HESI PEDIATRICS EXAM 2026–
2027 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES/GRADED
A+/2026 UPDATE/100% CORRECT
/INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. Growth & Development
1. A 4-month-old infant weighs 6 kg at birth weight of 3 kg. Which statement
best describes this finding?
A. Failure to thrive
B. Normal weight gain
C. Rapid weight gain requiring further assessment
D. Suggests metabolic disorder
Correct Answer: B. Normal weight gain
Rationale: Infants double birth weight by 4–5 months. 3 kg → 6 kg is exactly double, so
normal.
2. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of a preschooler (3–5
years) is:
A. Trust vs mistrust
B. Autonomy vs shame/doubt
C. Initiative vs guilt
D. Industry vs inferiority
Correct Answer: C. Initiative vs guilt
Rationale: Preschoolers explore, ask questions, and initiate activities. Guilt arises if they
are overly criticized.
3. A 2-year-old is in the hospital. The nurse notes the child sits quietly, sucks
thumb, and avoids eye contact. This behavior suggests:
A. Successful adaptation
,B. Regression
C. Anticipatory grief
D. Developmental delay
Correct Answer: B. Regression
Rationale: Regression to earlier behaviors (thumb-sucking, passivity) is common in
hospitalized toddlers under stress.
2. Pediatric Vital Signs & Assessment
4. Normal respiratory rate for a 6-year-old is:
A. 12–20 breaths/min
B. 18–25 breaths/min
C. 30–50 breaths/min
D. 40–60 breaths/min
Correct Answer: B. 18–25 breaths/min
*Rationale: School-age children (6–12 yrs): 18–25 breaths/min. Infants are higher (30–
60).*
5. In a febrile 2-year-old, which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Heart rate 140 bpm
B. Capillary refill 2 seconds
C. Petechial rash with fever
D. Crying when parents leave
Correct Answer: C. Petechial rash with fever
Rationale: Petechiae + fever may indicate meningococcemia or sepsis; requires urgent
evaluation.
3. Immunizations (2026 CDC Schedule)
6. Which vaccines are given at 2 months of age?
A. HepB, IPV, MMR
B. DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV
C. Tdap, HPV, MCV4
D. HepA, Varicella
, Correct Answer: B. DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV
Rationale: At 2 months: DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV. HepB at birth, MMR at 12–15
months.
7. A 12-year-old presents for school physical. Which vaccine is newly
recommended at age 11–12 years?
A. MMR booster
B. HPV (first dose)
C. HepB
D. Rotavirus
Correct Answer: B. HPV (first dose)
Rationale: HPV vaccine series starts at 11–12 years. Tdap and MCV4 are also given
then, but HPV is key new addition.
4. Common Childhood Illnesses
8. A 6-month-old with fever, rhinorrhea, and cough develops a “seal-like” barky
cough and stridor at night. Most likely diagnosis:
A. Epiglottitis
B. Bronchiolitis
C. Croup
D. Pertussis
Correct Answer: C. Croup
Rationale: Barky cough, stridor, worse at night = croup (laryngotracheobronchitis).
Epiglottitis is drooling, toxic appearance.
9. A 3-year-old has vomiting, diarrhea, and recent sick contacts at daycare.
Stool is watery, no blood. Most likely pathogen:
A. Shigella
B. Rotavirus
C. E. coli O157:H7
D. Giardia
Correct Answer: B. Rotavirus
Rationale: Rotavirus causes watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever in young children,
especially in daycare settings. Vaccination reduces but does not eliminate it.
2027 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES/GRADED
A+/2026 UPDATE/100% CORRECT
/INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. Growth & Development
1. A 4-month-old infant weighs 6 kg at birth weight of 3 kg. Which statement
best describes this finding?
A. Failure to thrive
B. Normal weight gain
C. Rapid weight gain requiring further assessment
D. Suggests metabolic disorder
Correct Answer: B. Normal weight gain
Rationale: Infants double birth weight by 4–5 months. 3 kg → 6 kg is exactly double, so
normal.
2. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of a preschooler (3–5
years) is:
A. Trust vs mistrust
B. Autonomy vs shame/doubt
C. Initiative vs guilt
D. Industry vs inferiority
Correct Answer: C. Initiative vs guilt
Rationale: Preschoolers explore, ask questions, and initiate activities. Guilt arises if they
are overly criticized.
3. A 2-year-old is in the hospital. The nurse notes the child sits quietly, sucks
thumb, and avoids eye contact. This behavior suggests:
A. Successful adaptation
,B. Regression
C. Anticipatory grief
D. Developmental delay
Correct Answer: B. Regression
Rationale: Regression to earlier behaviors (thumb-sucking, passivity) is common in
hospitalized toddlers under stress.
2. Pediatric Vital Signs & Assessment
4. Normal respiratory rate for a 6-year-old is:
A. 12–20 breaths/min
B. 18–25 breaths/min
C. 30–50 breaths/min
D. 40–60 breaths/min
Correct Answer: B. 18–25 breaths/min
*Rationale: School-age children (6–12 yrs): 18–25 breaths/min. Infants are higher (30–
60).*
5. In a febrile 2-year-old, which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Heart rate 140 bpm
B. Capillary refill 2 seconds
C. Petechial rash with fever
D. Crying when parents leave
Correct Answer: C. Petechial rash with fever
Rationale: Petechiae + fever may indicate meningococcemia or sepsis; requires urgent
evaluation.
3. Immunizations (2026 CDC Schedule)
6. Which vaccines are given at 2 months of age?
A. HepB, IPV, MMR
B. DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV
C. Tdap, HPV, MCV4
D. HepA, Varicella
, Correct Answer: B. DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV
Rationale: At 2 months: DTaP, Hib, IPV, PCV13, RV. HepB at birth, MMR at 12–15
months.
7. A 12-year-old presents for school physical. Which vaccine is newly
recommended at age 11–12 years?
A. MMR booster
B. HPV (first dose)
C. HepB
D. Rotavirus
Correct Answer: B. HPV (first dose)
Rationale: HPV vaccine series starts at 11–12 years. Tdap and MCV4 are also given
then, but HPV is key new addition.
4. Common Childhood Illnesses
8. A 6-month-old with fever, rhinorrhea, and cough develops a “seal-like” barky
cough and stridor at night. Most likely diagnosis:
A. Epiglottitis
B. Bronchiolitis
C. Croup
D. Pertussis
Correct Answer: C. Croup
Rationale: Barky cough, stridor, worse at night = croup (laryngotracheobronchitis).
Epiglottitis is drooling, toxic appearance.
9. A 3-year-old has vomiting, diarrhea, and recent sick contacts at daycare.
Stool is watery, no blood. Most likely pathogen:
A. Shigella
B. Rotavirus
C. E. coli O157:H7
D. Giardia
Correct Answer: B. Rotavirus
Rationale: Rotavirus causes watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever in young children,
especially in daycare settings. Vaccination reduces but does not eliminate it.
