HESI PN OB/HESI PN PEDIATRICS/HESI
PN MATERNITY NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A mother asks the practical nurse (PN), "When will I know if my daughter has entered puberty?"
Which finding should the PN tell the mother to observe for with the onset of puberty?
a) mood swings
b) growth of pubic hair
c) heterosexual interest
d) menarche ✔️✔️Answer: B
Rationale:
The onset of puberty in girls is observed with the development of secondary sex characteristics,
such as breast development and the growth of pubic hair (B). (A,C, and D) are not consistently
found with pubescence.
The PN is checking the musculoskeletal system of a one month old infant during a well child
visit. Which finding should the PN report to the healthcare provider?
a) one leg is shorter than the other.
b) 2 skin folds on the back of each thigh
,c) broadening & flattening of the buttocks
d) hypotonicity of the leg muscles ✔️✔️Answer: A
Rationale:
Developmental hip dysplasia, subluxation or discoloration, either partial or complete, is a
common orthopedic deformity where the head of the femur is partly or completely displaced as a
result of a shallow hip socket (acetabulum). Hip dysplasia causes the leg on the affected side to
appear shorter (A) than the leg on the unaffected side. (D) is a sign of a neurologic problem, not
hip dysplasia. The skin folds of the thigh are deeper and often asymmetrical, not (B), and the best
indicator of hip dysplasia is femur shortening. (C) is not a sign of hip dysplasia.
Which physiological difference is present in a 3 month old infant that affects oral drug
absorption rates?
a) variable pancreatic enzyme activity
b) more acidic gastric secretions
c) more rapid peristaltic activity
d) an accelerated gastric emptying rate ✔️✔️Answer: A
Rationale:
Pancreatic enzyme activity (A) is variable in infants for the first 3 months of life as the Gi system
matures. The gastric secretions of infants are less acidic than those of older children or adults,
not (B). Intestinal motility and gastric emptying rate tend to be slower in infants, not (C and D).
,The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer an intramuscular immunization to a 6 month
old infant. What site should the PN select?
a) dorsogluteal
b) ventrogluteal
c) deltoid
d) vastus lateralis ✔️✔️Answer: D
Rationale:
The vastus lateralis (D) has minimal nerves or blood vessels and is the best site for intramuscular
(IM) injections in children younger than 3 years of age. The deltoid muscle (C) is a small muscle
mass that accommodates small volumes, less than 0.5 mL, and is not recommended for IM use in
young children. The gluteal muscles (A and B) are used as an injection site in children whose
musculature develops after walking.
The mother of a young child with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) who needs insulin injections at
home tells the practical nurse (PN) that she is afraid she does not know what to do properly.
Which action is most important for the PN implement to decrease the mother's apprehension?
a) have the mother verbalize the importance of follow up care
b) help the mother devise a schedule for rotating the injections
c) observe the mother while she administers an insulin injection
, d) review the side effects of insulin with the mother ✔️✔️Answer: C
Rationale:
Observing the mother's ability to give the insulin injection (C) provides an opportunity to
reinforce information & provide validation to increase the mother's confidence and relieve
apprehension about caring for her child with DM. (A, B, and D) are of less priority than (C).
Which first aid action should the practical nurse implement for a child who has sustained a
second degree thermal burn?
a) apply petroleum jelly to the burned skin
b) apply ice to the burned area
c) immerse the burned area in cold water
d) break any blisters that are present ✔️✔️Answer: C
Rationale:
First aid treatment of a second degree thermal burn is immersion of the burned area in cold water
(C) to halt the burning process. (A, B, and D) are not indicated due tot he risk of increased skin
damage or infection.
What information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with the parents of a 3 month old
infant about liquid medication administration?
PN MATERNITY NEWEST 2024 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A mother asks the practical nurse (PN), "When will I know if my daughter has entered puberty?"
Which finding should the PN tell the mother to observe for with the onset of puberty?
a) mood swings
b) growth of pubic hair
c) heterosexual interest
d) menarche ✔️✔️Answer: B
Rationale:
The onset of puberty in girls is observed with the development of secondary sex characteristics,
such as breast development and the growth of pubic hair (B). (A,C, and D) are not consistently
found with pubescence.
The PN is checking the musculoskeletal system of a one month old infant during a well child
visit. Which finding should the PN report to the healthcare provider?
a) one leg is shorter than the other.
b) 2 skin folds on the back of each thigh
,c) broadening & flattening of the buttocks
d) hypotonicity of the leg muscles ✔️✔️Answer: A
Rationale:
Developmental hip dysplasia, subluxation or discoloration, either partial or complete, is a
common orthopedic deformity where the head of the femur is partly or completely displaced as a
result of a shallow hip socket (acetabulum). Hip dysplasia causes the leg on the affected side to
appear shorter (A) than the leg on the unaffected side. (D) is a sign of a neurologic problem, not
hip dysplasia. The skin folds of the thigh are deeper and often asymmetrical, not (B), and the best
indicator of hip dysplasia is femur shortening. (C) is not a sign of hip dysplasia.
Which physiological difference is present in a 3 month old infant that affects oral drug
absorption rates?
a) variable pancreatic enzyme activity
b) more acidic gastric secretions
c) more rapid peristaltic activity
d) an accelerated gastric emptying rate ✔️✔️Answer: A
Rationale:
Pancreatic enzyme activity (A) is variable in infants for the first 3 months of life as the Gi system
matures. The gastric secretions of infants are less acidic than those of older children or adults,
not (B). Intestinal motility and gastric emptying rate tend to be slower in infants, not (C and D).
,The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer an intramuscular immunization to a 6 month
old infant. What site should the PN select?
a) dorsogluteal
b) ventrogluteal
c) deltoid
d) vastus lateralis ✔️✔️Answer: D
Rationale:
The vastus lateralis (D) has minimal nerves or blood vessels and is the best site for intramuscular
(IM) injections in children younger than 3 years of age. The deltoid muscle (C) is a small muscle
mass that accommodates small volumes, less than 0.5 mL, and is not recommended for IM use in
young children. The gluteal muscles (A and B) are used as an injection site in children whose
musculature develops after walking.
The mother of a young child with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) who needs insulin injections at
home tells the practical nurse (PN) that she is afraid she does not know what to do properly.
Which action is most important for the PN implement to decrease the mother's apprehension?
a) have the mother verbalize the importance of follow up care
b) help the mother devise a schedule for rotating the injections
c) observe the mother while she administers an insulin injection
, d) review the side effects of insulin with the mother ✔️✔️Answer: C
Rationale:
Observing the mother's ability to give the insulin injection (C) provides an opportunity to
reinforce information & provide validation to increase the mother's confidence and relieve
apprehension about caring for her child with DM. (A, B, and D) are of less priority than (C).
Which first aid action should the practical nurse implement for a child who has sustained a
second degree thermal burn?
a) apply petroleum jelly to the burned skin
b) apply ice to the burned area
c) immerse the burned area in cold water
d) break any blisters that are present ✔️✔️Answer: C
Rationale:
First aid treatment of a second degree thermal burn is immersion of the burned area in cold water
(C) to halt the burning process. (A, B, and D) are not indicated due tot he risk of increased skin
damage or infection.
What information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with the parents of a 3 month old
infant about liquid medication administration?
