Pediatrics HESI Practice Questions
A 9-month-old child is seen in the well clinic. Which of the following behaviors would the nurse
expect to see? SATA
(A) Plays peek-a-boo
(B) Walks independently
(C) Feeds self with a spoon
(D) Stacks 2 blocks together
(E) Transfers objects from hand to hand - ANSA, E
-walks independently at 15 months
-feeds self with spoon at 18 months
-stacks 2 blocks together at 18 months
The mother of a six-year-old child arrives at the clinic because the child has been experiencing
red and swollen eyes. The nurse notes a discharge from the eyes and sends a culture to the
lab. Chlamydia conjunctivitis is diagnosed. On the basis of this diagnosis, the nurse determines
that which requires further investigation?
(A) Possible trauma to the eye
(B) Possible sexual abuse
(C) Presence of an allergy
(D) Presence of a respiratory infection - ANS(B) Possible sexual abuse
-Chlamydia is sexual transmitted disease. The diagnosis of chlamydia in a child not sexually
active should signal the health care provider to assess the signs of possible sexual abuse
The school nurse determines a group of young women are in early adolescents based on the
following observation. All of the women:
(A) Have decided on their career path
(B) Are dressed in the same-style clothes and have the same hair style
(C) Broke curfew by staying out late at a party they went to
(D) Brag about drinking beer when their parents were at work - ANS(B) Peer identity is
important at this age
The nurse is watching two siblings, ages 7 and 9 years of age, verbally arguing over a toy. The
nurse has counseled the parents before about how to handle the situation. The nurse should
judge that the teaching has been effective when the parent takes which action?
(A) Tell the siblings to stop arguing and shake hands
(B) Ignores the arguing and continues what she is doing
(C) Tells the children they will be punished when they go home
(D) Says they will not go out to lunch now since they have argued - ANS(B) The best approach
by the mother is not to interfere. The children need to learn how to solve disagreements on their
own. If the parents always intervenes, when the children do not learn how to do this
, The nurse is caring for a newborn with a suspected diagnosis of imperforated anus. Which
clinical manifestation is associated with this defect?
(A) Bile-stained fecal emesis
(B) The passage of current jelly stools
(C) Failure to pass meconium stool in the first 24 hours after birth
(D) Sausage-shaped mass in the upper right quadrant - ANS(C) This is a defect where
incomplete development or absence of the anus
Which drug may be given to newborns to close the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)? -
ANSIndomethacin (prostaglandin inhibitor)
Which drug may be given to newborns to keep the ductus arteriosus (PDA) open until surgery
can be performed? - ANSProstaglandin E
After receiving change of shift report, which patient should you assess first?
(A) An 18-month-old with coarcation of the aorta who has decreased pedal pulses
(B) A 3-year-old with rheumatic fever who reports severe knee pain
(C) A 5-year-old with endocarditis who has crackles throughout both lungs
(D) An 8-year-old with Kawasaki's disease who has a fever of 102.2 - ANS(C) Crackles through
the lungs indicate the child has left ventricular failure as a complication of endocarditis.
Hypoxemia is likely, so the child needs a rapid respiratory assessment, possible administration
of oxygen. The other children should be assessed as quickly as possible, but are not
experiencing life-threatening complications
An infant is born with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and surgery is planned to correct the
defect. The nurse recognizes that surgical correction is designed to achieve which outcome?
(A) Stop the flow of deoxygenated blood into systemic circulation
(B) Increase the flow of deoxygenated blood to the lungs
(C) Prevent the return of oxygenated blood to the lungs
(D) Reduce peripheral tissue hypoxia and nail bed clubbing - ANS(C)
The nurse would suggest genetic counseling for each of the following except:
(A) Sickle cell anemia
(B) B-thalassemia
(C) Hemophilia A
(D) Henoch-Schonlein purpura - ANS(D) This is an inflammation of the small blood vessels of
the skin, joints, bowels, and kidneys and is common in children. However, it is not genetic
What priority assessment should the nurse perform before administering the IV solution 5%
dextrose and 0.9% NS with 20 mEq KLC / liter in a child with hypotonic dehydration?
