HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXIT EXAM 2025/ HEALTH
ASSESSMENT HESI EXIT EXAM (2 CURRENTLY TESTING
VERSIONS) QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) 2025/2026
|ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1:
A 29 year old male patient informs the nurse that he came to the clinic to see if, “Maybe I have
lung cancer or something,” and wants to get checked out since, “I can’t seem to get rid of this
body-wracking dry cough that has been hanging around for the last six weeks.” Which computer
documentation of this patient’s concerns should the nurse enter?
A. Presents with a hacking non-productive cough of 6 weeks duration.
B. Describe having a “body-wracking dry cough” of 6 weeks duration.
C. Expresses concern of “lung cancer” symptoms for last 6 weeks.
D. Young adult male presents with fears that he has “lung cancer”
--SELECTED ANSS--is B, as assessment process includes chief complaint which is how the patient
describe why he is here in the hospital or clinic and can’t include diagnosis.
Question 2:
A 75-year-old patient with a recent history of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) presents with right
hemiparesis. The nurse tests the deep tendon reflexes on the right side and elicits a brisk 4+
response. Which interpretation of this finding is accurate?
A. A normal reflex response.
B. Absent or sluggish response consistent with a lower motor neuron lesion.
C. Flaccid paralysis.
D. Hyperactive response consistent with an upper motor neuron disorder.
--SELECTED ANSS--is D, brisk 4+ response is correlated with hyperactive
response. Question 3:
The nurse examines a patient’s abdomen. Which finding indicates an abnormal response when
palpating the spleen?
A. Pain notes when palpating McBurney’s point.
B. Tip of spleen palpable when patient is asked to forcefully exhale.
C. Rebound tenderness with compression over right upper quadrant.
D. Firm mass palpated at bottom of left rib cage.
--SELECTED ANSS--is D. McBurney’s point is related to appendicitis and not spleen.
1
,Question 4:
In auscultating for the presence of a carotid artery bruit, the nurse places the bell of the
stethoscope at which location?
Question 5:
A male client arrives at the clinic for follow -up health assessment after recent antibiotic
treatment for pneumonia without hospitalization. Which technique should the nurse
implement to assess for adventitious lung sounds?
A. Use the bell of the stethoscope to listen to the lung fields over lower lobes.
B. Have the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest.
C. Press the stethoscope’s diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field.
D. Shave all chest hair that may distort sounds heard through the diaphragm.
Correct answer is C. The nurse should listen to all lungs fields during assessment and move from
side to side during auscultation.
Question 6:
A patient with streptococcus pharyngitis reports high fever, difficulty swallowing and a mufled
voice. Which complication should the nurse suspect?
A. Foreign body obstruction.
B. Laryngeal polyps.
C. Peritonsillar abscess.
D. Nasal polyps.
--SELECTED ANSS--is C. Since infections are associated with abscesses and pus.
2
, Question 7:
The nurse is obtaining a health history for a patient prior to a scheduled cholecystectomy. While
interviewing the patient, which assessment technique should the nurse use when asking about
the patient’s use of illegal drugs and alcohol?
A. Obtain a drug using screen to verify legitimacy of patient’s stated history.
B. Allow the patient to decline answering social questions.
C. Ask specifically about alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and amounts.
D. Use the term illegal or illicit to describe street drugs.
--SELECTED ANSS--is C. When interviewing the patient, questions should be clear and specific.
Question 8:
The nurse applies pressure over an area of the lower abdomen where the patient reports pain.
The patient denies pain upon palpation, but reports pain when the pressure is released. What
action should the nurse implement?
A. Offer to administer a laxative prescribed for PRN use.
B. Obtain a prescription to catheterize the patient’s bladder.
C. Instruct the patient in distraction and relation techniques.
D. Notify the healthcare provider of the rebound tenderness.
--SELECTED ANSS--is D. As this could be a sign of appendicitis.
Question 9:
The nurse is assessing an ulcer on a patient’s lower extremity, which is likely the result of either
venous or arterial insufficiency. Which assessment technique should the nurse use to
differentiate the pathophysiology causing the ulcer?
