2026 HESI PEDS RN EXIT EXAM
s e s e s e s e s e | Study Edition s e
2026HESIPEDIATRIC(PEDS)RNEXITEXAM se se se se se se
Versions1 &2 — RedesignedStudyEdition se se se s e s e se se
Spring2026 | CompiledwithCorrectAnswers se s e s e se se se
HOW TO USETHIS GUIDE | V1 uses multiple-choice format with highlighted correct answer(s). V2 uses short-answer/fill-
se se se se s e s e se se se se se se se se se se
in format with the answer displayed directly. Questions marked with a note contain clarifications where answers are debated.
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
VERSION1 — MultipleChoice(55 Questions) e
s s e s e e
s se se
The nurse is assessing a 9-year-
Q1
se se se se se
old boy admitted with possible acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). In obtaining
se se se se se se se se se se e
s
hishistory,whatinformationismostsignificant?
A ✔A sore throat last week
e
s se se se se
B A history of hypertension
se se se
C Diuresisduring the night se se se
D Back pain for a few days se se se se se
ANSWER: A se
The nurse is measuring the frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3-month-
se se se se se se se se se se se
Q2 old infant, and notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches (12.7cm) since birth and the child's head
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
appears large in relation to body size. Which action is most important for the nurse to take next?
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
A Plot the measurement on the infant's growth chart
se se se se se se se
B Observe the infant for sunset eyes se se se se se
C Measure the infant's head-to-heellength se se se se
D ✔Palpatethe anterior fontanel for tension and bulging
e
s e
s se se se se se se
ANSWER: D se
A female infant recently admitted with vomiting and diarrhea now weighs 10 kg. Her weight at a previ
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
Q3 ous well-baby visit was 11 kg. What is the percentage of body weight loss for this infant?
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
A 4%
B ✔9% e
s
C 10%
D 5%
ANSWER: B se
,2026 HESI PEDS RN EXIT EXAM
s e s e s e s e s e | Study Edition s e
e 1 | For Study Purposes Only se s e s e se se se
A male high school student with Type 1 diabetes tests his blood glucose level before playing a gam
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
Q4 e of soccer, and he obtains a reading of 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L). Based on this reading, which acti
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
on should the nurse take?
se se se se
A ✔Tellhim to eat a sandwich and fruit before beginning the game
e
s se se se se se se se se se se se
B Check his urine for ketones se se se se
C Give him permission to go ahead and play soccer
se se se se se se se se
D Callthehealthcareprovider e
s se se
ANSWER: A se
A 7-year- se
Q5 old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. In obtaining a health h
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
istory from the child's mother, the recent occurrence of which illness is most significant?
se se se se se se se se se se se se se
A ✔Sore throat e
s se
B Chickenpox
C Mumps
D Influenza
ANSWER: A se
A mother brings her 2-month-old son to the clinic for a well-
se se se se se se se se se se se
Q6 baby exam. During the assessment the nurse finds that the right testicleis not descended into the s
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
crotum but the left is palpable. Which action should the nurse take? se se se se se se se se se se se
A Prepare to obtain a catheterized urine specimen forculture se se se se se se se se
B Address possible concerns about the child's future fertility se se se se se se se
C ✔Ask if the right testis has been seen in the scrotum before
e
s se se se se se se se se se se se
D Schedule an IV pyelogramto validate presence of testicle se se se se se se se se
ANSWER: C se
The nurse is assessinga 6-month-
Q7
se se se se se
old infant. Which response requires further evaluation by the nurse?
se se se se se se se se se
A Has doubled birth weight se se se
B Turns head to locate sound se se se se
C Playspeek-a-boo e
s
D ✔Demonstrates startle reflex
e
s se se
ANSWER: D se
A 4-year- se
Q8 old girl returns to the pediatrician's office for a postoperative visit following hospitalization for mino
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
r surgery. When observing thechildin the waitingarea, which behavior should the nurse consider n
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
ormal for this age child?
