HESI PEDIATRIC EXAM 10 COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED
◉ The nurse is assigning care for a 4-year-old child with otitis media
and is concerned about the child's increasing temperature over the
past 24 hours. When planning care for this child, it is important for
the nurse to consider that
A. Only an RN should be assigned to monitor this child's
temperature. Incorrect
B. A tympanic measurement of temperature will provide the most
accurate reading.
C. The licensed practical nurse should be instructed to obtain rectal
temperatures on this child.
D. The healthcare provider should be asked to prescribe the method
for measurement of the child's temperatures.
Answer: B. A tympanic measurement of temperature will provide
the most accurate reading.
(B) A tympanic membrane sensor is an excellent site because both
the eardrum and hypothalamus (temperature-regulating center) are
perfused by the same circulation. The sensor is unaffected by
cerumen and the presence of suppurative or unsuppurative otitis
media does not effect measurement. RULE OF THUMB: for
management--sterile procedures should be assigned to licensed
,personnel. Management skills will be tested on the NCLEX! An RN is
not required (A). Rectal temperature measurement (C) is less
accurate because of the possibility of stool in the rectum. (D) is
unnecessary.
◉ A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency room because he
swallowed an entire bottle of children's vitamin pills. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first?
Insert N/G tube for gastric lavage.
Determine the child's pulse and respirations.
Assess the child's level of consciousness.
Administer an IV D5/0.25 NS as prescribed.
Answer: Determine the child's pulse and respirations.
The most important principle in dealing with a poisoning is to treat
the child first, not the poison. Initiate immediate life support
measures with assessment of vital signs (B), in particular,
respirations. Inserting an airway or initiating mechanical ventilation
may be necessary. Assessment and identification of the poison
should occur prior to (A). (C and D) should occur after assessing the
airway.
◉ To take the vital signs of a 4-month-old child, which order
provides the most accurate results?
Respiratory rate, heart rate, then rectal temperature.
,Heart rate, rectal temperature, then respiratory rate.
Rectal temperature, heart rate, then respiratory rate.
Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, then heart rate.
Answer: Respiratory rate, heart rate, then rectal temperature.
The respiratory rate should be taken first (A) in infants, since
touching them or performing unpleasant procedures usually makes
them cry, elevating the heart rate and making respirations difficult
to count (B). Rectal temperature is the most invasive procedure, and
is most likely to precipitate crying, so should be done last (C and D).
◉ The parents of a 3-week-old infant report that the child eats well
but vomits after each feeding. What information is most important
for the nurse to obtain?
Description of vomiting episodes in past 24 hours.
Number of wet diapers in last 24 hours.
Feeding and sleep schedule.
Amount of formula consumed during the past 24 hours.
Answer: Description of vomiting episodes in past 24 hours.
A description of the vomiting episodes (A) will assist the nurse in
determining the reason for the symptoms, which may be helpful in
developing a plan of care for this infant. (B and C) provide related
information but are not as helpful as (A). (D) may be related to the
, vomiting, but the nurse should first obtain a better description of the
vomiting episodes.
◉ A 5-month-old is admitted to the hospital with vomiting and
diarrhea. The pediatrician prescribes dextrose 5% and 0.25%
normal saline with 2 mEq KCl/100 ml to be infused at 25 ml/hour.
Prior to initiating the infusion, the nurse should obtain which
assessment finding?
Frequency of emesis in the last 8 hours.
Serum BUN and creatinine levels.
Current blood sugar level.
Appearance of the stool.
Answer: Serum BUN and creatinine levels.
Regardless of a client's age, adequate renal function must be present
before adding potassium to IV fluids (B). (A) is important in
determining the need for fluid replacement. (C) is not indicated. (D)
is useful information, but will not impact administration of the
prescribed IV solution.
◉ Which finding in a 19-year-old female client should trigger further
assessment by the nurse?
Menstruation has not occurred.
Reports no tetanus immunization since childhood.
