HESI A2 CRITICAL THINKING 2026 REASONING
SKILLS ASSESSMENT TEST PAPER QUESTIONS
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ 2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell
crisis is complaining of a severe headache. Which intervention
should the nurse implement first?
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal cannula.
2. Assess the client's neurological status.
3. Administer a narcotic analgesic by intravenous push (IVP). 4.
Increase the client's intravenous (IV) rate.
Answer: Rationale
Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a headache, the
nurse should first rule out cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess-
ing the client's neurological status and then determine whether it is
a headache that can be treated with medication.
◉ 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
Page: 32 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. The 6-year-old client who has undergone abdominal surgery is
attempting to make a pinwheel spin by blowing on it with the
nurse's assistance. The child starts crying because the pinwheel
won't spin. Which action should the nurse implement first?
1. Praise the child for the attempt to make the pinwheel spin.
2. Notify the respiratory therapist to implement incentive
spirometry. 3. Encourage the child to turn from side to side and
cough.
4. Demonstrate how to make the pinwheel spin by blowing on it.
Answer: Rationale
Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the child for attempts at
cooperation even if the child did not accomplish what the nurse
asked.
,◉ 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.
Page: 36 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. The nurse is caring for clients on the pediatric medical unit.
Which client should the nurse assess first?
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose
level
of 180 mg/dL.
2. The child diagnosed with pneumonia who is coughing and has a
temperature of
, 100°F.
3. The child diagnosed with gastroenteritis who has a potassium
(K+) level
of 3.9 mEq/L.
4. The child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who has a pulse oximeter
reading of 90%.
Answer: Rationale
Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than 93% is significant
and indicates hypoxia, which is life threatening; therefore, this child
should be assessed first.
◉ 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.
Answer: D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
SKILLS ASSESSMENT TEST PAPER QUESTIONS
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ 2. The 8-year-old client diagnosed with a vaso-occlusive sickle cell
crisis is complaining of a severe headache. Which intervention
should the nurse implement first?
1. Administer 6 L of oxygen via nasal cannula.
2. Assess the client's neurological status.
3. Administer a narcotic analgesic by intravenous push (IVP). 4.
Increase the client's intravenous (IV) rate.
Answer: Rationale
Correct - 2-Because the client is complaining of a headache, the
nurse should first rule out cerebrovascular accident (CVA) by assess-
ing the client's neurological status and then determine whether it is
a headache that can be treated with medication.
◉ 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
Page: 32 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. The 6-year-old client who has undergone abdominal surgery is
attempting to make a pinwheel spin by blowing on it with the
nurse's assistance. The child starts crying because the pinwheel
won't spin. Which action should the nurse implement first?
1. Praise the child for the attempt to make the pinwheel spin.
2. Notify the respiratory therapist to implement incentive
spirometry. 3. Encourage the child to turn from side to side and
cough.
4. Demonstrate how to make the pinwheel spin by blowing on it.
Answer: Rationale
Correct -1. The nurse should always praise the child for attempts at
cooperation even if the child did not accomplish what the nurse
asked.
,◉ 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.
Page: 36 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. The nurse is caring for clients on the pediatric medical unit.
Which client should the nurse assess first?
1. The child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose
level
of 180 mg/dL.
2. The child diagnosed with pneumonia who is coughing and has a
temperature of
, 100°F.
3. The child diagnosed with gastroenteritis who has a potassium
(K+) level
of 3.9 mEq/L.
4. The child diagnosed with cystic fibrosis who has a pulse oximeter
reading of 90%.
Answer: Rationale
Correct - 4. A pulse oximeter reading of less than 93% is significant
and indicates hypoxia, which is life threatening; therefore, this child
should be assessed first.
◉ 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.
Answer: D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment.
