HESI HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXIT /HEALTH
ASSESSMENT HESI EXIT ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONAL
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A 9-year old child tells his school nurse that his eye itches and tears much more than usual.
When the nurse examines his eye, his sclera is reddened. Which eye abnormalitydo these signs
and symptoms most suggest?
• Cataracts
• Ptosis
• Glaucoma
• Conjunctivitis - D
Conjunctivitis causes redness of the eye as well as itching and increased tearing. A child
would be unlikely to develop a cataract or glaucoma. Ptosis refers to a droopingeyelid.
A 19-year-old client is admitted to the coronary care unit after experiencing a syncopal
episode while playing basketball. When auscultating his heart sounds, the nurse hearsa "lub-
dub" sound. What mechanical event in the heart is associated with the "lub" sound?
• Closure of the mitral and aortic valves
• Closure of the tricuspid and aortic valves
• C. Closure of the aortic and pulmonic
valves
D. Closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves - D
The first heart sound, S1, which produces the "lub" sound, is associated with closure ofthe
mitral and tricuspid valves. The second heart sound, S2, or the "dub" sound, is a result of
closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves.
A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department with dyspnea and
asymmetrical breathing patterns after falling down a flight of steps at a party. His admission
chest X-ray shows right-sided pneumothorax. During inspection, what othercharacteristic of
pneumothorax might the nurse observe?
A. Funnel chest
B. Barrel chest
C. Intercostal retractions
D. Tracheal deviation -
D
With pneumothorax, the nurse may observe intercostal retractions; with right-sided
pneumothorax, deviation to the left may also be present. Funnel chest is a chest
deformity. Barrel chest occurs with chronic obstructive lung disease.
,A 23-year-old client is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit with severe depression.To
develop rapport with the client, the nurse initiates a contract. What should the contract
include?
A. Expectations and responsibilities for you and the client
B. A description of the therapies the client will undergo
C. A prediction of the length of hospitalization
D. The client's insurance and financial information - A
A contract with a psychiatric client should include the nurse's expectations and
responsibilities as well as the client's. A description of the client's therapies, the lengthof
hospitalization, and insurance and financial information wouldn't be included in a contract.
A 27-year-old client comes to the emergency room complaining of abdominal pain.Deep
palpation of the abdomen shouldn't be performed if the client:
• Has ascites
• Reports
constipationC. Is
ticklish
D. Has abdominal rigidity - D
Because abdominal rigidity may indicate peritoneal inflammation, the nurse should avoid
palpation because it may lead to pain or organ rupture. Performing deep palpationon a client
who has ascites, is constipated, or is ticklish may be difficult, but it isn't contraindicated.
A 28-year-old client asks, "When should I perform breast self examination (BSE)?" The best
response from the nurse would be:
A. "On the first day of your menstrual cycle each month."
B. "On the last day of your menstrual cycle each month."
C. "On the first day of every month."
D. "7 to 10 days after your menstrual cycle begins each month." - D
Because certain changes take place in the breasts during the menstrual cycle,
menstruating women should perform a BSE 7 to 10 days after the beginning of her
cycle. The other choices aren't optimal times.
A 28-year-old client tells a nurse that he discovered a lump in his scrotum. Beforepalpating
his testicles, the nurse should know that a normal testicle is:
A. irregularly shaped
B. Round
C. Rubbery
D. Nodular - C
A normal testicle is oval and rubbery. An irregularly shaped or nodular testicle mayindicate
malignancy. A round testicle isn't normally found.
A 30-year-old client is brought to the emergency department with head injuries from a
motorcycle accident. During the neurological assessment, the client displays Babinski's
reflex. The nurse knows that this finding is:
, A. an abnormal response
B. a normal response
C. a hyperactive response
D. a diminished response - A
Although Babinkski's reflex is a normal finding in infants and children younger than age2,
it's always an abnormal finding in adults. It wouldn't be classified as hyperactive or
diminished.
A 34-year-old client complains of pain and tingling in her right wrist. During the assessment,
the client reports pain when the nurse flexes the wrist for 30 seconds. Thenurse knows that this
finding indicates:
• a fractured wrist
• carpal tunnel
syndromeC. a stroke
D. paralysis - B
Pain or numbness in the hand or fingers that occurs when the client's wrist is flexed iscalled
Phalen's sign. This finding is indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome. A fractured wrist would
cause pain with any movement. Stroke and paralysis aren't indicated by pain with wrist
flexion.
A 46-year-old construction worker comes to the clinic for his annual physical examination.
During the assessment, the nurse palpates the inguinal area for whatreason?
A. To check for
herniationB. To locate a
pulse
C. To check for a nondescended testicle
D. To assess the prostate gland - A
The purpose of palpating a client's inguinal area during assessment is to check forherniation.
The nurse wouldn't find a pulse, testicle, or prostate gland in this area.
A 47-year-old client complains of burning abdominal pain after eating at a Mexican
restaurant. Burning abdominal pain is most commonly associated with:
A. Cholecystitis
B. Appendicitits
C. Peptic ulcer disease
D. Pancreatitis - C
Burning abdominal pain is most commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease.
Cholecystitis and pancreatitis cause stabbing abdominal pain. Appendicitis causessevere
abdominal cramping.
A 49-year-old client with a history of alcohol abuse is admitted with bleeding esophageal
varices. The nurse assessing him notes several small, weblike, vascular lesions on his cheeks.
