HESI PEDIATRICS EXAM 2026/2027 -
NGN PRACTICE TEST
Comprehensive 100+ Question Practice
Exam with ANSWERs & Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-20)
1. A 2-year-old child is brought to the pediatric clinic for a well-child visit. The nurse expects the child to
have achieved which developmental milestone?
A) Ties shoelaces
B) Rides a tricycle
C) Builds a tower of 6-7 blocks
D) Uses a spoon with little spilling
ANSWER: D) Uses a spoon with little spilling
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically can use a spoon with minimal spilling. Tying shoelaces is a 5-6 year
milestone. Riding a tricycle is a 3-year milestone. Building a tower of 6-7 blocks is a 4-5 year milestone.
2. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the primary developmental task for a
school-age child (6-12 years) is:
,A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Initiative vs. Guilt
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Identity vs. Role Confusion
ANSWER: C) Industry vs. Inferiority
Rationale: Erikson's stage for school-age children (6-12 years) is Industry vs. Inferiority, where children
develop a sense of competence and achievement through learning new skills.
3. The mother of a 4-month-old infant asks the nurse when her baby will double birth weight. The
nurse's best response is:
A) By 2-3 months
B) By 5-6 months
C) By 8-9 months
D) By 12 months
ANSWER: B) By 5-6 months
Rationale: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5-6 months of age and triple it by 12 months.
4. A nurse is assessing a 7-month-old infant. Which finding indicates normal gross motor development
for this age?
,A) Sits without support
B) Walks independently
C) Stands alone
D) Crawls upstairs
ANSWER: A) Sits without support
Rationale: A 7-month-old infant typically sits without support. Walking independently occurs around 12-
15 months. Standing alone occurs around 10-12 months. Crawling upstairs occurs around 12-15 months.
5. The nurse is educating parents of a 3-year-old about expected language development. Which finding
is most concerning?
A) Uses 3-4 word sentences
B) Asks "why" questions
C) Has a vocabulary of approximately 100 words
D) Stutters occasionally
ANSWER: C) Has a vocabulary of approximately 100 words
Rationale: A 3-year-old typically has a vocabulary of 900-1000 words, not 100 words. A vocabulary of
100 words is more appropriate for an 18-24 month old. Occasional stuttering, asking "why" questions,
and using 3-4 word sentences are all expected at age 3.
, 6. A 16-year-old adolescent is hospitalized. The nurse recognizes which behavior as most consistent with
the developmental stage of adolescence?
A) Prefers to be with parents during procedures
B) Is highly concerned about body image and peer acceptance
C) Engages in fantasy play
D) Has difficulty understanding abstract concepts
ANSWER: B) Is highly concerned about body image and peer acceptance
Rationale: Adolescents are highly focused on body image, peer acceptance, and identity formation. They
prefer peer company over parents, engage in abstract thinking, and do not engage in fantasy play (which
is characteristic of preschoolers).
7. The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill should the nurse expect to
observe?
A) Pincer grasp
B) Palmar grasp
C) Neat pincer grasp
D) Releases objects voluntarily
ANSWER: A) Pincer grasp
NGN PRACTICE TEST
Comprehensive 100+ Question Practice
Exam with ANSWERs & Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-20)
1. A 2-year-old child is brought to the pediatric clinic for a well-child visit. The nurse expects the child to
have achieved which developmental milestone?
A) Ties shoelaces
B) Rides a tricycle
C) Builds a tower of 6-7 blocks
D) Uses a spoon with little spilling
ANSWER: D) Uses a spoon with little spilling
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically can use a spoon with minimal spilling. Tying shoelaces is a 5-6 year
milestone. Riding a tricycle is a 3-year milestone. Building a tower of 6-7 blocks is a 4-5 year milestone.
2. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, the primary developmental task for a
school-age child (6-12 years) is:
,A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Initiative vs. Guilt
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Identity vs. Role Confusion
ANSWER: C) Industry vs. Inferiority
Rationale: Erikson's stage for school-age children (6-12 years) is Industry vs. Inferiority, where children
develop a sense of competence and achievement through learning new skills.
3. The mother of a 4-month-old infant asks the nurse when her baby will double birth weight. The
nurse's best response is:
A) By 2-3 months
B) By 5-6 months
C) By 8-9 months
D) By 12 months
ANSWER: B) By 5-6 months
Rationale: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5-6 months of age and triple it by 12 months.
4. A nurse is assessing a 7-month-old infant. Which finding indicates normal gross motor development
for this age?
,A) Sits without support
B) Walks independently
C) Stands alone
D) Crawls upstairs
ANSWER: A) Sits without support
Rationale: A 7-month-old infant typically sits without support. Walking independently occurs around 12-
15 months. Standing alone occurs around 10-12 months. Crawling upstairs occurs around 12-15 months.
5. The nurse is educating parents of a 3-year-old about expected language development. Which finding
is most concerning?
A) Uses 3-4 word sentences
B) Asks "why" questions
C) Has a vocabulary of approximately 100 words
D) Stutters occasionally
ANSWER: C) Has a vocabulary of approximately 100 words
Rationale: A 3-year-old typically has a vocabulary of 900-1000 words, not 100 words. A vocabulary of
100 words is more appropriate for an 18-24 month old. Occasional stuttering, asking "why" questions,
and using 3-4 word sentences are all expected at age 3.
, 6. A 16-year-old adolescent is hospitalized. The nurse recognizes which behavior as most consistent with
the developmental stage of adolescence?
A) Prefers to be with parents during procedures
B) Is highly concerned about body image and peer acceptance
C) Engages in fantasy play
D) Has difficulty understanding abstract concepts
ANSWER: B) Is highly concerned about body image and peer acceptance
Rationale: Adolescents are highly focused on body image, peer acceptance, and identity formation. They
prefer peer company over parents, engage in abstract thinking, and do not engage in fantasy play (which
is characteristic of preschoolers).
7. The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill should the nurse expect to
observe?
A) Pincer grasp
B) Palmar grasp
C) Neat pincer grasp
D) Releases objects voluntarily
ANSWER: A) Pincer grasp
