HESI PN PEDIATRIC NURSING ACCURATE
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ALL
POSSIBLE APPROVED WELL ELABORATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
PLUS EXPERT ANSWER KEY (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) 2026-2027 CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION Q&A GUARANTEED PASS A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child with a suspected diagnosis of
epiglottitis. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Inspect the throat with a tongue blade.
B. Obtain a throat culture.
C. Keep the child in a supine position.
D. Maintain the child in an upright position.
D. Maintain the child in an upright position.
*Rationale: Epiglottitis causes inflammation and edema of the epiglottis, which
can rapidly lead to complete airway obstruction. Keeping the child upright and
calm helps maintain airway patency. Throat examination or culture can trigger
laryngospasm and should be avoided unless emergency airway equipment is
available. *
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a toddler. Which
statement by a parent indicates a need for further teaching?
,A. I will use a forward-facing car seat in the back seat.
B. I will keep the crib mattress at the lowest level.
C. I will place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
D. I will offer small, round foods like grapes cut into quarters.
A. I will use a forward-facing car seat in the back seat.
*Rationale: Toddlers should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the
maximum height and weight recommended by the car seat manufacturer,
typically around age 2 or older. Forward-facing seats are not appropriate until
that threshold is met. *
3. A 6-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-baby visit. Which finding
requires further evaluation by the nurse?
A. Absence of the pincer grasp.
B. Presence of the Babinski reflex.
C. Inability to roll from back to front.
D. Slight head lag when pulled to sitting.
D. Slight head lag when pulled to sitting.
*Rationale: By 6 months of age, head lag should have resolved, and the infant
should have good head control when pulled to a sitting position. The pincer
grasp is not expected until 9-10 months, the Babinski reflex persists until 12
months, and rolling front to back (not back to front) is often mastered around 5-
6 months. *
4. A child diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis is noted to have a blood
pressure of 140/90 mmHg. Which finding is most important for the nurse to
monitor?
A. Urine specific gravity.
B. Serum potassium level.
C. Daily weight.
D. Deep tendon reflexes.
C. Daily weight.
,*Rationale: Acute glomerulonephritis impairs the kidneys' ability to excrete
fluid, leading to fluid volume excess and hypertension. Monitoring daily weight
is the most reliable indicator of fluid balance. While urine specific gravity and
electrolytes are relevant, daily weight directly reflects fluid retention or loss. *
5. The nurse is caring for a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus who is experiencing
a hypoglycemic reaction. The child is awake and alert. Which of the following
should the nurse administer first?
A. A glass of milk.
B. A cup of diet soda.
C. 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets.
D. A complex carbohydrate, such as a slice of bread.
C. 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets.
*Rationale: The initial treatment for mild hypoglycemia in a conscious patient is
administration of 15 grams of a rapidly absorbed simple carbohydrate. Glucose
tablets are ideal. Milk contains protein and fat which slow absorption, diet soda
has no sugar, and complex carbohydrates are used after the blood glucose has
normalized to provide sustained energy. *
6. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old with suspected intussusception. Which clinical
manifestation is the nurse most likely to observe?
A. Projectile vomiting.
B. Currant jelly stools.
C. Ribbon-like stools.
D. Tarry, black stools.
B. Currant jelly stools.
*Rationale: Intussusception is the telescoping of a portion of the intestine into
itself, causing ischemia and bleeding. The passage of blood and mucus creates a
classic "currant jelly" stool. Projectile vomiting is seen in pyloric stenosis,
ribbon-like stools are associated with Hirschsprung disease, and tarry stools
indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding. *
7. The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to a 15-
month-old child. Which site is most appropriate?
, A. Deltoid muscle.
B. Dorsogluteal muscle.
C. Ventrogluteal muscle.
D. Vastus lateralis muscle.
D. Vastus lateralis muscle.
*Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred site for IM injections in infants
and young children because it is well-developed and free of major nerves and
blood vessels. The ventrogluteal site can be used for children older than 18
months who have been walking, but the vastus lateralis is safest for this age.
The deltoid and dorsogluteal are not recommended. *
8. A child with cystic fibrosis is being discharged home. Which statement by the
parent indicates a correct understanding of the child's care?
A. I will limit my child's intake of salt.
B. I will administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks.
C. I will restrict my child's fluid intake to prevent pulmonary edema.
D. I will avoid chest physiotherapy when my child is congested.
B. I will administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks.
*Rationale: In cystic fibrosis, thick secretions block pancreatic ducts, leading to
malabsorption. Replacement pancreatic enzymes must be given with all meals
and snacks to aid digestion. These children need increased salt and fluid intake,
not restriction, and chest physiotherapy should be performed regularly,
especially when congested. *
9. The nurse is assessing a newborn with a suspected developmental dysplasia of
the hip (DDH). Which assessment finding supports this diagnosis?