The nurse should chart these findings as:
• Purpura
ASSESSMENT HESI EXIT ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONAL
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A 9-year old child tells his school nurse that his eye itches and tears much more than usual.
When the nurse examines his eye, his sclera is reddened. Which eye abnormalitydo these signs
and symptoms most suggest?
• Cataracts
• Ptosis
• Glaucoma
• Conjunctivitis - D
Conjunctivitis causes redness of the eye as well as itching and increased tearing. A child
would be unlikely to develop a cataract or glaucoma. Ptosis refers to a droopingeyelid.
A 19-year-old client is admitted to the coronary care unit after experiencing a syncopal
episode while playing basketball. When auscultating his heart sounds, the nurse hearsa "lub-
dub" sound. What mechanical event in the heart is associated with the "lub" sound?
• Closure of the mitral and aortic valves
• Closure of the tricuspid and aortic valves
• C. Closure of the aortic and pulmonic
valves
D. Closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves - D
The first heart sound, S1, which produces the "lub" sound, is associated with closure ofthe
mitral and tricuspid valves. The second heart sound, S2, or the "dub" sound, is a result of
closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves.
A 19-year-old college student is brought to the emergency department with dyspnea and
asymmetrical breathing patterns after falling down a flight of steps at a party. His admission
chest X-ray shows right-sided pneumothorax. During inspection, what othercharacteristic of
pneumothorax might the nurse observe?
A. Funnel chest
B. Barrel chest
C. Intercostal retractions
D. Tracheal deviation -
D
With pneumothorax, the nurse may observe intercostal retractions; with right-sided
pneumothorax, deviation to the left may also be present. Funnel chest is a chest
deformity. Barrel chest occurs with chronic obstructive lung disease.
,A 23-year-old client is admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit with severe depression.To
develop rapport with the client, the nurse initiates a contract. What should the contract
include?
A. Expectations and responsibilities for you and the client
B. A description of the therapies the client will undergo
C. A prediction of the length of hospitalization
D. The client's insurance and financial information - A
A contract with a psychiatric client should include the nurse's expectations and
responsibilities as well as the client's. A description of the client's therapies, the lengthof
hospitalization, and insurance and financial information wouldn't be included in a contract.
A 27-year-old client comes to the emergency room complaining of abdominal pain.Deep
palpation of the abdomen shouldn't be performed if the client:
• Has ascites
• Reports
constipationC. Is
ticklish
D. Has abdominal rigidity - D
Because abdominal rigidity may indicate peritoneal inflammation, the nurse should avoid
palpation because it may lead to pain or organ rupture. Performing deep palpationon a client
who has ascites, is constipated, or is ticklish may be difficult, but it isn't contraindicated.
A 28-year-old client asks, "When should I perform breast self examination (BSE)?" The best
response from the nurse would be:
A. "On the first day of your menstrual cycle each month."
B. "On the last day of your menstrual cycle each month."
C. "On the first day of every month."
D. "7 to 10 days after your menstrual cycle begins each month." - D
Because certain changes take place in the breasts during the menstrual cycle,
menstruating women should perform a BSE 7 to 10 days after the beginning of her
cycle. The other choices aren't optimal times.
A 28-year-old client tells a nurse that he discovered a lump in his scrotum. Beforepalpating
his testicles, the nurse should know that a normal testicle is:
A. irregularly shaped
B. Round
C. Rubbery
D. Nodular - C
A normal testicle is oval and rubbery. An irregularly shaped or nodular testicle mayindicate
malignancy. A round testicle isn't normally found.
A 30-year-old client is brought to the emergency department with head injuries from a
motorcycle accident. During the neurological assessment, the client displays Babinski's
reflex. The nurse knows that this finding is:
, A. an abnormal response
B. a normal response
C. a hyperactive response
D. a diminished response - A
Although Babinkski's reflex is a normal finding in infants and children younger than age2,
it's always an abnormal finding in adults. It wouldn't be classified as hyperactive or
diminished.
A 34-year-old client complains of pain and tingling in her right wrist. During the assessment,
the client reports pain when the nurse flexes the wrist for 30 seconds. Thenurse knows that this
finding indicates:
• a fractured wrist
• carpal tunnel
syndromeC. a stroke
D. paralysis - B
Pain or numbness in the hand or fingers that occurs when the client's wrist is flexed iscalled
Phalen's sign. This finding is indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome. A fractured wrist would
cause pain with any movement. Stroke and paralysis aren't indicated by pain with wrist
flexion.
A 46-year-old construction worker comes to the clinic for his annual physical examination.
During the assessment, the nurse palpates the inguinal area for whatreason?
A. To check for
herniationB. To locate a
pulse
C. To check for a nondescended testicle
D. To assess the prostate gland - A
The purpose of palpating a client's inguinal area during assessment is to check forherniation.
The nurse wouldn't find a pulse, testicle, or prostate gland in this area.
A 47-year-old client complains of burning abdominal pain after eating at a Mexican
restaurant. Burning abdominal pain is most commonly associated with:
A. Cholecystitis
B. Appendicitits
C. Peptic ulcer disease
D. Pancreatitis - C
Burning abdominal pain is most commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease.
Cholecystitis and pancreatitis cause stabbing abdominal pain. Appendicitis causessevere
abdominal cramping.
A 49-year-old client with a history of alcohol abuse is admitted with bleeding esophageal
varices. The nurse assessing him notes several small, weblike, vascular lesions on his cheeks.
The nurse should chart these findings as:
• Purpura
