HESI MATERNAL AND INFANT EXAM 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A nurse is providing information to a group of pregnant clients and their partners about the
psychosocial development of an infant. Using Erikson's theory of psychosocial development,
what should the nurse tell the group about the infants?
a) Experience frustration to allow an infant to cry for a while before meeting his or her needs
b) Rely on the fact that their needs will be met
c) Tolerate a great deal of frustration and discomfort to develop a healthy personality
d_ Ignore needs for short periods to develop a healthy personality
b) Rely on the fact that their needs will be met
A nurse is weighing a breastfed 6-month-old infant who has been brought to the pediatrician's
office for a scheduled visit. The infant's weight at birth was 6 lb 8 oz (2.9 kg). The nurse notes
that the infant now weighs 13 lb (5.9 kg). Which action should the nurse take?
A) Tell the mother that the infant's weight is increasing as expected
b) Tell the mother that semisolid foods should not be introduced until the infant's weight
stabilizes
c) Tell the mother to decrease the daily number of feedings because the weight gain is excessive
d) Tell the mother that the infant should be switched from breast milk to formula because the
weight gain is inadequate
A) Tell the mother that the infant's weight is increasing as expected
,A nurse performing a physical assessment of a 12-month-old infant notes that the infant's head
circumference is the same as the chest circumference. Based on this finding, what should the
nurse do?
a) Suggest to the pediatrician that a skull x-ray be performed
b) Tell the mother that the infant is growing faster than expected
c) Document these measurements in the infant's health-care record
d) Suspect the presence of hydrocephalus
c) Document these measurements in the infant's health-care record
A new mother asks the nurse, "I was told that my infant received my antibodies during
pregnancy. Does that mean that my infant is protected against infections?" Which statement
should the nurse make in response to the mother?
a) "Yes, your infant is protected from all infections."
b) "The transfer of your antibodies protects your infant until the infant is 12 months old."
c) "If you breastfeed, your infant is protected from infection."
d) "The immune system of an infant is immature, and the infant is at risk for infection."
d) "The immune system of an infant is immature, and the infant is at risk for infection."
The mother of a 9-month-old infant calls the nurse at the paediatrician’s office, tells the nurse
that her infant is teething, and asks what can be done to relieve the infant's discomfort. What
should the nurse instruct the mother to do?
a) Schedule an appointment with a dentist for a dental evaluation
b) Obtain an over-the-counter (OTC) topical medication for gum-pain relief
c) Rub the infant's gums with baby aspirin that has been dissolved in water
d) Give the infant cool liquids or a Popsicle and hard foods such as dry toast
d) Give the infant cool liquids or a Popsicle and hard foods such as dry toast
,A nurse is teaching the mother of an 11-month-old infant how to clean the infant's teeth. What
should the nurse tell the mother to do?
a) Use water and a cotton swab and rub the teeth
b) Use a small amount of toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush
c) Use diluted fluoride and rub the teeth with a soft washcloth
d) Dip the infant's pacifier in maple syrup so that the infant will suck
a) Use water and a cotton swab and rub the teeth
A nurse provides information about feeding to the mother of a 6-month-old infant. Which
statement by the mother indicates an understanding of the information?
a) "Fluoride supplementation is not necessary until permanent teeth come in."
b) "I can mix the food in my infant's bottle if he won't eat the food."
c) "Egg white should not be given to my infant because of the risk for an allergy."
d) "Meats are really important for iron, and I should start feeding meats to my infant right
away."
c) "Egg white should not be given to my infant because of the risk for an allergy."
A nurse provides instructions to a mother of a newborn infant who weighs 7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg)
about car safety. What should the nurse tell the mother?
a) To secure the infant in the middle of the back seat in a rear-facing infant safety seat
b) That it is acceptable to place the infant in the front seat in a rear-facing infant safety seat as
long as the car has passenger-side air bags
c) That because of the infant's weight it is acceptable to hold the infant as long as the mother
and infant are sitting in the middle of the back seat of the car
, d) To place the infant in a booster seat in the front seat of the car with the shoulder and lap
belts secured around the infant
a) To secure the infant in the middle of the back seat in a rear-facing infant safety seat
A nurse provides instructions to a mother about crib safety for her infant. Which statement by
the mother indicates a need for further instructions?
a) "The drop side needs to be impossible for my infant to release."
b) "I need to keep large toys out of the crib."
c) "The distance between the slats needs to be no more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide to prevent
entrapment of my infant's head or body."
d) "Wood surfaces on the crib need to be free of splinters and cracks."
c) "The distance between the slats needs to be no more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide to prevent
entrapment of my infant's head or body."
