HESI PEDIATRICS EXAM 2026/2027 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED
A+LATEST
What preoperative nursing intervention should be included in the plan of care for
an infant with pyloric stenosis?
A. Monitor for signs of metabolic acidosis.
B. estimate the quantity of diarrhea stools.
C. place in a supine position after feeding
D. observe for projectile vomiting.
D. observe for projectile vomiting.
Projectile vomiting which contributes to metabolic alkalosis, is the classic sign of
pyloric stenosis. Estimating the quantity of diarrhea stools is not indicated. Placing
the child in a supine position is dangerous due to the potential for aspiration with
frequent vomiting.
A six-month-old returns from surgery with elbow restraints in place. What nursing
care should be included when caring for any restrained child?
A. keep restraints on at all times.
B. remove restraints one at a time and provide range of motion exercises
C. Remove all restraints simultaneously and provide lay activities
D. renew the healthcare provider's prescription for restraints every 72 hours.
B. remove restraints one at a time and provide range of motion exercises
,Removing restraints one at a time is safer than removing all of them at once. The
child needs to exercise and should not be kept in restraints at all times. The
renewal of the healthcare provider's prescription varies with hospitals and it does
not really answer the question.
A 2-year old child with Down syndrome is brought to the clinic for his regular
physical examination. The nurse knows which problem is frequently associated
with Down syndrome?
A. congenital heart disease
B. fragile x-chromosome
C. trisomy 13
D. pyloric stenosis
A. congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease is the most common associated defect in children with
Down syndrome. Trisomy 13 my have seemed possible since Down syndrome is a
trisomal chromosomal abnormality o chromosome 21. Fragile x-chromosome is a
sex-linked abnormality also causing mental retardation. Pyloric stenosis is not
associated with Down syndrome.
When assessing a child with asthma, the nurse should expect intercostal retractions
during
A. inspiration
B. coughing
C. apneic episodes
D. expiration
A. inspiration
,Intercostal retractions result from respiratory effort to draw air into restricted
airways.
When planning the care for a child who has had a cleft lip repair, the nurse knows
that crying should be minimized because it
A. increases salivation
B. increases the respiratory rate
C. leads to vomiting
D. stresses the suture line
D. stresses the suture line
Prevention of stress on the lip suture line is essential for optimum healing and the
cosmetic appearance of a cleft lip repair. Although crying also causes increased
salivation, increased respiratory rate and may lead to vomiting, these conditions do
not create a problem for the child with a cleft lip repair.
A full-term infant is admitted to the newborn nursery. After careful assessment, the
nurse suspects that the infant may have an esophageal atresia. Which symptoms is
this newborn likely to have exhibited?
A. choking, coughing, and cyanosis
B. projectile vomiting and cyanosis
C. apneic spells and grunting
D. scaphoid abdomen and anorexia
A. choking, coughing, and cyanosis
, (A) includes the "3 C's" of esophageal atresia caused by the overflow of secretions
into the trachea. (B) is characteristic of pyloric stenosis in the infant. (C) could be
due to prematurity or sepsis, and grunting is a sign of respiratory distress. (D) is
characteristic of a diaphragmatic hernia.
Which behavior would the nurse expect a two-year-old child to exhibit?
A. build a house with blocks
B. ride a tricycle
C. display possessiveness of toys
D. look at a picture book for 15 minutes
C. display possessiveness of toys
Two-year old children are egocentric and unable to share with other children. (A,
B, and D) are behaviors of a preschooler.
The nurse is giving preoperative instructions to a 14-year old female client who is
scheduled for surgery to correct a spinal curvature. Which statement by the client
best demonstrates that learning has taken place?
A. I will read all the literature you gave me before surgery.
B. I have had surgery before when I broke my wrist in a bike accident, so I know
what to expect.
C. All the things people have told me will help me take care of my back.
D. I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught
me to turn.
D. I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught
me to turn.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED
A+LATEST
What preoperative nursing intervention should be included in the plan of care for
an infant with pyloric stenosis?
A. Monitor for signs of metabolic acidosis.
B. estimate the quantity of diarrhea stools.
C. place in a supine position after feeding
D. observe for projectile vomiting.
D. observe for projectile vomiting.
Projectile vomiting which contributes to metabolic alkalosis, is the classic sign of
pyloric stenosis. Estimating the quantity of diarrhea stools is not indicated. Placing
the child in a supine position is dangerous due to the potential for aspiration with
frequent vomiting.
A six-month-old returns from surgery with elbow restraints in place. What nursing
care should be included when caring for any restrained child?
A. keep restraints on at all times.
B. remove restraints one at a time and provide range of motion exercises
C. Remove all restraints simultaneously and provide lay activities
D. renew the healthcare provider's prescription for restraints every 72 hours.
B. remove restraints one at a time and provide range of motion exercises
,Removing restraints one at a time is safer than removing all of them at once. The
child needs to exercise and should not be kept in restraints at all times. The
renewal of the healthcare provider's prescription varies with hospitals and it does
not really answer the question.
A 2-year old child with Down syndrome is brought to the clinic for his regular
physical examination. The nurse knows which problem is frequently associated
with Down syndrome?
A. congenital heart disease
B. fragile x-chromosome
C. trisomy 13
D. pyloric stenosis
A. congenital heart disease
Congenital heart disease is the most common associated defect in children with
Down syndrome. Trisomy 13 my have seemed possible since Down syndrome is a
trisomal chromosomal abnormality o chromosome 21. Fragile x-chromosome is a
sex-linked abnormality also causing mental retardation. Pyloric stenosis is not
associated with Down syndrome.
When assessing a child with asthma, the nurse should expect intercostal retractions
during
A. inspiration
B. coughing
C. apneic episodes
D. expiration
A. inspiration
,Intercostal retractions result from respiratory effort to draw air into restricted
airways.
When planning the care for a child who has had a cleft lip repair, the nurse knows
that crying should be minimized because it
A. increases salivation
B. increases the respiratory rate
C. leads to vomiting
D. stresses the suture line
D. stresses the suture line
Prevention of stress on the lip suture line is essential for optimum healing and the
cosmetic appearance of a cleft lip repair. Although crying also causes increased
salivation, increased respiratory rate and may lead to vomiting, these conditions do
not create a problem for the child with a cleft lip repair.
A full-term infant is admitted to the newborn nursery. After careful assessment, the
nurse suspects that the infant may have an esophageal atresia. Which symptoms is
this newborn likely to have exhibited?
A. choking, coughing, and cyanosis
B. projectile vomiting and cyanosis
C. apneic spells and grunting
D. scaphoid abdomen and anorexia
A. choking, coughing, and cyanosis
, (A) includes the "3 C's" of esophageal atresia caused by the overflow of secretions
into the trachea. (B) is characteristic of pyloric stenosis in the infant. (C) could be
due to prematurity or sepsis, and grunting is a sign of respiratory distress. (D) is
characteristic of a diaphragmatic hernia.
Which behavior would the nurse expect a two-year-old child to exhibit?
A. build a house with blocks
B. ride a tricycle
C. display possessiveness of toys
D. look at a picture book for 15 minutes
C. display possessiveness of toys
Two-year old children are egocentric and unable to share with other children. (A,
B, and D) are behaviors of a preschooler.
The nurse is giving preoperative instructions to a 14-year old female client who is
scheduled for surgery to correct a spinal curvature. Which statement by the client
best demonstrates that learning has taken place?
A. I will read all the literature you gave me before surgery.
B. I have had surgery before when I broke my wrist in a bike accident, so I know
what to expect.
C. All the things people have told me will help me take care of my back.
D. I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught
me to turn.
D. I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught
me to turn.
