Latest HESI RN Pediatric Nursing 2026 with NGN |
Comprehensive Questions and Answers
The following questions are compiled from comprehensive HESI RN
Pediatrics exam resources for 2026, including Next Generation NCLEX
(NGN) style questions .
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Question 1
A 4-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. Which
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A) Sitting without support
B) Transferring objects hand to hand
C) Rolling from back to side
D) Pincer grasp
Rationale: Rolling from back to side is typical at 4 months. Sitting
without support occurs at 6–8 months, transferring objects hand-to-
hand at 7 months, and pincer grasp at 9 months .
Question 2
The mother of a 2-year-old toddler states, "My child only wants to say
'no' and throws tantrums when I try to help." What is the best nursing
response?
A) "This is normal for a toddler developing autonomy."
B) "You should punish the tantrums immediately."
C) "Your child may have oppositional defiant disorder."
D) "Ignore the child until the tantrum stops."
,Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson's autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage.
"No" and tantrums are typical expressions of developing independence.
Punishment or ignoring without context is not developmentally
appropriate .
Question 3
Which gross motor skill is expected in a 6-month-old infant?
A) Creeping on hands and knees
B) Sitting with slight support
C) Standing while holding furniture
D) Walking independently
Rationale: At 6 months, most infants sit with support. Creeping occurs
at 8–10 months, cruising at 9–12 months, and walking at 12–15
months .
Question 4
According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task for the toddler (1–3
years) is:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Rationale: Toddlers work on developing independence (autonomy)
while learning to avoid shame and doubt. Trust vs. Mistrust is for
infants, preschoolers develop initiative, and school-age children build
industry .
,Question 5
A 9-month-old infant is brought for a checkup. Which finding would
require further evaluation?
A) Absence of stranger anxiety
B) Sitting unsupported for 10 seconds
C) Babbling "mama" and "dada"
D) Using a raking grasp to pick up a block
Rationale: Stranger anxiety normally appears by 8–9 months. Its
absence may indicate a developmental delay. The other options are
expected at 9 months .
Question 6
According to Piaget, which stage is a 7-year-old child in?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage occurs from ages 7–11 years.
Children in this stage can think logically about concrete events but
struggle with abstract concepts. Preoperational is 2–7 years .
Question 7
A toddler is in the Erikson stage of "autonomy vs. shame and doubt."
Which nursing action supports this stage?
, A) Allow choices like "Which arm first for blood pressure?"
B) Perform all care quickly to avoid resistance
C) Restrain the child for procedures
D) Avoid asking any questions
Rationale: Allowing choices fosters autonomy. Performing care rapidly
without offering choices increases feelings of shame and doubt .
Question 8
The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which fine motor skill is
developmentally appropriate?
A) Tying shoelaces
B) Copying a circle
C) Drawing a square
D) Using scissors to cut a straight line
Rationale: Copying a circle is typical for a 3-year-old. Tying laces (5–6
years), drawing a square (4 years), and cutting a straight line (4–5 years)
occur later .
Question 9
The nurse expects a 10-month-old to demonstrate which fine motor
skill?
A) Draws a circle
B) Pincer grasp
C) Builds a tower of 2 cubes
D) Uses a spoon neatly
Comprehensive Questions and Answers
The following questions are compiled from comprehensive HESI RN
Pediatrics exam resources for 2026, including Next Generation NCLEX
(NGN) style questions .
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Question 1
A 4-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. Which
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A) Sitting without support
B) Transferring objects hand to hand
C) Rolling from back to side
D) Pincer grasp
Rationale: Rolling from back to side is typical at 4 months. Sitting
without support occurs at 6–8 months, transferring objects hand-to-
hand at 7 months, and pincer grasp at 9 months .
Question 2
The mother of a 2-year-old toddler states, "My child only wants to say
'no' and throws tantrums when I try to help." What is the best nursing
response?
A) "This is normal for a toddler developing autonomy."
B) "You should punish the tantrums immediately."
C) "Your child may have oppositional defiant disorder."
D) "Ignore the child until the tantrum stops."
,Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson's autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage.
"No" and tantrums are typical expressions of developing independence.
Punishment or ignoring without context is not developmentally
appropriate .
Question 3
Which gross motor skill is expected in a 6-month-old infant?
A) Creeping on hands and knees
B) Sitting with slight support
C) Standing while holding furniture
D) Walking independently
Rationale: At 6 months, most infants sit with support. Creeping occurs
at 8–10 months, cruising at 9–12 months, and walking at 12–15
months .
Question 4
According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task for the toddler (1–3
years) is:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Rationale: Toddlers work on developing independence (autonomy)
while learning to avoid shame and doubt. Trust vs. Mistrust is for
infants, preschoolers develop initiative, and school-age children build
industry .
,Question 5
A 9-month-old infant is brought for a checkup. Which finding would
require further evaluation?
A) Absence of stranger anxiety
B) Sitting unsupported for 10 seconds
C) Babbling "mama" and "dada"
D) Using a raking grasp to pick up a block
Rationale: Stranger anxiety normally appears by 8–9 months. Its
absence may indicate a developmental delay. The other options are
expected at 9 months .
Question 6
According to Piaget, which stage is a 7-year-old child in?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage occurs from ages 7–11 years.
Children in this stage can think logically about concrete events but
struggle with abstract concepts. Preoperational is 2–7 years .
Question 7
A toddler is in the Erikson stage of "autonomy vs. shame and doubt."
Which nursing action supports this stage?
, A) Allow choices like "Which arm first for blood pressure?"
B) Perform all care quickly to avoid resistance
C) Restrain the child for procedures
D) Avoid asking any questions
Rationale: Allowing choices fosters autonomy. Performing care rapidly
without offering choices increases feelings of shame and doubt .
Question 8
The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which fine motor skill is
developmentally appropriate?
A) Tying shoelaces
B) Copying a circle
C) Drawing a square
D) Using scissors to cut a straight line
Rationale: Copying a circle is typical for a 3-year-old. Tying laces (5–6
years), drawing a square (4 years), and cutting a straight line (4–5 years)
occur later .
Question 9
The nurse expects a 10-month-old to demonstrate which fine motor
skill?
A) Draws a circle
B) Pincer grasp
C) Builds a tower of 2 cubes
D) Uses a spoon neatly
