HESI Pediatrics Exam – questions
and answers with rationales/graded
A+/2026 update/100% correct /instant
download
Total Questions: 82
Time Limit: 2 hours (recommended)
Instructions: Choose the best answer. Correct answers are highlighted in bold.
Rationales are provided after each question.
Growth & Development (Questions 1–15)
1. A 4-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. Which
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
• A) Sitting without support
• B) Transferring objects hand to hand
• C) Rolling from back to side
• D) Pincer grasp
Rationale: Rolling from back to side is typical at 4 months. Sitting without
support (6–8 months), transferring objects (7 months), and pincer grasp (9 months)
occur later.
2. The mother of a 2-year-old toddler states, “My child only wants to say ‘no’
and throws tantrums when I try to help.” What is the best nursing response?
• A) “This is normal for a toddler developing autonomy.”
• B) “You should punish the tantrums immediately.”
• C) “Your child may have oppositional defiant disorder.”
• D) “Ignore the child until the tantrum stops.”
,Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson’s autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage. “No” and
tantrums are typical. Punishment or ignoring without context is not
developmentally appropriate.
3. Which gross motor skill is expected in a 6-month-old infant?
• A) Creeping on hands and knees
• B) Sitting with slight support
• C) Standing while holding furniture
• D) Walking independently
Rationale: At 6 months, most infants sit with support. Creeping (8–10 months),
cruising (9–12 months), and walking (12–15 months) come later.
4. The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which fine motor skill is
developmentally appropriate?
• A) Tying shoelaces
• B) Copying a circle
• C) Drawing a square
• D) Using scissors to cut a straight line
Rationale: Copying a circle is typical for a 3-year-old. Tying laces (5–6 years),
drawing a square (4 years), cutting a straight line (4–5 years).
5. A 9-month-old infant is brought for a checkup. Which finding would
require further evaluation?
• A) Absence of stranger anxiety
• B) Sitting unsupported for 10 seconds
• C) Babbling “mama” and “dada”
• D) Using a raking grasp to pick up a block
Rationale: Stranger anxiety normally appears by 8–9 months. Its absence may
indicate a developmental delay. The other options are expected at 9 months.
6. According to Piaget, which stage is a 7-year-old child in?
• A) Sensorimotor
, • B) Preoperational
• C) Concrete operational
• D) Formal operational
Rationale: Concrete operational stage (7–11 years) involves logical thinking about
concrete events. Preoperational is 2–7 years; formal operational is 12+ years.
7. The nurse is teaching parents about play for a 5-year-old. Which play type
is most appropriate?
• A) Parallel play
• B) Cooperative play
• C) Solitary play
• D) Onlooker play
Rationale: Cooperative play begins around age 4–5 years. Parallel play is typical
for toddlers, solitary for infants, onlooker for young toddlers.
8. A 12-month-old child should double their birth weight by which age?
• A) 3 months
• B) 4 months
• C) 6 months
• D) 9 months
Rationale: Birth weight typically doubles by 6 months and triples by 12 months.
9. Which statement by a parent of a 15-month-old indicates correct
understanding of safety?
• A) “I’ll turn the front car seat to face forward now.”
• B) “I keep the hot water heater set below 120°F.”
• C) “He can sit in a booster seat without a harness.”
• D) “The crib bumpers protect him from falling.”
and answers with rationales/graded
A+/2026 update/100% correct /instant
download
Total Questions: 82
Time Limit: 2 hours (recommended)
Instructions: Choose the best answer. Correct answers are highlighted in bold.
Rationales are provided after each question.
Growth & Development (Questions 1–15)
1. A 4-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. Which
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
• A) Sitting without support
• B) Transferring objects hand to hand
• C) Rolling from back to side
• D) Pincer grasp
Rationale: Rolling from back to side is typical at 4 months. Sitting without
support (6–8 months), transferring objects (7 months), and pincer grasp (9 months)
occur later.
2. The mother of a 2-year-old toddler states, “My child only wants to say ‘no’
and throws tantrums when I try to help.” What is the best nursing response?
• A) “This is normal for a toddler developing autonomy.”
• B) “You should punish the tantrums immediately.”
• C) “Your child may have oppositional defiant disorder.”
• D) “Ignore the child until the tantrum stops.”
,Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson’s autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage. “No” and
tantrums are typical. Punishment or ignoring without context is not
developmentally appropriate.
3. Which gross motor skill is expected in a 6-month-old infant?
• A) Creeping on hands and knees
• B) Sitting with slight support
• C) Standing while holding furniture
• D) Walking independently
Rationale: At 6 months, most infants sit with support. Creeping (8–10 months),
cruising (9–12 months), and walking (12–15 months) come later.
4. The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which fine motor skill is
developmentally appropriate?
• A) Tying shoelaces
• B) Copying a circle
• C) Drawing a square
• D) Using scissors to cut a straight line
Rationale: Copying a circle is typical for a 3-year-old. Tying laces (5–6 years),
drawing a square (4 years), cutting a straight line (4–5 years).
5. A 9-month-old infant is brought for a checkup. Which finding would
require further evaluation?
• A) Absence of stranger anxiety
• B) Sitting unsupported for 10 seconds
• C) Babbling “mama” and “dada”
• D) Using a raking grasp to pick up a block
Rationale: Stranger anxiety normally appears by 8–9 months. Its absence may
indicate a developmental delay. The other options are expected at 9 months.
6. According to Piaget, which stage is a 7-year-old child in?
• A) Sensorimotor
, • B) Preoperational
• C) Concrete operational
• D) Formal operational
Rationale: Concrete operational stage (7–11 years) involves logical thinking about
concrete events. Preoperational is 2–7 years; formal operational is 12+ years.
7. The nurse is teaching parents about play for a 5-year-old. Which play type
is most appropriate?
• A) Parallel play
• B) Cooperative play
• C) Solitary play
• D) Onlooker play
Rationale: Cooperative play begins around age 4–5 years. Parallel play is typical
for toddlers, solitary for infants, onlooker for young toddlers.
8. A 12-month-old child should double their birth weight by which age?
• A) 3 months
• B) 4 months
• C) 6 months
• D) 9 months
Rationale: Birth weight typically doubles by 6 months and triples by 12 months.
9. Which statement by a parent of a 15-month-old indicates correct
understanding of safety?
• A) “I’ll turn the front car seat to face forward now.”
• B) “I keep the hot water heater set below 120°F.”
• C) “He can sit in a booster seat without a harness.”
• D) “The crib bumpers protect him from falling.”
