HESI PN Obstetrics Exam 2026 | Pediatrics HESI PN
Review | PN HESI Peds | All Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationales | Updated Version
What information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with the parents of a 3
month old infant about liquid medication administration?
a) pour the medication into a small cup and allow the infant to drink it
b) place the medication in a nipple and have infant suck the nipple
c) administer the medication with a dropper to the back of the infant's tongue
d) use an oral syringe to place the medication in the side of the infant's mouth ----
-----CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Answer: D
Rationale:
An oral syringe is a useful device for measuring small quantities of medications
for infants. The syringe is placed in the side of the mouth. (B) increases the
amount of air the infant swallows, which cause excessive gas. (B and D) increase
the risk for aspiration.
What action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when caring for a dying
child and the family?
a) Provide adequate oral intake on a regular schedule
b) Organize care to minimize contact that interrupts rests
c) Allow family to give basic care when the child is alert
,d) Tell family to continue talking to the child until time of death ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Answer: D
Rationale:
Families should be encouraged to talk to the child because the sense of hearing
is acute until death (D), and verbal communication and physical touch provide
comfort for both the family and child. When a child is dying, comfort is based on
measures that respond to the child's requests beyond a regular schedule for
fluids (A). Nursing care should minimize disruptions but not contact (B). family
involvement in the basic care of the child should continue throughout the child's
dying process, not only when the child is alert (C).
A 2 year old child who is hospitalized has become withdrawn and quiet on the
fourth day after admission. The parent expresses concern about this change in
behavior. Which explanation should the practical nurse (PN) provide? The child is
a) Experiencing the despair stage of separation
b) Detaching emotionally from the family
c) Protesting the separation from the parents
d) Adjusting to hospitalization ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Answer: A
Rationale:
In the despair stage of separation (A), the child exhibits signs of hopelessness
and becomes quiet, withdrawn, and apathetic. Toddlers do not readily "adjust"
to hospitalization (D) and separation from caregivers. During the detachment
stage (B) which occurs after prolonged separation, the child becomes interested
in the environment and begins to play. In the protest stage (C), the child is likely
to cry and resist care by others, and is inconsolable.
,A 3 year old boy cries, kicks, and clings to his father when the parents try to leave
the hospital room. The parents express their concern to the practical nurse (PN).
What response should the PN provide?
a) "It is not helpful for parents to stay with children during hospitalization."
b) "Your child's behavior indicates a need for a psychological consultation."
c) "You can avoid this if you wait to leave after your child falls asleep."
d) "Your child is showing a normal response to the stress of hospitalization." -------
--CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Answer: D
Rationale:
The child is exhibiting a healthy attachment to the father (D). Leaving while your
child is asleep creates mistrust in the child (C). To minimize the child's stress
hospital policy often require someone to stay with their child during
hospitalization, not (A). The child's behavior represents the protest stage of
separation and does not represent maladaptive behavior (B).
Which action is best for the practical nurse (PN) to implement to help a 7 year old
child cope with a lengthy course of IV antibiotics therapy?
a) give the child stickers for cooperative behavior
b) arrange for the child to go to the playroom daily
c) ask the child to draw a picture about himself
, d) allow the child to participate in injection play ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------
------Answer: D
Supervised injection play (D) is an effective coping strategy for a school aged
child who is receiving extended IV therapy, or any other therapy involving
syringes and needles. Rewards, such as stickers (A) may enhance cooperative
behavior but do not address coping with painful treatments. The hospitalized
child should have opportunities for play each day, if his condition warrants, but
free play (B) does not have any specific therapeutic purpose in preparing for
painful experiences. (C) may not elicit the child's feeling about IV treatment.
A 3 year old male child who has been toilet trained has had several urinary
"accidents" since hospital admission. What action should the practical nuse (PN)
implement?
a) provide the child with frequent opportunities to urinate
b) inform the parent that the child will need to be retrained
c) determine how the long the child has been toilet trained
d) place a bedpan on the bedside table for the child to use ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Answer: A
Rationale:
Offering choices and allowing the child to make a decision increases the child's
sense of control. Asking the child frequently if he has to go to the bathroom (A)
helps reduce the incidents of accidental urinations. Regression to previous
behaviors is common during hospitalization, even when the child has been
practicing the skill successfully (B). A 3 year old child is not developmentally
able to use a bedpan independently (D). Relearning a skill such as toilet training,
contributes to the child's stress and should not be attempted during
hospitalization.