A Ignores other children in the play area se se se se se se
B Draws picture of selfwith facial features se se se se se se
C ✔Talks to an imaginaryfriend
e
s se se se se
Page 2 | For Study Purposes Only se s e s e se se se
, 2026 HESI PEDS RN EXIT EXAM
s e s e s e s e s e | Study Edition s e
D Sits quietly in her mother's lap
s e s e s e s e s e
ANSWER:teC e
s
A preschool-
te
e
s
aged child experiencing respiratory distress is brought to the emergency department by the
te te te te te te te te te te te te t
Q9
e
s se se e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s se e
s e
s e
s
parents. The child is anxious, has a temperature of 102.8°F (39.3°C), and is drooling from t
e te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
he mouth while leaning forward when sitting. Which action should the nurse prepare the c
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
hild for next? te te
A ✔ Obtain bedside trays for intubation or tracheotomy by the healthcare provider
te te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te te te
e
s te
e
s
B Begin prescribed intravenous antibiotic administration se se s e s e
C Provide a nebulizer treatment with bronchodilators s e s e s e s e s e
D Schedule the child for a stat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
ANSWER:teA e
s
The nurse is caring for a preschool- te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se
aged child with a congenital heart defect who is admitted with intermittent low-
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
Q10 grade fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Further physical assessment findings include a new
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
murmur, splinter hemorrhages under the nails, and painless red lesions on the palms of the te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s t
e
s
ehands. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse prepare the parents to expect the hea te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s e
ste
lthcare provider to prescribe? te te te
A ✔ Echocardiogram
te
B Electrocardiogram
C Chest radiography s e
D Computerized tomography (CT) scan s e s e s e
ANSWER:teAt e | t e Note:teAteorteBtearetedebated;teEchocardiogramteistepreferred
e
s se se se se se se se se se se se se e
s e
s
A 6-year-
te
e
s
old male with a body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile arrives at the clinic after a ref
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
Q11 erral from the school nurse. His laboratory findings include hemoglobin A1c of 5.5%, blood p
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s e
s te
ressure (BP) in the 50th percentile, height in the 75th percentile, and an LDL cholesterol of te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s e
s
90 mg/dL. Which lifestyle modification should the nurse discuss with the parents?
te te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
A ✔ Recommend increasing daily fruits and vegetables and daily exercise
te te te
e
s te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
B Return in one month for another evaluation of serum lipids and blood pressure
s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
C Instruct the parents to weigh the child weekly and measure his BP daily s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
D See a healthcare provider to further assess for diabetes and hypertension
s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
ANSWER:teA e
s
When administering indomethacin to a premature infant who has patent ductus arteriosus, t
te te te te te te te te te te te te
Q12
e
s se se e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s se e
s
he nurse should anticipate which outcome?
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se
A Decreased urinary output s e s e
B ✔ Decreased cardiac murmur
te te
e
s te
e
s
C Increased number of red blood cells s e s e s e s e s e
D Increased respiratory effort s e s e
ANSWER:teB e
s
Page s e 3 s e s e |
For Study Purposes Onl
s e s e s e s e s e | Study Edition s e
2026HESIPEDIATRIC(PEDS)RNEXITEXAM se se se se se se
Versions1 &2 — RedesignedStudyEdition se se se s e s e se se
Spring2026 | CompiledwithCorrectAnswers se s e s e se se se
HOW TO USETHIS GUIDE | V1 uses multiple-choice format with highlighted correct answer(s). V2 uses short-answer/fill-
se se se se s e s e se se se se se se se se se se
in format with the answer displayed directly. Questions marked with a note contain clarifications where answers are debated.
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
VERSION1 — MultipleChoice(55 Questions) e
s s e s e e
s se se
The nurse is assessing a 9-year-
Q1
se se se se se
old boy admitted with possible acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). In obtaining
se se se se se se se se se se e
s
hishistory,whatinformationismostsignificant?
A ✔A sore throat last week
e
s se se se se
B A history of hypertension
se se se
C Diuresisduring the night se se se
D Back pain for a few days se se se se se
ANSWER: A se
The nurse is measuring the frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3-month-
se se se se se se se se se se se
Q2 old infant, and notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches (12.7cm) since birth and the child's head
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
appears large in relation to body size. Which action is most important for the nurse to take next?
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
A Plot the measurement on the infant's growth chart
se se se se se se se
B Observe the infant for sunset eyes se se se se se
C Measure the infant's head-to-heellength se se se se
D ✔Palpatethe anterior fontanel for tension and bulging
e
s e
s se se se se se se
ANSWER: D se
A female infant recently admitted with vomiting and diarrhea now weighs 10 kg. Her weight at a previ
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
Q3 ous well-baby visit was 11 kg. What is the percentage of body weight loss for this infant?
