Pediatric HESI Questions with
Accurate Answers
Maintaining adequate hydration - ANSWERSWhen caring for a child with congenital
heart disease and polycythemia, which nurisng action has the highest priority?
-baked chicken
-coleslaw
-soda
-frozen dessert - ANSWERSThe nurse is preparing a teaching plan for the mother of a
child who has been diagnosed with celiac disease. Choosing which lunch would be
within therapeutic management of a child with celiac disease?
-"my son often chokes when I am feeding him" - ANSWERSA 7month old infant
diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy is seen by the nurse in the clinic. Which
statement by the parent warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
-place the child on a clear liquid diet - ANSWERSThe nurse is caring for a child with
intussusception who is scheduled for a barium enema prior to a surgical procedure.
Which action should the nurse take first?
-allow the child to assume the knee-to-chest position, with the head and chest slightly
elevated. - ANSWERSThe nurse should teach the parents of a child with a cyanotic
heart defect to perform which action when a hyper cyanotic spell occurs?
-exhibits a sudden and unexplained weight gain - ANSWERSThe nurse is teaching the
parents of a 2 year old with congenital heart defect about signs and symptoms of
congestive heart failure. Which information about the child is most important for the
parents to report to the healthcare provider?
-urinary catheterization - ANSWERSProphylactic antibiotics are prescribed for a child
who has mitral valve damage. The nurse should advise the parents to give the
antibiotics prior to which occurrence?
-Insert an intravenous (IV) line and begin IV fluids. - ANSWERSA 7-month-old infant
with a rotavirus causing severe diarrhea is admitted for treatment. Which action should
the nurse take first?
-Place a do not palpate abdomen sign on head of bed. - ANSWERSThe nurse admits a
child to the intensive care unit with a possible diagnosis of Wilms tumor. What is the
most important safety precaution for child?
, - "My husband and our daughter are both lactose-intolerant." - ANSWERSThe nurse is
taking the family history of a 2-year-old child with atopic dermatitis (eczema). Which
statement by the mother is most important in formulating a plan of care for this child?
-Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough. -
ANSWERSA mother calls the clinic because her 6-year-old son, who has been taking
prescribed antibiotics for 7 of the previous 10 days, continues to have a cough that she
reports is worsening. Further questioning by the nurse reveals that the cough is
nonproductive. What is the nurse's best instruction to the mother?
- "Tell me what you know about birth control." - ANSWERSThe nurse is assessing a
male adolescent client's knowledge of contraception. The teen states, "I have all the info
I need." What is the best response by the nurse?
-Joint inflammation - ANSWERSThe nurse is examining a male child experiencing an
exacerbation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and notes that mobility is greatly
reduced. What is the most likely cause of the child's impaired mobility?
-Tell the parent to take the child to the emergency department. - ANSWERSA father of
a 5-year-old calls the nurse to report that his child, who has had an upper respiratory
infection, is complaining of a headache, with a rectal temperature of 103°F/39.4°C.
Which action has the highest priority?
-Send the child home with the parents to see the healthcare provider before returning to
school. - ANSWERSA child comes to the school nurse complaining of itching. Further
assessment reveals that the child has impetigo. What action should the nurse take?
-Obtain a therapeutic drug level. - ANSWERSAn infant is receiving digoxin for
congestive heart failure. The apical heart rate is assessed at 80 beats/min. What action
should the nurse take first?
-Assess the child's mucous membranes and skin turgor. - ANSWERSThe nurse is
conducting an initial admission assessment of a 12-month-old child in celiac crisis.
Which action is most important for the nurse to take first?
-Monitor the infant's heart rate. - ANSWERSWhen inserting a nasogastric tube into the
stomach of a 3-month-old infant, which action is most important for the nurse to take
first?
- Use designated isolation precautions. - ANSWERSThe nurse assigns an unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP) to provide morning care to a newly admitted child with
bacterial meningitis. What is the most important instruction for the nurse to review with
the UAP?
