1|Page
HESI A2 Critical Thinking Exam (2025/2026) | Verified
Questions & Answers with Rationales | Nursing
School Entrance|| LATEST EXAM!!!
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.
- Answer-A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's
observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
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
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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 - 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. 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,
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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. 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.
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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.
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.
HESI A2 Critical Thinking Exam (2025/2026) | Verified
Questions & Answers with Rationales | Nursing
School Entrance|| LATEST EXAM!!!
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.
- Answer-A) Note-taking may impede the nurse's
observation of the patient's nonverbal behaviors.
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
,2|Page
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 - 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. 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,
,3|Page
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. 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.
, 4|Page
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.
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.