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
A 4%
B ✔9% e
s
C 10%
D 5%
ANSWER: B se
,2026 HESI PEDS RN EXIT EXAM
s e s e s e s e s e | Study Edition s e
e 1 | For Study Purposes Only se s e s e se se se
A male high school student with Type 1 diabetes tests his blood glucose level before playing a gam
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
Q4 e of soccer, and he obtains a reading of 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L). Based on this reading, which acti
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
on should the nurse take?
se se se se
A ✔Tellhim to eat a sandwich and fruit before beginning the game
e
s se se se se se se se se se se se
B Check his urine for ketones se se se se
C Give him permission to go ahead and play soccer
se se se se se se se se
D Callthehealthcareprovider e
s se se
ANSWER: A se
A 7-year- se
Q5 old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. In obtaining a health h
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
istory from the child's mother, the recent occurrence of which illness is most significant?
se se se se se se se se se se se se se
A ✔Sore throat e
s se
B Chickenpox
C Mumps
D Influenza
ANSWER: A se
A mother brings her 2-month-old son to the clinic for a well-
se se se se se se se se se se se
Q6 baby exam. During the assessment the nurse finds that the right testicleis not descended into the s
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
crotum but the left is palpable. Which action should the nurse take? se se se se se se se se se se se
A Prepare to obtain a catheterized urine specimen forculture se se se se se se se se
B Address possible concerns about the child's future fertility se se se se se se se
C ✔Ask if the right testis has been seen in the scrotum before
e
s se se se se se se se se se se se
D Schedule an IV pyelogramto validate presence of testicle se se se se se se se se
ANSWER: C se
The nurse is assessinga 6-month-
Q7
se se se se se
old infant. Which response requires further evaluation by the nurse?
se se se se se se se se se
A Has doubled birth weight se se se
B Turns head to locate sound se se se se
C Playspeek-a-boo e
s
D ✔Demonstrates startle reflex
e
s se se
ANSWER: D se
A 4-year- se
Q8 old girl returns to the pediatrician's office for a postoperative visit following hospitalization for mino
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
r surgery. When observing thechildin the waitingarea, which behavior should the nurse consider n
se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se se
ormal for this age child?
A Ignores other children in the play area se se se se se se
B Draws picture of selfwith facial features se se se se se se
C ✔Talks to an imaginaryfriend
e
s se se se se
Page 2 | For Study Purposes Only se s e s e se se se
, 2026 HESI PEDS RN EXIT EXAM
s e s e s e s e s e | Study Edition s e
D Sits quietly in her mother's lap
s e s e s e s e s e
ANSWER:teC e
s
A preschool-
te
e
s
aged child experiencing respiratory distress is brought to the emergency department by the
te te te te te te te te te te te te t
Q9
e
s se se e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s se e
s e
s e
s
parents. The child is anxious, has a temperature of 102.8°F (39.3°C), and is drooling from t
e te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
he mouth while leaning forward when sitting. Which action should the nurse prepare the c
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
hild for next? te te
A ✔ Obtain bedside trays for intubation or tracheotomy by the healthcare provider
te te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te te te
e
s te
e
s
B Begin prescribed intravenous antibiotic administration se se s e s e
C Provide a nebulizer treatment with bronchodilators s e s e s e s e s e
D Schedule the child for a stat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
ANSWER:teA e
s
The nurse is caring for a preschool- te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se
aged child with a congenital heart defect who is admitted with intermittent low-
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
Q10 grade fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Further physical assessment findings include a new
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
murmur, splinter hemorrhages under the nails, and painless red lesions on the palms of the te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s t
e
s
ehands. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse prepare the parents to expect the hea te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s e
ste
lthcare provider to prescribe? te te te
A ✔ Echocardiogram
te
B Electrocardiogram
C Chest radiography s e
D Computerized tomography (CT) scan s e s e s e
ANSWER:teAt e | t e Note:teAteorteBtearetedebated;teEchocardiogramteistepreferred
e
s se se se se se se se se se se se se e
s e
s
A 6-year-
te
e
s
old male with a body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile arrives at the clinic after a ref
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
Q11 erral from the school nurse. His laboratory findings include hemoglobin A1c of 5.5%, blood p
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s se te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s e
s te
ressure (BP) in the 50th percentile, height in the 75th percentile, and an LDL cholesterol of te
se te
se te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s e
s
90 mg/dL. Which lifestyle modification should the nurse discuss with the parents?
te te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
se te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s
A ✔ Recommend increasing daily fruits and vegetables and daily exercise
te te te
e
s te te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
e
s te
B Return in one month for another evaluation of serum lipids and blood pressure
s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
C Instruct the parents to weigh the child weekly and measure his BP daily s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
D See a healthcare provider to further assess for diabetes and hypertension
s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e s e
ANSWER:teA e
s
When administering indomethacin to a premature infant who has patent ductus arteriosus, t
te te te te te te te te te te te te
Q12
e
s se se e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s e
s se e
s
he nurse should anticipate which outcome?
te
e
s te
se te
se te
se te
se
A Decreased urinary output s e s e
B ✔ Decreased cardiac murmur
te te
e
s te
e
s
C Increased number of red blood cells s e s e s e s e s e
D Increased respiratory effort s e s e
ANSWER:teB e
s
Page s e 3 s e s e |
For Study Purposes Onl
