HESI RN Health Assessment – Rewritten
Q&A with Rationales
1. Beliefs about illness
Question:
A client reports chest pain. Which statement reflects a naturalistic belief about illness?
Answer: A. “My life is really out of balance.”
Rationale: Naturalistic beliefs relate illness to imbalance (e.g., energy, harmony), not behavior
or religion.
2. Cultural competence (Select all)
Answer: A, B, C
● Be open
● Be curious
● Develop cultural competence
Rationale: These promote understanding. Treating everyone the same ignores cultural
differences.
3. Spleen assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: The spleen must be significantly enlarged (≈3×) to be palpable.
4. Lower lung sounds
Answer: A
Rationale: Lower lobes are best heard posteriorly below the 3rd intercostal space.
5. Mitral stenosis auscultation
, Answer: A
Rationale: Mitral valve = apex (5th ICS, left midclavicular line); use bell for low-pitched
sounds.
6. Aortic regurgitation
Answer: A
Rationale: Aortic valve = 2nd ICS right sternal border.
7. Scabies cause
Answer: A
Rationale: Scabies spreads in close-contact environments like daycare.
8. Suspected meningitis
Answer: A
Rationale: Level of consciousness is critical due to CNS involvement.
9. Fatigue + pale lips
Answer: C
Rationale: Suggests anemia → check iron/vitamin use.
10. Sudden hearing loss concern
Answer: B
Rationale: Hearing loss without infection may indicate serious pathology.
11. Mumps sign
Answer: B
Rationale: Parotid gland swelling (near ear).
Q&A with Rationales
1. Beliefs about illness
Question:
A client reports chest pain. Which statement reflects a naturalistic belief about illness?
Answer: A. “My life is really out of balance.”
Rationale: Naturalistic beliefs relate illness to imbalance (e.g., energy, harmony), not behavior
or religion.
2. Cultural competence (Select all)
Answer: A, B, C
● Be open
● Be curious
● Develop cultural competence
Rationale: These promote understanding. Treating everyone the same ignores cultural
differences.
3. Spleen assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: The spleen must be significantly enlarged (≈3×) to be palpable.
4. Lower lung sounds
Answer: A
Rationale: Lower lobes are best heard posteriorly below the 3rd intercostal space.
5. Mitral stenosis auscultation
, Answer: A
Rationale: Mitral valve = apex (5th ICS, left midclavicular line); use bell for low-pitched
sounds.
6. Aortic regurgitation
Answer: A
Rationale: Aortic valve = 2nd ICS right sternal border.
7. Scabies cause
Answer: A
Rationale: Scabies spreads in close-contact environments like daycare.
8. Suspected meningitis
Answer: A
Rationale: Level of consciousness is critical due to CNS involvement.
9. Fatigue + pale lips
Answer: C
Rationale: Suggests anemia → check iron/vitamin use.
10. Sudden hearing loss concern
Answer: B
Rationale: Hearing loss without infection may indicate serious pathology.
11. Mumps sign
Answer: B
Rationale: Parotid gland swelling (near ear).