-Place suctioning supplies on the back of the wheelchair when transporting. -
ANSWERSThe nurse is helping a family prepare to send their 7-year-old child to school
Accurate Answers
Maintaining adequate hydration - ANSWERSWhen caring for a child with congenital
heart disease and polycythemia, which nurisng action has the highest priority?
-baked chicken
-coleslaw
-soda
-frozen dessert - ANSWERSThe nurse is preparing a teaching plan for the mother of a
child who has been diagnosed with celiac disease. Choosing which lunch would be
within therapeutic management of a child with celiac disease?
-"my son often chokes when I am feeding him" - ANSWERSA 7month old infant
diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy is seen by the nurse in the clinic. Which
statement by the parent warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
-place the child on a clear liquid diet - ANSWERSThe nurse is caring for a child with
intussusception who is scheduled for a barium enema prior to a surgical procedure.
Which action should the nurse take first?
-allow the child to assume the knee-to-chest position, with the head and chest slightly
elevated. - ANSWERSThe nurse should teach the parents of a child with a cyanotic
heart defect to perform which action when a hyper cyanotic spell occurs?
-exhibits a sudden and unexplained weight gain - ANSWERSThe nurse is teaching the
parents of a 2 year old with congenital heart defect about signs and symptoms of
congestive heart failure. Which information about the child is most important for the
parents to report to the healthcare provider?
-urinary catheterization - ANSWERSProphylactic antibiotics are prescribed for a child
who has mitral valve damage. The nurse should advise the parents to give the
antibiotics prior to which occurrence?
-Insert an intravenous (IV) line and begin IV fluids. - ANSWERSA 7-month-old infant
with a rotavirus causing severe diarrhea is admitted for treatment. Which action should
the nurse take first?
-Place a do not palpate abdomen sign on head of bed. - ANSWERSThe nurse admits a
child to the intensive care unit with a possible diagnosis of Wilms tumor. What is the
most important safety precaution for child?
, - "My husband and our daughter are both lactose-intolerant." - ANSWERSThe nurse is
taking the family history of a 2-year-old child with atopic dermatitis (eczema). Which
statement by the mother is most important in formulating a plan of care for this child?
-Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough. -
ANSWERSA mother calls the clinic because her 6-year-old son, who has been taking
prescribed antibiotics for 7 of the previous 10 days, continues to have a cough that she
reports is worsening. Further questioning by the nurse reveals that the cough is
nonproductive. What is the nurse's best instruction to the mother?
- "Tell me what you know about birth control." - ANSWERSThe nurse is assessing a
male adolescent client's knowledge of contraception. The teen states, "I have all the info
I need." What is the best response by the nurse?
-Joint inflammation - ANSWERSThe nurse is examining a male child experiencing an
exacerbation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and notes that mobility is greatly
reduced. What is the most likely cause of the child's impaired mobility?
-Tell the parent to take the child to the emergency department. - ANSWERSA father of
a 5-year-old calls the nurse to report that his child, who has had an upper respiratory
infection, is complaining of a headache, with a rectal temperature of 103°F/39.4°C.
Which action has the highest priority?
-Send the child home with the parents to see the healthcare provider before returning to
school. - ANSWERSA child comes to the school nurse complaining of itching. Further
assessment reveals that the child has impetigo. What action should the nurse take?
-Obtain a therapeutic drug level. - ANSWERSAn infant is receiving digoxin for
congestive heart failure. The apical heart rate is assessed at 80 beats/min. What action
should the nurse take first?
-Assess the child's mucous membranes and skin turgor. - ANSWERSThe nurse is
conducting an initial admission assessment of a 12-month-old child in celiac crisis.
Which action is most important for the nurse to take first?
-Monitor the infant's heart rate. - ANSWERSWhen inserting a nasogastric tube into the
stomach of a 3-month-old infant, which action is most important for the nurse to take
first?
- Use designated isolation precautions. - ANSWERSThe nurse assigns an unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP) to provide morning care to a newly admitted child with
bacterial meningitis. What is the most important instruction for the nurse to review with
the UAP?
-Place suctioning supplies on the back of the wheelchair when transporting. -
ANSWERSThe nurse is helping a family prepare to send their 7-year-old child to school