Review | PN HESI Peds | All Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationales | Updated Version
What information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with the parents of a 3
month old infant about liquid medication administration?
a) pour the medication into a small cup and allow the infant to drink it
b) place the medication in a nipple and have infant suck the nipple
c) administer the medication with a dropper to the back of the infant's tongue
d) use an oral syringe to place the medication in the side of the infant's mouth ----
-----CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Answer: D
Rationale:
An oral syringe is a useful device for measuring small quantities of medications
for infants. The syringe is placed in the side of the mouth. (B) increases the
amount of air the infant swallows, which cause excessive gas. (B and D) increase
the risk for aspiration.
What action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when caring for a dying
child and the family?
a) Provide adequate oral intake on a regular schedule
b) Organize care to minimize contact that interrupts rests
c) Allow family to give basic care when the child is alert
,d) Tell family to continue talking to the child until time of death ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Answer: D
Rationale:
Families should be encouraged to talk to the child because the sense of hearing
is acute until death (D), and verbal communication and physical touch provide
comfort for both the family and child. When a child is dying, comfort is based on
measures that respond to the child's requests beyond a regular schedule for
fluids (A). Nursing care should minimize disruptions but not contact (B). family
involvement in the basic care of the child should continue throughout the child's
dying process, not only when the child is alert (C).
A 2 year old child who is hospitalized has become withdrawn and quiet on the
fourth day after admission. The parent expresses concern about this change in
behavior. Which explanation should the practical nurse (PN) provide? The child is
a) Experiencing the despair stage of separation
b) Detaching emotionally from the family
c) Protesting the separation from the parents
d) Adjusting to hospitalization ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Answer: A
Rationale:
In the despair stage of separation (A), the child exhibits signs of hopelessness
and becomes quiet, withdrawn, and apathetic. Toddlers do not readily "adjust"
to hospitalization (D) and separation from caregivers. During the detachment
stage (B) which occurs after prolonged separation, the child becomes interested
in the environment and begins to play. In the protest stage (C), the child is likely
to cry and resist care by others, and is inconsolable.
,A 3 year old boy cries, kicks, and clings to his father when the parents try to leave
the hospital room. The parents express their concern to the practical nurse (PN).
What response should the PN provide?
a) "It is not helpful for parents to stay with children during hospitalization."
b) "Your child's behavior indicates a need for a psychological consultation."
c) "You can avoid this if you wait to leave after your child falls asleep."
d) "Your child is showing a normal response to the stress of hospitalization." -------
--CORRECT ANSWER-----------------Answer: D
Rationale:
The child is exhibiting a healthy attachment to the father (D). Leaving while your
child is asleep creates mistrust in the child (C). To minimize the child's stress
hospital policy often require someone to stay with their child during
hospitalization, not (A). The child's behavior represents the protest stage of
separation and does not represent maladaptive behavior (B).
Which action is best for the practical nurse (PN) to implement to help a 7 year old
child cope with a lengthy course of IV antibiotics therapy?
a) give the child stickers for cooperative behavior
b) arrange for the child to go to the playroom daily
c) ask the child to draw a picture about himself
, d) allow the child to participate in injection play ---------CORRECT ANSWER-----------
------Answer: D
Supervised injection play (D) is an effective coping strategy for a school aged
child who is receiving extended IV therapy, or any other therapy involving
syringes and needles. Rewards, such as stickers (A) may enhance cooperative
behavior but do not address coping with painful treatments. The hospitalized
child should have opportunities for play each day, if his condition warrants, but
free play (B) does not have any specific therapeutic purpose in preparing for
painful experiences. (C) may not elicit the child's feeling about IV treatment.
A 3 year old male child who has been toilet trained has had several urinary
"accidents" since hospital admission. What action should the practical nuse (PN)
implement?
a) provide the child with frequent opportunities to urinate
b) inform the parent that the child will need to be retrained
c) determine how the long the child has been toilet trained
d) place a bedpan on the bedside table for the child to use ---------CORRECT
ANSWER-----------------Answer: A
Rationale:
Offering choices and allowing the child to make a decision increases the child's
sense of control. Asking the child frequently if he has to go to the bathroom (A)
helps reduce the incidents of accidental urinations. Regression to previous
behaviors is common during hospitalization, even when the child has been
practicing the skill successfully (B). A 3 year old child is not developmentally
able to use a bedpan independently (D). Relearning a skill such as toilet training,
contributes to the child's stress and should not be attempted during
hospitalization.
