HESI RN Pediatric Nursing Exam
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Actual 55 questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanations
Q1: A 7-year-old child with a history of asthma is brought to the emergency department by his
parents. He is wheezing, has a cough, and his oxygen saturation is 91% on room air. What is the
first nursing action?
A. Administer a short-acting bronchodilator via nebulizer [CORRECT]
B. Obtain a chest X-ray to determine the severity of the exacerbation
C. Initiate intravenous access and draw blood work
D. Provide emotional support by allowing the child to play with a toy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The priority action for an acute asthma exacerbation is to administer a short-acting
beta-agonist to quickly relieve bronchospasm and improve oxygenation.
Q2: The 7-year-old child with asthma received his first albuterol nebulizer treatment. His oxygen
saturation is now 93%, but he continues to have diffuse wheezing and complains of chest
tightness. What is the next step in his care?
A. Discharge the child with a prescription for an oral steroid
B. Administer a second nebulizer treatment and prepare to give systemic corticosteroids
[CORRECT]
C. Prepare for immediate endotracheal intubation
D. Encourage the child to take deep breaths and drink a glass of water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Since the child is not improving to baseline after the first bronchodilator, a repeat
treatment is indicated alongside systemic corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation.
,Q3: A pediatric provider orders Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day divided into two equal doses for a
child weighing 22 lbs. The available suspension is 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will the
nurse administer per dose?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL [CORRECT]
C. 5 mL
D. 8 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The child weighs 10 kg, requiring 400 mg/day, which is 200 mg per dose; calculating
the volume using the concentration yields 4 mL per dose.
Q4: A 6-month-old infant with Tetralogy of Fallot suddenly becomes cyanotic, irritable, and
draws their knees up to their chest. What is the nurse's immediate action?
A. Place the infant in a knee-chest position [CORRECT]
B. Administer 100% oxygen via a face mask
C. Prepare the infant for emergency surgery
D. Palpate the infant's brachial pulses
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Placing the infant in a knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance,
which helps force blood into the pulmonary artery and improves pulmonary blood flow during a
hypercyanotic spell.
Q5: A 2-year-old is admitted to the pediatric unit and insists on choosing their own clothes and
putting on their own shoes, becoming very upset when the parent tries to help. According to
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, what is the best interpretation of this behavior?
A. The child is experiencing autonomy versus shame and doubt [CORRECT]
B. The child is exhibiting signs of industry versus inferiority
C. The child is demonstrating trust versus mistrust
D. The child is displaying initiative versus guilt
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Toddlers are in the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage, where they strive for
independence and control over their environment, often insisting on doing tasks themselves.
Q6: The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which finding
indicates the infant is meeting expected gross motor developmental milestones?
A. The infant sits unsupported without assistance
B. The infant holds their head steady and erect when held upright [CORRECT]
C. The infant rolls from back to front smoothly
D. The infant bears weight on their legs when held in a standing position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By 4 months of age, an infant should have good head control and be able to hold their
head steady when in a sitting or upright position; sitting unsupported and rolling over typically
occur later.
Q7: A 9-year-old child is scheduled for an appendectomy. The nurse uses a model of the
abdomen to explain the procedure to the child. Which cognitive stage, according to Piaget,
allows this child to understand the model?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational [CORRECT]
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: School-age children are in the concrete operational stage, meaning they can think
logically about concrete events and objects, making anatomical models an effective teaching
tool.
2026/2027 | Newly Released
Actual 55 questions with Correct Answers and Expert
Explanations
Q1: A 7-year-old child with a history of asthma is brought to the emergency department by his
parents. He is wheezing, has a cough, and his oxygen saturation is 91% on room air. What is the
first nursing action?
A. Administer a short-acting bronchodilator via nebulizer [CORRECT]
B. Obtain a chest X-ray to determine the severity of the exacerbation
C. Initiate intravenous access and draw blood work
D. Provide emotional support by allowing the child to play with a toy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The priority action for an acute asthma exacerbation is to administer a short-acting
beta-agonist to quickly relieve bronchospasm and improve oxygenation.
Q2: The 7-year-old child with asthma received his first albuterol nebulizer treatment. His oxygen
saturation is now 93%, but he continues to have diffuse wheezing and complains of chest
tightness. What is the next step in his care?
A. Discharge the child with a prescription for an oral steroid
B. Administer a second nebulizer treatment and prepare to give systemic corticosteroids
[CORRECT]
C. Prepare for immediate endotracheal intubation
D. Encourage the child to take deep breaths and drink a glass of water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Since the child is not improving to baseline after the first bronchodilator, a repeat
treatment is indicated alongside systemic corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation.
,Q3: A pediatric provider orders Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day divided into two equal doses for a
child weighing 22 lbs. The available suspension is 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will the
nurse administer per dose?
A. 2 mL
B. 4 mL [CORRECT]
C. 5 mL
D. 8 mL
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The child weighs 10 kg, requiring 400 mg/day, which is 200 mg per dose; calculating
the volume using the concentration yields 4 mL per dose.
Q4: A 6-month-old infant with Tetralogy of Fallot suddenly becomes cyanotic, irritable, and
draws their knees up to their chest. What is the nurse's immediate action?
A. Place the infant in a knee-chest position [CORRECT]
B. Administer 100% oxygen via a face mask
C. Prepare the infant for emergency surgery
D. Palpate the infant's brachial pulses
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Placing the infant in a knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance,
which helps force blood into the pulmonary artery and improves pulmonary blood flow during a
hypercyanotic spell.
Q5: A 2-year-old is admitted to the pediatric unit and insists on choosing their own clothes and
putting on their own shoes, becoming very upset when the parent tries to help. According to
Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, what is the best interpretation of this behavior?
A. The child is experiencing autonomy versus shame and doubt [CORRECT]
B. The child is exhibiting signs of industry versus inferiority
C. The child is demonstrating trust versus mistrust
D. The child is displaying initiative versus guilt
, Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Toddlers are in the autonomy versus shame and doubt stage, where they strive for
independence and control over their environment, often insisting on doing tasks themselves.
Q6: The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which finding
indicates the infant is meeting expected gross motor developmental milestones?
A. The infant sits unsupported without assistance
B. The infant holds their head steady and erect when held upright [CORRECT]
C. The infant rolls from back to front smoothly
D. The infant bears weight on their legs when held in a standing position
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By 4 months of age, an infant should have good head control and be able to hold their
head steady when in a sitting or upright position; sitting unsupported and rolling over typically
occur later.
Q7: A 9-year-old child is scheduled for an appendectomy. The nurse uses a model of the
abdomen to explain the procedure to the child. Which cognitive stage, according to Piaget,
allows this child to understand the model?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational [CORRECT]
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: School-age children are in the concrete operational stage, meaning they can think
logically about concrete events and objects, making anatomical models an effective teaching
tool.