(A) Weight
(B) Temperature
(C) Blood pressure
A 9-month-old child is seen in the well clinic. Which of the following behaviors would the nurse
expect to see? SATA
(A) Plays peek-a-boo
(B) Walks independently
(C) Feeds self with a spoon
(D) Stacks 2 blocks together
(E) Transfers objects from hand to hand - ANSA, E
-walks independently at 15 months
-feeds self with spoon at 18 months
-stacks 2 blocks together at 18 months
The mother of a six-year-old child arrives at the clinic because the child has been experiencing
red and swollen eyes. The nurse notes a discharge from the eyes and sends a culture to the
lab. Chlamydia conjunctivitis is diagnosed. On the basis of this diagnosis, the nurse determines
that which requires further investigation?
(A) Possible trauma to the eye
(B) Possible sexual abuse
(C) Presence of an allergy
(D) Presence of a respiratory infection - ANS(B) Possible sexual abuse
-Chlamydia is sexual transmitted disease. The diagnosis of chlamydia in a child not sexually
active should signal the health care provider to assess the signs of possible sexual abuse
The school nurse determines a group of young women are in early adolescents based on the
following observation. All of the women:
(A) Have decided on their career path
(B) Are dressed in the same-style clothes and have the same hair style
(C) Broke curfew by staying out late at a party they went to
(D) Brag about drinking beer when their parents were at work - ANS(B) Peer identity is
important at this age
The nurse is watching two siblings, ages 7 and 9 years of age, verbally arguing over a toy. The
nurse has counseled the parents before about how to handle the situation. The nurse should
judge that the teaching has been effective when the parent takes which action?
(A) Tell the siblings to stop arguing and shake hands
(B) Ignores the arguing and continues what she is doing
(C) Tells the children they will be punished when they go home
(D) Says they will not go out to lunch now since they have argued - ANS(B) The best approach
by the mother is not to interfere. The children need to learn how to solve disagreements on their
own. If the parents always intervenes, when the children do not learn how to do this
, The nurse is caring for a newborn with a suspected diagnosis of imperforated anus. Which
clinical manifestation is associated with this defect?
(A) Bile-stained fecal emesis
(B) The passage of current jelly stools
(C) Failure to pass meconium stool in the first 24 hours after birth
(D) Sausage-shaped mass in the upper right quadrant - ANS(C) This is a defect where
incomplete development or absence of the anus
Which drug may be given to newborns to close the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)? -
ANSIndomethacin (prostaglandin inhibitor)
Which drug may be given to newborns to keep the ductus arteriosus (PDA) open until surgery
can be performed? - ANSProstaglandin E
After receiving change of shift report, which patient should you assess first?
(A) An 18-month-old with coarcation of the aorta who has decreased pedal pulses
(B) A 3-year-old with rheumatic fever who reports severe knee pain
(C) A 5-year-old with endocarditis who has crackles throughout both lungs
(D) An 8-year-old with Kawasaki's disease who has a fever of 102.2 - ANS(C) Crackles through
the lungs indicate the child has left ventricular failure as a complication of endocarditis.
Hypoxemia is likely, so the child needs a rapid respiratory assessment, possible administration
of oxygen. The other children should be assessed as quickly as possible, but are not
experiencing life-threatening complications
An infant is born with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and surgery is planned to correct the
defect. The nurse recognizes that surgical correction is designed to achieve which outcome?
(A) Stop the flow of deoxygenated blood into systemic circulation
(B) Increase the flow of deoxygenated blood to the lungs
(C) Prevent the return of oxygenated blood to the lungs
(D) Reduce peripheral tissue hypoxia and nail bed clubbing - ANS(C)
The nurse would suggest genetic counseling for each of the following except:
(A) Sickle cell anemia
(B) B-thalassemia
(C) Hemophilia A
(D) Henoch-Schonlein purpura - ANS(D) This is an inflammation of the small blood vessels of
the skin, joints, bowels, and kidneys and is common in children. However, it is not genetic
What priority assessment should the nurse perform before administering the IV solution 5%
dextrose and 0.9% NS with 20 mEq KLC / liter in a child with hypotonic dehydration?
(A) Weight
(B) Temperature
(C) Blood pressure
