? correct
answer: "If you notice an enlarged testicle or a lump, call your health care provider."
b/c
If the patient notices a firm painless lump, a hard area, or an overall enlarged testicle, then he should
call his health care provider for further evaluation. The testicle normally feels rubbery with a smooth
surface. A good time to examine the testicles is during the shower or bath, when one's hands are warm
and soapy and the scrotum is warm. Testicular self-examination should be performed once a month.
5. During a complete physical exam, the RN notices that a female
,HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
patient has an inverted left nipple; the right one is everted. What should
the nurse do next? correct answer: Ask the patient when she first noticed the
inversion.
b/c
The nurse should distinguish between a recently retracted nipple from one that has been inverted for many
years or
,HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
since puberty. Normal nipple inversion may be unilateral or bilateral and usually can be pulled out; that is,
if it is not fixed. Recent nipple retraction signifies acquired disease.
6. When examining an adult patient presenting with "scrotal pain",
the nurse notices that a positive glow with transillumination. On the
basis of this finding the nurse would correct answer: correct answer: Suspect the
presence of serous fluid in the scrotum.
b/c
Normal scrotal contents do not allow light to pass through the scrotum. However, serous fluid does
transilluminate and shows as a red glow. Neither a mass nor a hernia would transilluminate.
7. A 30 year-old female who is 4 weeks postpartum calls the
OB/GYN clinic to report that her left breast is red, swollen, and very
tender. What should the nurse do next? correct answer: Ask if the woman has had a
fever, fatigue, or chills.
b/c
If the woman is also experiencing flu-like symptoms,it is suspicious for mastitis, which stems from an
infection or stasis caused by a plugged duct. A plugged duct does not have infection present.
8. A new mother presses her call light to report that her baby "has had
his first poop." The nurse observes a dark green meconium stool. The
RN understands that correct answer: correct answer: The first stool indicates anal
patency.
b/c
The first stool passed by the newborn is dark green meconium and occurs within 24 to 48 hours of
birth, indicating anal patency. The other responses are not correct.
9. While assessing for hemorrhoids in a 28-year-old male, the nurse
inspect the anus while the client correct answer: correct answer: Performs a
Valsalva maneuver.
b/c
While inspecting the perianal area, instruct the person to hold the breath and bear down by performing a
Valsalva maneuver. No break in skin integrity or protrusion through the anal opening should be present.
10. To assess for common symptoms of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
(PCOS), the nurse asks correct answer: correct answer: "How often do you have a
,HESI Exam Health Assessment Questions and
Answers
period?"
b/c
Clients with PCOS will have amenorrhea or infrequent menses, infertility, acne, hirsutism, and weight gain.
Asking about family history does not assess for common symptoms of PCOS.
11. When assessing muscle strength, the nurse observes that a
patient maintain biceps flexion against resistance. How should the
nurse document muscle
