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HESI PREP - HEALTH ASSESSMENT
EXAM PRACTICE 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS| ACE YOUR GRADES.
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. - correct
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 interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior.
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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 - correct 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, drink, or take drugs, do
you?" This question is an example of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
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C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics. - correct
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.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment. - correct
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
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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.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when
talking with him because this helps with lip reading. - correct
answer -A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred
way to communicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If the
person prefers lip reading, then the nurse should be sure to face
him or her squarely and have good lighting on the nurse's face.
The nurse should not exaggerate lip movements because this
distorts words. Similarly, shouting distorts the reception of a
hearing aid the person may wear. The nurse should speak slowly
and should supplement his or her voice with appropriate hand
gestures or pantomime.
HESI PREP - HEALTH ASSESSMENT
EXAM PRACTICE 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS| ACE YOUR GRADES.
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. - correct
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 interrupt the patient's narrative flow,
and it impedes the observation of the patient's nonverbal
behavior.
, Page | 2
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 - correct 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, drink, or take drugs, do
you?" This question is an example of:
A) talking too much.
B) using confrontation.
, Page | 3
C) using biased or leading questions.
D) using blunt language to deal with distasteful topics. - correct
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.
B) more comfortable in this position.
C) tired and needs a break from the interview.
D) uncomfortable talking about his son's treatment. - correct
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
, Page | 4
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.
D) Speak loudly and with exaggerated facial movement when
talking with him because this helps with lip reading. - correct
answer -A) Determine the communication method he prefers.
Pages: 40-41 The nurse should ask the deaf person the preferred
way to communicate—by signing, lip reading, or writing. If the
person prefers lip reading, then the nurse should be sure to face
him or her squarely and have good lighting on the nurse's face.
The nurse should not exaggerate lip movements because this
distorts words. Similarly, shouting distorts the reception of a
hearing aid the person may wear. The nurse should speak slowly
and should supplement his or her voice with appropriate hand
gestures or pantomime.
