©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
HEALTH ASSESSMENT HESI EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. 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. - Ans:✔✔-A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's
nonverbal behaviors.
Page 1/1063
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that note-taking
during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it shifts attention away from
the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also may interrupt the patient's narrative
flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal behavior.
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 - Ans:✔✔-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.
Page 2/1063
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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. - Ans:✔✔-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. 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:
Page 3/1063
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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. - Ans:✔✔-D) uncomfortable talking about his son's
treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of large muscle groups shows
relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share information. A closed position with the arms and
legs crossed tends to look defensive and anxious. Note any change in posture. If a person in a relaxed
position suddenly tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with the new topic.
5. 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.
Page 4/1063
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
HEALTH ASSESSMENT HESI EXAM
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. 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. - Ans:✔✔-A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's observation of the patient's
nonverbal behaviors.
Page 1/1063
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Page: 31 Some use of history forms and note-taking may be unavoidable. But be aware that note-taking
during the interview has disadvantages. It breaks eye contact too often, and it shifts attention away from
the patient, which diminishes his or her sense of importance. It also may interrupt the patient's narrative
flow, and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal behavior.
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 - Ans:✔✔-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.
Page 2/1063
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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. - Ans:✔✔-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. 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:
Page 3/1063
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
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. - Ans:✔✔-D) uncomfortable talking about his son's
treatment.
Page: 37 Note the person's position. An open position with the extension of large muscle groups shows
relaxation, physical comfort, and a willingness to share information. A closed position with the arms and
legs crossed tends to look defensive and anxious. Note any change in posture. If a person in a relaxed
position suddenly tenses, it suggests possible discomfort with the new topic.
5. 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.
Page 4/1063
