HESI RN Practice Test [Health Assessment on Evolve] Verified Questions and
Answers (A+ Grade
Topic 1: The Health Interview & Communication Techniques (Questions 1-20)
Q1. 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.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Note-taking during an interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye
contact too often, shifts attention away from the patient (diminishing their sense
,of importance), interrupts the patient's narrative flow, and impedes the
observation of the patient's nonverbal behavior .
Q2. 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
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: 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 .
Q3. 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.
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 .
Q4. 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.
✅ Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: An open position with extension of large muscle groups shows
relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share information. A closed
position with arms and legs crossed tends to look defensive and anxious. A
change in posture from relaxed to tense suggests possible discomfort with the
new topic .
Q5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What
techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
B) Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired people
find this degrading.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help facilitate
the communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to
communicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If lip reading is preferred, the
nurse should face the patient squarely with good lighting, speak slowly (without
exaggerating lip movements), and supplement with appropriate hand gestures.
Shouting distorts hearing aid reception .
Answers (A+ Grade
Topic 1: The Health Interview & Communication Techniques (Questions 1-20)
Q1. 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.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Note-taking during an interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye
contact too often, shifts attention away from the patient (diminishing their sense
,of importance), interrupts the patient's narrative flow, and impedes the
observation of the patient's nonverbal behavior .
Q2. 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
✅ Correct Answer: D
Rationale: 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 .
Q3. 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.
✅ Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 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 .
Q4. 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.
✅ Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: An open position with extension of large muscle groups shows
relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share information. A closed
position with arms and legs crossed tends to look defensive and anxious. A
change in posture from relaxed to tense suggests possible discomfort with the
new topic .
Q5. The nurse is interviewing a patient who has a hearing impairment. What
techniques would be most beneficial in communicating with this patient?
A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
B) Avoid using facial and hand gestures because most hearing-impaired people
find this degrading.
C) Request a sign language interpreter before meeting with him to help facilitate
the communication.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when talking with him
because this helps with lip reading.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred way to
communicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If lip reading is preferred, the
nurse should face the patient squarely with good lighting, speak slowly (without
exaggerating lip movements), and supplement with appropriate hand gestures.
Shouting distorts hearing aid reception .
