1
HESI RN Pediatrics Exam Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Questions and All Correct
Answers | 100% Solved | Pass Guaranteed
- A+ Graded
Exam Information:
• Total Questions: 100
• Time Limit: 2 hours
• Passing Score: 850 (HESI scoring)
• Content aligned with 2026/2027 HESI Testing Standards, AAP, and CDC guidelines
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-20)
Question 1 The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from back to abdomen [CORRECT]
C. Walking with assistance
D. Building a tower of two blocks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rolling from back to abdomen (prone to supine is typically mastered by 4 months,
supine to prone by 6 months) is a 6-month milestone. Sitting without support (A) usually occurs
around 8 months. Walking with assistance (C) occurs around 9-12 months. Building a tower of
two blocks (D) occurs around 15 months. Other 6-month milestones include: babbling,
transferring objects hand-to-hand, recognizing familiar faces, and pushing up on arms when
prone.
,2
Question 2 According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the primary developmental task for a
toddler (age 1-3 years) is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt [CORRECT]
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is the psychosocial crisis for toddlers (1-3 years),
focusing on developing independence and self-control. Successful resolution leads to will and
determination. Trust vs. Mistrust (A) is for infants (0-1 year). Initiative vs. Guilt (C) is for
preschoolers (3-6 years). Industry vs. Inferiority (D) is for school-age children (6-12 years).
Nursing application: offer choices to toddlers to foster autonomy while maintaining safe limits.
Question 3 At what age should the nurse expect an infant to triple their birth weight?
A. 6 months
B. 9 months
C. 12 months [CORRECT]
D. 24 months
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5-6 months and triple it by 12 months.
Length increases by 50% by 12 months. Head circumference increases by 12 cm in the first year.
These growth parameters are critical indicators of nutritional status and overall health. Distractor
A (6 months) is when weight doubles. Distractors B and D are incorrect timeframes.
Question 4 A 2-year-old child is in the hospital. Which type of play is most appropriate for this
age?
A. Parallel play [CORRECT]
B. Cooperative play
C. Solitary play
D. Competitive play
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Toddlers (2-3 years) engage in parallel play – playing alongside but not directly with
other children. They use similar toys but do not share or interact significantly. This is a normal
developmental stage. Cooperative play (B) develops in preschoolers (4-5 years) with organized
,3
groups and shared goals. Solitary play (C) is typical of infants (0-2 years). Competitive play (D)
develops in school-age children (6+ years) with rules and competition.
Question 5 According to Piaget's cognitive development theory, a preschooler (age 3-5) is in
which stage?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational [CORRECT]
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preschoolers are in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7), characterized by egocentrism
(inability to see others' perspectives), magical thinking (believing magic causes events), animism
(attributing life to objects), and symbolic play. They lack conservation (understanding quantity
remains same despite appearance change). Sensorimotor (A) is infancy (0-2 years). Concrete
operational (C) is school-age (7-11 years) with logical thinking about concrete objects. Formal
operational (D) is adolescence (12+ years) with abstract reasoning.
Question 6 The nurse is teaching parents about car seat safety for their 18-month-old toddler.
Which instruction is correct?
A. Use a forward-facing car seat
B. Use a rear-facing car seat until at least age 2 or until height/weight limits are exceeded
[CORRECT]
C. Use a booster seat
D. Use only a lap belt in the back seat
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AAP and CDC recommend rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, or until the child
exceeds the height or weight limit of the rear-facing seat (typically 35-40 pounds). Rear-facing
provides better support for the head, neck, and spine in crashes. Forward-facing (A) is premature.
Booster seats (C) are for children who have outgrown forward-facing seats (usually 4+ years,
40+ pounds). Lap belts only (D) are unsafe for children.
Question 7 A 4-year-old child is in the hospital and frequently asks "why" questions. This
behavior is:
, 4
A. Developmentally appropriate [CORRECT]
B. A sign of anxiety
C. A sign of intellectual disability
D. Manipulative behavior
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-6 years) are in the "why" stage – constantly asking questions to
understand their world, cause-and-effect relationships, and gain information. This is
developmentally appropriate preoperational thinking. Nurses should provide simple, honest
answers appropriate to developmental level. Labeling this as anxiety (B), disability (C), or
manipulation (D) reflects adult impatience rather than understanding child development.
Question 8 According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, at what stage would a school-
age child (7-10 years) typically function?
A. Preconventional (punishment and obedience, individualism and exchange)
B. Conventional (interpersonal relationships, maintaining social order) [CORRECT]
C. Postconventional (social contract, universal principles)
D. Pre-moral
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children typically operate at the conventional level: Stage 3 (good
boy/nice girl – seeking approval, being "nice") and Stage 4 (law and order – following rules,
maintaining social order). They value authority and conformity. Preconventional (A) is typical of
younger children (focus on self, punishment avoidance). Postconventional (C) develops in
adolescence/adulthood (abstract principles, social contract).
Question 9 A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill is developmentally
appropriate?
A. Pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) [CORRECT]
B. Scribbling with crayon
C. Cutting with scissors
D. Tying shoelaces
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The pincer grasp develops around 9-10 months, allowing the infant to pick up small
objects with thumb and forefinger. This is a critical milestone for self-feeding. Scribbling (B)
HESI RN Pediatrics Exam Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Questions and All Correct
Answers | 100% Solved | Pass Guaranteed
- A+ Graded
Exam Information:
• Total Questions: 100
• Time Limit: 2 hours
• Passing Score: 850 (HESI scoring)
• Content aligned with 2026/2027 HESI Testing Standards, AAP, and CDC guidelines
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-20)
Question 1 The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from back to abdomen [CORRECT]
C. Walking with assistance
D. Building a tower of two blocks
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rolling from back to abdomen (prone to supine is typically mastered by 4 months,
supine to prone by 6 months) is a 6-month milestone. Sitting without support (A) usually occurs
around 8 months. Walking with assistance (C) occurs around 9-12 months. Building a tower of
two blocks (D) occurs around 15 months. Other 6-month milestones include: babbling,
transferring objects hand-to-hand, recognizing familiar faces, and pushing up on arms when
prone.
,2
Question 2 According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the primary developmental task for a
toddler (age 1-3 years) is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt [CORRECT]
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is the psychosocial crisis for toddlers (1-3 years),
focusing on developing independence and self-control. Successful resolution leads to will and
determination. Trust vs. Mistrust (A) is for infants (0-1 year). Initiative vs. Guilt (C) is for
preschoolers (3-6 years). Industry vs. Inferiority (D) is for school-age children (6-12 years).
Nursing application: offer choices to toddlers to foster autonomy while maintaining safe limits.
Question 3 At what age should the nurse expect an infant to triple their birth weight?
A. 6 months
B. 9 months
C. 12 months [CORRECT]
D. 24 months
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5-6 months and triple it by 12 months.
Length increases by 50% by 12 months. Head circumference increases by 12 cm in the first year.
These growth parameters are critical indicators of nutritional status and overall health. Distractor
A (6 months) is when weight doubles. Distractors B and D are incorrect timeframes.
Question 4 A 2-year-old child is in the hospital. Which type of play is most appropriate for this
age?
A. Parallel play [CORRECT]
B. Cooperative play
C. Solitary play
D. Competitive play
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Toddlers (2-3 years) engage in parallel play – playing alongside but not directly with
other children. They use similar toys but do not share or interact significantly. This is a normal
developmental stage. Cooperative play (B) develops in preschoolers (4-5 years) with organized
,3
groups and shared goals. Solitary play (C) is typical of infants (0-2 years). Competitive play (D)
develops in school-age children (6+ years) with rules and competition.
Question 5 According to Piaget's cognitive development theory, a preschooler (age 3-5) is in
which stage?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational [CORRECT]
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preschoolers are in the preoperational stage (ages 2-7), characterized by egocentrism
(inability to see others' perspectives), magical thinking (believing magic causes events), animism
(attributing life to objects), and symbolic play. They lack conservation (understanding quantity
remains same despite appearance change). Sensorimotor (A) is infancy (0-2 years). Concrete
operational (C) is school-age (7-11 years) with logical thinking about concrete objects. Formal
operational (D) is adolescence (12+ years) with abstract reasoning.
Question 6 The nurse is teaching parents about car seat safety for their 18-month-old toddler.
Which instruction is correct?
A. Use a forward-facing car seat
B. Use a rear-facing car seat until at least age 2 or until height/weight limits are exceeded
[CORRECT]
C. Use a booster seat
D. Use only a lap belt in the back seat
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AAP and CDC recommend rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, or until the child
exceeds the height or weight limit of the rear-facing seat (typically 35-40 pounds). Rear-facing
provides better support for the head, neck, and spine in crashes. Forward-facing (A) is premature.
Booster seats (C) are for children who have outgrown forward-facing seats (usually 4+ years,
40+ pounds). Lap belts only (D) are unsafe for children.
Question 7 A 4-year-old child is in the hospital and frequently asks "why" questions. This
behavior is:
, 4
A. Developmentally appropriate [CORRECT]
B. A sign of anxiety
C. A sign of intellectual disability
D. Manipulative behavior
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-6 years) are in the "why" stage – constantly asking questions to
understand their world, cause-and-effect relationships, and gain information. This is
developmentally appropriate preoperational thinking. Nurses should provide simple, honest
answers appropriate to developmental level. Labeling this as anxiety (B), disability (C), or
manipulation (D) reflects adult impatience rather than understanding child development.
Question 8 According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, at what stage would a school-
age child (7-10 years) typically function?
A. Preconventional (punishment and obedience, individualism and exchange)
B. Conventional (interpersonal relationships, maintaining social order) [CORRECT]
C. Postconventional (social contract, universal principles)
D. Pre-moral
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children typically operate at the conventional level: Stage 3 (good
boy/nice girl – seeking approval, being "nice") and Stage 4 (law and order – following rules,
maintaining social order). They value authority and conformity. Preconventional (A) is typical of
younger children (focus on self, punishment avoidance). Postconventional (C) develops in
adolescence/adulthood (abstract principles, social contract).
Question 9 A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill is developmentally
appropriate?
A. Pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) [CORRECT]
B. Scribbling with crayon
C. Cutting with scissors
D. Tying shoelaces
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The pincer grasp develops around 9-10 months, allowing the infant to pick up small
objects with thumb and forefinger. This is a critical milestone for self-feeding. Scribbling (B)
