BSN 246 HESI Health Assessment Exam V1 & V2
Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Latest Update – 100%
Correct Grade A – Detailed Rationales – Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Health History & Communication
Q1: A patient arrives at the clinic and states, "I think I have the flu." As the nurse, you
want to gather more detailed information about this specific concern. Which type of
questioning technique is most appropriate at this point?
A. Closed-ended questions to quickly rule out emergencies
B. Leading questions to guide the patient to the most likely diagnosis
C. Open-ended questions to allow the patient to describe their symptoms in their own
words
D. Probing questions that focus on unrelated body systems
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions are the cornerstone of therapeutic communication
when beginning to explore a chief complaint. They allow the patient to elaborate without
feeling restricted, providing much richer data than a simple "yes" or "no." Closed
questions (A) come later to clarify specifics. Leading questions (B) introduce bias, and
probing unrelated systems (D) isn't the priority yet.
Q2: When documenting the past medical history, which of the following pieces of
information is considered the most critical to obtain regarding the patient's current health
status?
A. The patient's childhood immunization schedule
B. Major illnesses, hospitalizations, and chronic conditions that require ongoing
management
C. The age at which the patient lost their primary teeth
D. A detailed family history of their grandparents' occupations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The past medical history needs to focus on events and conditions that
directly impact the patient's current health, such as diabetes, heart disease, or previous
surgeries. While childhood shots (A) and tooth loss (C) have their place, they aren't the
priority for an acute or current assessment. Grandparents' occupations (D) are irrelevant
to past medical history.
,Q3: During a health history interview, a patient suddenly becomes quiet, crosses their
arms, and looks away. What is your best response to demonstrate active listening and
therapeutic communication?
A. "Why aren't you talking? We have a lot of questions to get through."
B. "I notice you've gotten quiet. Is there something about this topic that is uncomfortable
for you?"
C. "I'll just move on to the next question and come back to this one later."
D. "You look upset, so I'm just going to assume everything is fine to save time."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reflecting on the patient's non-verbal cues shows you are paying attention
and validates their feelings without pushing too aggressively. Saying "Why aren't you
talking?" (A) is confrontational. Ignoring it (C) or making assumptions (D) breaks the
therapeutic relationship.
Q4: You are taking a health history on a patient from a different cultural background who
uses a traditional healer. How should you document and respond to this information?
A. Document it as "patient is non-compliant with modern medicine."
B. Ask the patient to explain what the healer does, document it factually, and assess for
any potential interactions with prescribed treatments.
C. Tell the patient they must choose between their healer and the clinic.
D. Ignore it, as it has no bearing on the physiological assessment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence requires respecting a patient's health practices while
keeping them safe. By asking about the healer's treatments, you can check for
herb-drug interactions while building trust. Calling it non-compliance (A) is judgmental,
forcing a choice (C) is unethical, and ignoring it (D) is dangerous.
Q5: Which of the following components is part of the "review of systems" (ROS)?
A. A physical examination of the heart and lungs
B. A systematic series of questions about symptoms related to each major body system
C. The patient's family history of genetic diseases
D. The patient's current marital status and occupation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ROS is a verbal checklist designed to uncover symptoms the patient
might have forgotten to mention or didn't realize were relevant, covering everything from
"Any headaches?" to "Any changes in your bowel habits?" It is a history-taking tool, not
a physical exam (A), and is distinct from family or social history (C, D).
Q6: A nurse is using motivational interviewing techniques with a patient who is
struggling to quit smoking. Which response best exemplifies this approach?
A. "You really need to stop smoking, or you're going to get lung cancer."
, B. "Why can't you just quit? It's not that hard."
C. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it for you to quit right now, and what would
make that number higher?"
D. "If you don't quit by next week, I'm going to have to discharge you from the practice."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Motivational interviewing focuses on exploring ambivalence and helping the
patient find their own internal motivation to change. Using scaling questions (C) is a
classic technique to prompt the patient to think about their readiness. The other options
are confrontational, judgmental, or use inappropriate ultimatums.
Q7: What is the primary purpose of establishing a "chief complaint" in the health
history?
A. To have a legal record of why the patient is suing the hospital
B. To guide the rest of the history and physical examination by identifying the main
reason for the visit in the patient's own words
C. To diagnose the patient before the examination even begins
D. To determine the patient's insurance eligibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint is the brief statement (usually documented in quotes)
that summarizes why the patient is seeking care. It sets the agenda for the entire
assessment, telling you exactly what you need to focus on. It does not provide a
diagnosis (C) and has no bearing on legal or insurance specifics (A, D).
Q8: A patient says, "I've been having these terrible headaches." Which of the following
is the most appropriate follow-up question to explore the history of present illness
(HPI)?
A. "Do you have a family history of headaches?"
B. "Can you describe what these headaches feel like, when they started, and what
makes them better or worse?"
C. "Let me listen to your heart to see if that's causing them."
D. "Are you sure they aren't just migraines?"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HPI requires a deep dive into the specific symptom. Using OLDCARTS
(Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing,
Severity) is the standard. Asking about family history is for the family history section,
and doing a physical exam or jumping to a diagnosis interrupts the flow of the interview.
Q9: When interviewing an elderly patient who is slightly hard of hearing, what is the best
communication strategy?