The mother of a 2-year-old tells the nurse that she is very concerned about her child because he
has developed "a will of his own" and "acts as if he can control others." The nurse provides
information to the mother to alleviate her concern, recalling that, according to Erikson, a
toddler is confronting which developmental task?
a) Industry versus inferiority
A nurse is providing information to a group of pregnant clients and their partners about the
psychosocial development of an infant. Using Erikson's theory of psychosocial development,
what should the nurse tell the group about the infants?
a) Experience frustration to allow an infant to cry for a while before meeting his or her needs
b) Rely on the fact that their needs will be met
c) Tolerate a great deal of frustration and discomfort to develop a healthy personality
d_ Ignore needs for short periods to develop a healthy personality
b) Rely on the fact that their needs will be met
A nurse is weighing a breastfed 6-month-old infant who has been brought to the pediatrician's
office for a scheduled visit. The infant's weight at birth was 6 lb 8 oz (2.9 kg). The nurse notes
that the infant now weighs 13 lb (5.9 kg). Which action should the nurse take?
A) Tell the mother that the infant's weight is increasing as expected
b) Tell the mother that semisolid foods should not be introduced until the infant's weight
stabilizes
c) Tell the mother to decrease the daily number of feedings because the weight gain is excessive
d) Tell the mother that the infant should be switched from breast milk to formula because the
weight gain is inadequate
A) Tell the mother that the infant's weight is increasing as expected
,A nurse performing a physical assessment of a 12-month-old infant notes that the infant's head
circumference is the same as the chest circumference. Based on this finding, what should the
nurse do?
a) Suggest to the pediatrician that a skull x-ray be performed
b) Tell the mother that the infant is growing faster than expected
c) Document these measurements in the infant's health-care record
d) Suspect the presence of hydrocephalus
c) Document these measurements in the infant's health-care record
A new mother asks the nurse, "I was told that my infant received my antibodies during
pregnancy. Does that mean that my infant is protected against infections?" Which statement
should the nurse make in response to the mother?
a) "Yes, your infant is protected from all infections."
b) "The transfer of your antibodies protects your infant until the infant is 12 months old."
c) "If you breastfeed, your infant is protected from infection."
d) "The immune system of an infant is immature, and the infant is at risk for infection."
d) "The immune system of an infant is immature, and the infant is at risk for infection."
The mother of a 9-month-old infant calls the nurse at the paediatrician’s office, tells the nurse
that her infant is teething, and asks what can be done to relieve the infant's discomfort. What
should the nurse instruct the mother to do?
a) Schedule an appointment with a dentist for a dental evaluation
b) Obtain an over-the-counter (OTC) topical medication for gum-pain relief
c) Rub the infant's gums with baby aspirin that has been dissolved in water
d) Give the infant cool liquids or a Popsicle and hard foods such as dry toast
d) Give the infant cool liquids or a Popsicle and hard foods such as dry toast
,A nurse is teaching the mother of an 11-month-old infant how to clean the infant's teeth. What
should the nurse tell the mother to do?
a) Use water and a cotton swab and rub the teeth
b) Use a small amount of toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush
c) Use diluted fluoride and rub the teeth with a soft washcloth
d) Dip the infant's pacifier in maple syrup so that the infant will suck
a) Use water and a cotton swab and rub the teeth
A nurse provides information about feeding to the mother of a 6-month-old infant. Which
statement by the mother indicates an understanding of the information?
a) "Fluoride supplementation is not necessary until permanent teeth come in."
b) "I can mix the food in my infant's bottle if he won't eat the food."
c) "Egg white should not be given to my infant because of the risk for an allergy."
d) "Meats are really important for iron, and I should start feeding meats to my infant right
away."
c) "Egg white should not be given to my infant because of the risk for an allergy."
A nurse provides instructions to a mother of a newborn infant who weighs 7 lb 2 oz (3.2 kg)
about car safety. What should the nurse tell the mother?
a) To secure the infant in the middle of the back seat in a rear-facing infant safety seat
b) That it is acceptable to place the infant in the front seat in a rear-facing infant safety seat as
long as the car has passenger-side air bags
c) That because of the infant's weight it is acceptable to hold the infant as long as the mother
and infant are sitting in the middle of the back seat of the car
, d) To place the infant in a booster seat in the front seat of the car with the shoulder and lap
belts secured around the infant
a) To secure the infant in the middle of the back seat in a rear-facing infant safety seat
A nurse provides instructions to a mother about crib safety for her infant. Which statement by
the mother indicates a need for further instructions?
a) "The drop side needs to be impossible for my infant to release."
b) "I need to keep large toys out of the crib."
c) "The distance between the slats needs to be no more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide to prevent
entrapment of my infant's head or body."
d) "Wood surfaces on the crib need to be free of splinters and cracks."
c) "The distance between the slats needs to be no more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide to prevent
entrapment of my infant's head or body."
The mother of a 2-year-old tells the nurse that she is very concerned about her child because he
has developed "a will of his own" and "acts as if he can control others." The nurse provides
information to the mother to alleviate her concern, recalling that, according to Erikson, a
toddler is confronting which developmental task?
a) Industry versus inferiority
