HESI 302 Pediatric Nursing Exam Study Guide 2026 –
Comprehensive Practice Questions, Review Notes & Exam
Prep
1. A mother brings her 8 mo. old baby boy to clinic bc he has been
vomitting and had diarrhea for last 3 days. Which assessment is
most important for nurse to make?
a. Assess infant abdomen for tenderness
b. Determine if the infant was exposed to a virus
c. Measure the infant’s pulse
d. Evaluate the infant’s cry
2. While obtaining the vital signs of a 10 year old who had a tonsillectomy
this morning, thenurse observes the child swallowing every 2-3 minutes.
Which assessment should the nurse implement?
a. Inspect the posterior oropharynx
b. Assess for teeth clenching or grinding
c. Touch the tonsillar pillars to stimulate the gag reflex
d. Ask the child to speak to evaluate change in voice tone
3. The parents of a 3-year old boy who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy
ask, “How canour son have this disease? We are wondering if we should
have any more children.” What information should the nurse provide to
parents?
a. This is an inherited X-linked recessive disorder, which primarily
pg. 1
, affectsmalechildren in the family
b. The striated muscle groups of males can be impacted
by a lack of the proteindystrophin in their mothers
c. The male infant had a viral infection that went unnoticed
and untreated so muscledamage was incurred
d. Birth trauma with a breech vaginal birth causes damage to
the spinal cord, thusweakening the muscles
4. A 2-week-old female infant is hospitalized for the surgical repair of an
umbilical hernia. After returning to the postoperative neonatal unit, her
RR and HR have increased duringthe last hour. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
a. Notify the HCP of these findings
b. Administer a PRN analgesic prescription
c. Record the findings in the child’s record
d. Wrap the infant tightly and rock in rocking chair
5. A 2-year-old girl is brought to the clinic by her 17 year old
mother. When the nurse observes that the child is drinking
sweetened soda from her bottle, what informationshould the
nurse discuss with this mother?
a. A 2-year old should be speaking in 2 word phrases
b. Dental caries are associated with drinking soda
c. Drinking soda is related to childhood obesity
d. Toddlers should be sleeping 10 hours a night
pg. 2
Comprehensive Practice Questions, Review Notes & Exam
Prep
1. A mother brings her 8 mo. old baby boy to clinic bc he has been
vomitting and had diarrhea for last 3 days. Which assessment is
most important for nurse to make?
a. Assess infant abdomen for tenderness
b. Determine if the infant was exposed to a virus
c. Measure the infant’s pulse
d. Evaluate the infant’s cry
2. While obtaining the vital signs of a 10 year old who had a tonsillectomy
this morning, thenurse observes the child swallowing every 2-3 minutes.
Which assessment should the nurse implement?
a. Inspect the posterior oropharynx
b. Assess for teeth clenching or grinding
c. Touch the tonsillar pillars to stimulate the gag reflex
d. Ask the child to speak to evaluate change in voice tone
3. The parents of a 3-year old boy who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy
ask, “How canour son have this disease? We are wondering if we should
have any more children.” What information should the nurse provide to
parents?
a. This is an inherited X-linked recessive disorder, which primarily
pg. 1
, affectsmalechildren in the family
b. The striated muscle groups of males can be impacted
by a lack of the proteindystrophin in their mothers
c. The male infant had a viral infection that went unnoticed
and untreated so muscledamage was incurred
d. Birth trauma with a breech vaginal birth causes damage to
the spinal cord, thusweakening the muscles
4. A 2-week-old female infant is hospitalized for the surgical repair of an
umbilical hernia. After returning to the postoperative neonatal unit, her
RR and HR have increased duringthe last hour. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
a. Notify the HCP of these findings
b. Administer a PRN analgesic prescription
c. Record the findings in the child’s record
d. Wrap the infant tightly and rock in rocking chair
5. A 2-year-old girl is brought to the clinic by her 17 year old
mother. When the nurse observes that the child is drinking
sweetened soda from her bottle, what informationshould the
nurse discuss with this mother?
a. A 2-year old should be speaking in 2 word phrases
b. Dental caries are associated with drinking soda
c. Drinking soda is related to childhood obesity
d. Toddlers should be sleeping 10 hours a night
pg. 2