A. Speak very loudly and exaggerate your lip movements.
Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Latest Update – 100%
Correct Grade A – Detailed Rationales – Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Health History & Communication
Q1: A patient arrives at the clinic and states, "I think I have the flu." As the nurse, you
want to gather more detailed information about this specific concern. Which type of
questioning technique is most appropriate at this point?
A. Closed-ended questions to quickly rule out emergencies
B. Leading questions to guide the patient to the most likely diagnosis
C. Open-ended questions to allow the patient to describe their symptoms in their own
words
D. Probing questions that focus on unrelated body systems
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions are the cornerstone of therapeutic communication
when beginning to explore a chief complaint. They allow the patient to elaborate without
feeling restricted, providing much richer data than a simple "yes" or "no." Closed
questions (A) come later to clarify specifics. Leading questions (B) introduce bias, and
probing unrelated systems (D) isn't the priority yet.
Q2: When documenting the past medical history, which of the following pieces of
information is considered the most critical to obtain regarding the patient's current health
status?
A. The patient's childhood immunization schedule
B. Major illnesses, hospitalizations, and chronic conditions that require ongoing
management
C. The age at which the patient lost their primary teeth
D. A detailed family history of their grandparents' occupations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The past medical history needs to focus on events and conditions that
directly impact the patient's current health, such as diabetes, heart disease, or previous
surgeries. While childhood shots (A) and tooth loss (C) have their place, they aren't the
priority for an acute or current assessment. Grandparents' occupations (D) are irrelevant
to past medical history.
,Q3: During a health history interview, a patient suddenly becomes quiet, crosses their
arms, and looks away. What is your best response to demonstrate active listening and
therapeutic communication?
A. "Why aren't you talking? We have a lot of questions to get through."
B. "I notice you've gotten quiet. Is there something about this topic that is uncomfortable
for you?"
C. "I'll just move on to the next question and come back to this one later."
D. "You look upset, so I'm just going to assume everything is fine to save time."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Reflecting on the patient's non-verbal cues shows you are paying attention
and validates their feelings without pushing too aggressively. Saying "Why aren't you
talking?" (A) is confrontational. Ignoring it (C) or making assumptions (D) breaks the
therapeutic relationship.
Q4: You are taking a health history on a patient from a different cultural background who
uses a traditional healer. How should you document and respond to this information?
A. Document it as "patient is non-compliant with modern medicine."
B. Ask the patient to explain what the healer does, document it factually, and assess for
any potential interactions with prescribed treatments.
C. Tell the patient they must choose between their healer and the clinic.
D. Ignore it, as it has no bearing on the physiological assessment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Cultural competence requires respecting a patient's health practices while
keeping them safe. By asking about the healer's treatments, you can check for
herb-drug interactions while building trust. Calling it non-compliance (A) is judgmental,
forcing a choice (C) is unethical, and ignoring it (D) is dangerous.
Q5: Which of the following components is part of the "review of systems" (ROS)?
A. A physical examination of the heart and lungs
B. A systematic series of questions about symptoms related to each major body system
C. The patient's family history of genetic diseases
D. The patient's current marital status and occupation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ROS is a verbal checklist designed to uncover symptoms the patient
might have forgotten to mention or didn't realize were relevant, covering everything from
"Any headaches?" to "Any changes in your bowel habits?" It is a history-taking tool, not
a physical exam (A), and is distinct from family or social history (C, D).
Q6: A nurse is using motivational interviewing techniques with a patient who is
struggling to quit smoking. Which response best exemplifies this approach?
A. "You really need to stop smoking, or you're going to get lung cancer."
, B. "Why can't you just quit? It's not that hard."
C. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it for you to quit right now, and what would
make that number higher?"
D. "If you don't quit by next week, I'm going to have to discharge you from the practice."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Motivational interviewing focuses on exploring ambivalence and helping the
patient find their own internal motivation to change. Using scaling questions (C) is a
classic technique to prompt the patient to think about their readiness. The other options
are confrontational, judgmental, or use inappropriate ultimatums.
Q7: What is the primary purpose of establishing a "chief complaint" in the health
history?
A. To have a legal record of why the patient is suing the hospital
B. To guide the rest of the history and physical examination by identifying the main
reason for the visit in the patient's own words
C. To diagnose the patient before the examination even begins
D. To determine the patient's insurance eligibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint is the brief statement (usually documented in quotes)
that summarizes why the patient is seeking care. It sets the agenda for the entire
assessment, telling you exactly what you need to focus on. It does not provide a
diagnosis (C) and has no bearing on legal or insurance specifics (A, D).
Q8: A patient says, "I've been having these terrible headaches." Which of the following
is the most appropriate follow-up question to explore the history of present illness
(HPI)?
A. "Do you have a family history of headaches?"
B. "Can you describe what these headaches feel like, when they started, and what
makes them better or worse?"
C. "Let me listen to your heart to see if that's causing them."
D. "Are you sure they aren't just migraines?"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The HPI requires a deep dive into the specific symptom. Using OLDCARTS
(Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing,
Severity) is the standard. Asking about family history is for the family history section,
and doing a physical exam or jumping to a diagnosis interrupts the flow of the interview.
Q9: When interviewing an elderly patient who is slightly hard of hearing, what is the best
communication strategy?
A. Speak very loudly and exaggerate your lip movements.