EXAM 2026 FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS ALREADY PASSED
◉ The nurse is assigning care for a 4-year-old child with otitis media
and is concerned about the child's increasing temperature over the
past 24 hours. When planning care for this child, it is important for
the nurse to consider that
A. Only an RN should be assigned to monitor this child's
temperature. Incorrect
B. A tympanic measurement of temperature will provide the most
accurate reading.
C. The licensed practical nurse should be instructed to obtain rectal
temperatures on this child.
D. The healthcare provider should be asked to prescribe the method
for measurement of the child's temperatures.
Answer: B. A tympanic measurement of temperature will provide
the most accurate reading.
(B) A tympanic membrane sensor is an excellent site because both
the eardrum and hypothalamus (temperature-regulating center) are
perfused by the same circulation. The sensor is unaffected by
cerumen and the presence of suppurative or unsuppurative otitis
media does not effect measurement. RULE OF THUMB: for
management--sterile procedures should be assigned to licensed
,personnel. Management skills will be tested on the NCLEX! An RN is
not required (A). Rectal temperature measurement (C) is less
accurate because of the possibility of stool in the rectum. (D) is
unnecessary.
◉ A 3-year-old boy is brought to the emergency room because he
swallowed an entire bottle of children's vitamin pills. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first?
Insert N/G tube for gastric lavage.
Determine the child's pulse and respirations.
Assess the child's level of consciousness.
Administer an IV D5/0.25 NS as prescribed.
Answer: Determine the child's pulse and respirations.
The most important principle in dealing with a poisoning is to treat
the child first, not the poison. Initiate immediate life support
measures with assessment of vital signs (B), in particular,
respirations. Inserting an airway or initiating mechanical ventilation
may be necessary. Assessment and identification of the poison
should occur prior to (A). (C and D) should occur after assessing the
airway.
◉ To take the vital signs of a 4-month-old child, which order
provides the most accurate results?
Respiratory rate, heart rate, then rectal temperature.
,Heart rate, rectal temperature, then respiratory rate.
Rectal temperature, heart rate, then respiratory rate.
Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, then heart rate.
Answer: Respiratory rate, heart rate, then rectal temperature.
The respiratory rate should be taken first (A) in infants, since
touching them or performing unpleasant procedures usually makes
them cry, elevating the heart rate and making respirations difficult
to count (B). Rectal temperature is the most invasive procedure, and
is most likely to precipitate crying, so should be done last (C and D).
◉ The parents of a 3-week-old infant report that the child eats well
but vomits after each feeding. What information is most important
for the nurse to obtain?
Description of vomiting episodes in past 24 hours.
Number of wet diapers in last 24 hours.
Feeding and sleep schedule.
Amount of formula consumed during the past 24 hours.
Answer: Description of vomiting episodes in past 24 hours.
A description of the vomiting episodes (A) will assist the nurse in
determining the reason for the symptoms, which may be helpful in
developing a plan of care for this infant. (B and C) provide related
information but are not as helpful as (A). (D) may be related to the
, vomiting, but the nurse should first obtain a better description of the
vomiting episodes.
◉ A 5-month-old is admitted to the hospital with vomiting and
diarrhea. The pediatrician prescribes dextrose 5% and 0.25%
normal saline with 2 mEq KCl/100 ml to be infused at 25 ml/hour.
Prior to initiating the infusion, the nurse should obtain which
assessment finding?
Frequency of emesis in the last 8 hours.
Serum BUN and creatinine levels.
Current blood sugar level.
Appearance of the stool.
Answer: Serum BUN and creatinine levels.
Regardless of a client's age, adequate renal function must be present
before adding potassium to IV fluids (B). (A) is important in
determining the need for fluid replacement. (C) is not indicated. (D)
is useful information, but will not impact administration of the
prescribed IV solution.
◉ Which finding in a 19-year-old female client should trigger further
assessment by the nurse?
Menstruation has not occurred.
Reports no tetanus immunization since childhood.