A. Measure the degree of join range of motion in the extremity.
B. Compare the skin turgor of the patient’s upper and lower leg.
3
ASSESSMENT HESI EXIT EXAM (2 CURRENTLY TESTING
VERSIONS) QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) 2025/2026
|ALREADY GRADED A+
Question 1:
A 29 year old male patient informs the nurse that he came to the clinic to see if, “Maybe I have
lung cancer or something,” and wants to get checked out since, “I can’t seem to get rid of this
body-wracking dry cough that has been hanging around for the last six weeks.” Which computer
documentation of this patient’s concerns should the nurse enter?
A. Presents with a hacking non-productive cough of 6 weeks duration.
B. Describe having a “body-wracking dry cough” of 6 weeks duration.
C. Expresses concern of “lung cancer” symptoms for last 6 weeks.
D. Young adult male presents with fears that he has “lung cancer”
--SELECTED ANSS--is B, as assessment process includes chief complaint which is how the patient
describe why he is here in the hospital or clinic and can’t include diagnosis.
Question 2:
A 75-year-old patient with a recent history of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) presents with right
hemiparesis. The nurse tests the deep tendon reflexes on the right side and elicits a brisk 4+
response. Which interpretation of this finding is accurate?
A. A normal reflex response.
B. Absent or sluggish response consistent with a lower motor neuron lesion.
C. Flaccid paralysis.
D. Hyperactive response consistent with an upper motor neuron disorder.
--SELECTED ANSS--is D, brisk 4+ response is correlated with hyperactive
response. Question 3:
The nurse examines a patient’s abdomen. Which finding indicates an abnormal response when
palpating the spleen?
A. Pain notes when palpating McBurney’s point.
B. Tip of spleen palpable when patient is asked to forcefully exhale.
C. Rebound tenderness with compression over right upper quadrant.
D. Firm mass palpated at bottom of left rib cage.
--SELECTED ANSS--is D. McBurney’s point is related to appendicitis and not spleen.
1
,Question 4:
In auscultating for the presence of a carotid artery bruit, the nurse places the bell of the
stethoscope at which location?
Question 5:
A male client arrives at the clinic for follow -up health assessment after recent antibiotic
treatment for pneumonia without hospitalization. Which technique should the nurse
implement to assess for adventitious lung sounds?
A. Use the bell of the stethoscope to listen to the lung fields over lower lobes.
B. Have the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest.
C. Press the stethoscope’s diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field.
D. Shave all chest hair that may distort sounds heard through the diaphragm.
Correct answer is C. The nurse should listen to all lungs fields during assessment and move from
side to side during auscultation.
Question 6:
A patient with streptococcus pharyngitis reports high fever, difficulty swallowing and a mufled
voice. Which complication should the nurse suspect?
A. Foreign body obstruction.
B. Laryngeal polyps.
C. Peritonsillar abscess.
D. Nasal polyps.
--SELECTED ANSS--is C. Since infections are associated with abscesses and pus.
2
, Question 7:
The nurse is obtaining a health history for a patient prior to a scheduled cholecystectomy. While
interviewing the patient, which assessment technique should the nurse use when asking about
the patient’s use of illegal drugs and alcohol?
A. Obtain a drug using screen to verify legitimacy of patient’s stated history.
B. Allow the patient to decline answering social questions.
C. Ask specifically about alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and amounts.
D. Use the term illegal or illicit to describe street drugs.
--SELECTED ANSS--is C. When interviewing the patient, questions should be clear and specific.
Question 8:
The nurse applies pressure over an area of the lower abdomen where the patient reports pain.
The patient denies pain upon palpation, but reports pain when the pressure is released. What
action should the nurse implement?
A. Offer to administer a laxative prescribed for PRN use.
B. Obtain a prescription to catheterize the patient’s bladder.
C. Instruct the patient in distraction and relation techniques.
D. Notify the healthcare provider of the rebound tenderness.
--SELECTED ANSS--is D. As this could be a sign of appendicitis.
Question 9:
The nurse is assessing an ulcer on a patient’s lower extremity, which is likely the result of either
venous or arterial insufficiency. Which assessment technique should the nurse use to
differentiate the pathophysiology causing the ulcer?
A. Measure the degree of join range of motion in the extremity.
B. Compare the skin turgor of the patient’s upper and lower leg.
3
