HESI BSN 246 Health Assessment

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Sample questions from HESI BSN 246 Health Assessment

This material has 90 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.During a community clinic visit, a client says, "I get a rash whenever I take an antibiotic, but I cannot remember its name." Which response best clarifies the reported allergy?

   • A.Do you want the rash recorded as a medication side effect instead of an allergy?
   • B.Would you like me to list the antibiotics commonly used for infections?
   • C.What did the rash look like, and how soon after taking the antibiotic did it appear?
   • D.Did you complete the full course of the antibiotic?

   Rationale: Asking about the rash's characteristics and timing helps distinguish a possible hypersensitivity reaction from an unrelated event and supports safer medication decisions. Listing antibiotics does not clarify the client's experience, and course completion is not the key safety detail. The nurse should not reclassify the event as a side effect without further assessment.

2. 2.A primigravida at 32 weeks tells the nurse, "I have been feeling very anxious, but I do not want my partner to hear about it." Which action is most appropriate?

   • A.Continue the interview with the partner present to avoid causing concern.
   • B.Ask the client to discuss the anxiety after the partner leaves the clinic.
   • C.Tell the client that anxiety during pregnancy is expected and usually does not need follow-up.
   • D.Ask the partner to leave and explain that the client may speak privately.

   Rationale: A private interview supports confidential disclosure and allows assessment of emotional health and safety. Delaying the discussion may prevent timely assessment, while continuing with the partner present disregards the client's request. Normalizing anxiety without assessment risks missing a concern that needs support or referral.

3. 3.At a pediatric clinic, a parent brings a 6-month-old infant for a routine visit. Which approaches support an effective health history with the parent? Select all that apply.

   • A.Ask the parent to describe the infant's usual feeding and elimination patterns.
   • B.Direct every question to the infant so the parent does not dominate the interview.
   • C.Use medical terminology to ensure the parent learns the correct names for symptoms.
   • D.Clarify the timing and circumstances of any symptoms the parent reports.
   • E.Begin with an open-ended question about the infant's health since the last visit.

   Rationale: An open-ended opening encourages the parent to share concerns, and questions about usual feeding and elimination establish useful baseline information. Clarifying symptom timing and circumstances makes the history more specific and clinically useful. Medical jargon can impede understanding, and a 6-month-old cannot provide the history, so the parent is the primary informant.

4. 4.In a long-term care facility, an older adult with hearing aids answers questions with unrelated responses. Which action should the nurse take first?

   • A.Raise the voice and speak directly into the client's ear.
   • B.Check that the hearing aids are in place and functioning, then speak while facing the client.
   • C.Ask a family member to answer the questions for the client.
   • D.Document that the client is confused and continue the assessment.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.A client arrives at an urgent care clinic reporting sudden chest pressure. Which interview strategy is most appropriate initially?

   • A.Use focused questions to determine onset, location, quality, severity, and associated symptoms.
   • B.Obtain a detailed review of systems before assessing the current episode.
   • C.Ask the client to describe every health concern before clarifying the acute symptom.
   • D.Complete the client's family history before asking about the chest pressure.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.