HESI RN PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
2026/2027 | 55 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
& VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES | HESI-STYLE PEDS PREP |
1. A 6-month-old infant is being assessed at a well-child visit. Which finding
should the nurse expect?
A. Sits steadily without support
B. Rolls from abdomen to back
C. Walks with one hand held
D. Uses a pincer grasp
Answer: B. Rationale: Rolling from abdomen to back is a typical 6-month milestone.
Sitting steadily without support usually occurs around 8 months, walking with one
hand held around 12 months, and pincer grasp around 9–10 months.
2. A 2-year-old repeatedly says “no” and insists on choosing their own clothes.
Which psychosocial stage is the child demonstrating?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
Answer: B. Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson’s autonomy versus shame and doubt
stage and seek independence and control.
3. A 4-year-old believes that wishing bad thoughts caused their sibling’s illness.
This is an example of which type of thinking?
A. Concrete operational
B. Magical thinking
C. Formal operational
D. Object permanence
Answer: B. Rationale: Preschoolers often use magical thinking and may believe
thoughts can cause events.
4. An 8-year-old is hospitalized and asks detailed questions about a procedure.
Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Tell the child it will not hurt at all
B. Explain the procedure in simple, concrete terms
C. Avoid discussing the procedure until the last minute
D. Let the parent decide whether the child should be told
, Answer: B. Rationale: School-age children are in Piaget’s concrete operational stage
and benefit from simple, factual explanations.
5. A 15-year-old is admitted to the pediatric unit. Which action best supports
adolescent development?
A. Assign a room with a younger child
B. Provide privacy and involve the teen in care decisions
C. Limit visits from friends
D. Speak only with the parents
Answer: B. Rationale: Adolescents need privacy, peer involvement, and a sense of
control.
6. A 7-year-old with asthma is wheezing and has an oxygen saturation of 91%.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a short-acting bronchodilator
B. Obtain a chest x-ray
C. Start oral corticosteroids
D. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
Answer: A. Rationale: A short-acting bronchodilator is the first-line rescue treatment for
acute bronchospasm.
7. A 2-year-old has a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and hoarseness. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Epiglottitis
B. Croup
C. Bronchiolitis
D. Asthma
Answer: B. Rationale: Croup causes a seal-like barking cough, hoarseness, and
inspiratory stridor.
8. A child with suspected epiglottitis is drooling and sitting upright in a tripod
position. Which action should the nurse avoid?
A. Keeping the child calm
B. Inspecting the throat with a tongue blade
C. Preparing for possible airway management
D. Administering oxygen as prescribed
Answer: B. Rationale: Inspecting the throat can trigger laryngospasm and complete
airway obstruction.
9. An infant with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is admitted.
Which precautions should the nurse implement?
A. Airborne
B. Contact
C. Protective
2026/2027 | 55 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
& VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES | HESI-STYLE PEDS PREP |
1. A 6-month-old infant is being assessed at a well-child visit. Which finding
should the nurse expect?
A. Sits steadily without support
B. Rolls from abdomen to back
C. Walks with one hand held
D. Uses a pincer grasp
Answer: B. Rationale: Rolling from abdomen to back is a typical 6-month milestone.
Sitting steadily without support usually occurs around 8 months, walking with one
hand held around 12 months, and pincer grasp around 9–10 months.
2. A 2-year-old repeatedly says “no” and insists on choosing their own clothes.
Which psychosocial stage is the child demonstrating?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
Answer: B. Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson’s autonomy versus shame and doubt
stage and seek independence and control.
3. A 4-year-old believes that wishing bad thoughts caused their sibling’s illness.
This is an example of which type of thinking?
A. Concrete operational
B. Magical thinking
C. Formal operational
D. Object permanence
Answer: B. Rationale: Preschoolers often use magical thinking and may believe
thoughts can cause events.
4. An 8-year-old is hospitalized and asks detailed questions about a procedure.
Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Tell the child it will not hurt at all
B. Explain the procedure in simple, concrete terms
C. Avoid discussing the procedure until the last minute
D. Let the parent decide whether the child should be told
, Answer: B. Rationale: School-age children are in Piaget’s concrete operational stage
and benefit from simple, factual explanations.
5. A 15-year-old is admitted to the pediatric unit. Which action best supports
adolescent development?
A. Assign a room with a younger child
B. Provide privacy and involve the teen in care decisions
C. Limit visits from friends
D. Speak only with the parents
Answer: B. Rationale: Adolescents need privacy, peer involvement, and a sense of
control.
6. A 7-year-old with asthma is wheezing and has an oxygen saturation of 91%.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer a short-acting bronchodilator
B. Obtain a chest x-ray
C. Start oral corticosteroids
D. Encourage coughing and deep breathing
Answer: A. Rationale: A short-acting bronchodilator is the first-line rescue treatment for
acute bronchospasm.
7. A 2-year-old has a barking cough, inspiratory stridor, and hoarseness. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Epiglottitis
B. Croup
C. Bronchiolitis
D. Asthma
Answer: B. Rationale: Croup causes a seal-like barking cough, hoarseness, and
inspiratory stridor.
8. A child with suspected epiglottitis is drooling and sitting upright in a tripod
position. Which action should the nurse avoid?
A. Keeping the child calm
B. Inspecting the throat with a tongue blade
C. Preparing for possible airway management
D. Administering oxygen as prescribed
Answer: B. Rationale: Inspecting the throat can trigger laryngospasm and complete
airway obstruction.
9. An infant with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is admitted.
Which precautions should the nurse implement?
A. Airborne
B. Contact
C. Protective