A. Symmetrical gluteal folds.
B. Positive Babinski sign.
C. Limited abduction of the hip.
D. Absent Moro reflex.
C. Limited abduction of the hip.
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ALL
POSSIBLE APPROVED WELL ELABORATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
PLUS EXPERT ANSWER KEY (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) 2026-2027 CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION Q&A GUARANTEED PASS A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. The nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child with a suspected diagnosis of
epiglottitis. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Inspect the throat with a tongue blade.
B. Obtain a throat culture.
C. Keep the child in a supine position.
D. Maintain the child in an upright position.
D. Maintain the child in an upright position.
*Rationale: Epiglottitis causes inflammation and edema of the epiglottis, which
can rapidly lead to complete airway obstruction. Keeping the child upright and
calm helps maintain airway patency. Throat examination or culture can trigger
laryngospasm and should be avoided unless emergency airway equipment is
available. *
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a toddler. Which
statement by a parent indicates a need for further teaching?
,A. I will use a forward-facing car seat in the back seat.
B. I will keep the crib mattress at the lowest level.
C. I will place safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
D. I will offer small, round foods like grapes cut into quarters.
A. I will use a forward-facing car seat in the back seat.
*Rationale: Toddlers should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the
maximum height and weight recommended by the car seat manufacturer,
typically around age 2 or older. Forward-facing seats are not appropriate until
that threshold is met. *
3. A 6-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-baby visit. Which finding
requires further evaluation by the nurse?
A. Absence of the pincer grasp.
B. Presence of the Babinski reflex.
C. Inability to roll from back to front.
D. Slight head lag when pulled to sitting.
D. Slight head lag when pulled to sitting.
*Rationale: By 6 months of age, head lag should have resolved, and the infant
should have good head control when pulled to a sitting position. The pincer
grasp is not expected until 9-10 months, the Babinski reflex persists until 12
months, and rolling front to back (not back to front) is often mastered around 5-
6 months. *
4. A child diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis is noted to have a blood
pressure of 140/90 mmHg. Which finding is most important for the nurse to
monitor?
A. Urine specific gravity.
B. Serum potassium level.
C. Daily weight.
D. Deep tendon reflexes.
C. Daily weight.
,*Rationale: Acute glomerulonephritis impairs the kidneys' ability to excrete
fluid, leading to fluid volume excess and hypertension. Monitoring daily weight
is the most reliable indicator of fluid balance. While urine specific gravity and
electrolytes are relevant, daily weight directly reflects fluid retention or loss. *
5. The nurse is caring for a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus who is experiencing
a hypoglycemic reaction. The child is awake and alert. Which of the following
should the nurse administer first?
A. A glass of milk.
B. A cup of diet soda.
C. 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets.
D. A complex carbohydrate, such as a slice of bread.
C. 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, such as glucose tablets.
*Rationale: The initial treatment for mild hypoglycemia in a conscious patient is
administration of 15 grams of a rapidly absorbed simple carbohydrate. Glucose
tablets are ideal. Milk contains protein and fat which slow absorption, diet soda
has no sugar, and complex carbohydrates are used after the blood glucose has
normalized to provide sustained energy. *
6. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old with suspected intussusception. Which clinical
manifestation is the nurse most likely to observe?
A. Projectile vomiting.
B. Currant jelly stools.
C. Ribbon-like stools.
D. Tarry, black stools.
B. Currant jelly stools.
*Rationale: Intussusception is the telescoping of a portion of the intestine into
itself, causing ischemia and bleeding. The passage of blood and mucus creates a
classic "currant jelly" stool. Projectile vomiting is seen in pyloric stenosis,
ribbon-like stools are associated with Hirschsprung disease, and tarry stools
indicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding. *
7. The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection to a 15-
month-old child. Which site is most appropriate?
, A. Deltoid muscle.
B. Dorsogluteal muscle.
C. Ventrogluteal muscle.
D. Vastus lateralis muscle.
D. Vastus lateralis muscle.
*Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred site for IM injections in infants
and young children because it is well-developed and free of major nerves and
blood vessels. The ventrogluteal site can be used for children older than 18
months who have been walking, but the vastus lateralis is safest for this age.
The deltoid and dorsogluteal are not recommended. *
8. A child with cystic fibrosis is being discharged home. Which statement by the
parent indicates a correct understanding of the child's care?
A. I will limit my child's intake of salt.
B. I will administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks.
C. I will restrict my child's fluid intake to prevent pulmonary edema.
D. I will avoid chest physiotherapy when my child is congested.
B. I will administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks.
*Rationale: In cystic fibrosis, thick secretions block pancreatic ducts, leading to
malabsorption. Replacement pancreatic enzymes must be given with all meals
and snacks to aid digestion. These children need increased salt and fluid intake,
not restriction, and chest physiotherapy should be performed regularly,
especially when congested. *
9. The nurse is assessing a newborn with a suspected developmental dysplasia of
the hip (DDH). Which assessment finding supports this diagnosis?
A. Symmetrical gluteal folds.
B. Positive Babinski sign.
C. Limited abduction of the hip.
D. Absent Moro reflex.
C. Limited abduction of the hip.
