Pediatrics HESI PN Review, HESI PN Obstetrics/Maternity Practice Exam 2025
Answer: A
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a
Rationale:
child who is manifesting signs of shock
As shock progresses, perfusion in the
after a motor vehicle collision. Which
microcirculation becomes marginal de-
finding is most important for the PN to
spite compensatory adjustments, and
report to the charge nurse?
the signs of decompensated shock be-
come pronounced, such as tachycardia
a) narrowing pulse pressure
and narrowing pulse pressure (A). (The
b) apprehension
difference between systolic and diastolic
c) irritability
blood pressure), which should be report-
d) thirst
ed immediately. (B,C, and D) are not as
significant as (A).
The mother of a 9 month old male infant Answer: B
is concerned because he cries whenev-
er she leaves him with a sitter. What is Rationale:
the best response for the practical nurse Healthy attachment is manifested by
(PN) to provide? stranger anxiety in late infancy (B). Pain
from teething expressed by the infant's
a) "Have you noticed whether your baby cries does not occur only when the moth-
is teething?" er leaves the infant with another per-
b) "Crying when you leave him in a son (A). The PN should evaluate the in-
healthy sign of attachment." fant's developmental needs (C) before
c) "Consider taking the baby to the doc- suggesting the infant may be ill. An infant
tor because he may be ill." who manifests stranger anxiety is best
d) "You could consider leaving the infant supported by the mother if the infant is
more often so he can adjust." left for shorter periods of time, not (D).
Answer: C
Which preoperative action is most impor-
tant for the practical nurse (PN) to imple-
Rationale:
ment for a newborn with meningomyelo-
A meningomyelocele provides a di-
cele?
rect entry for bacteria into the central
nervous system, leading to meningitis.
a) document vital signs
Measures that protect the integrity of
b) prevent skin breakdown
the meningomyelocele sac and infection
c) minimize the risk for infection
control measures should be implement-
d) monitor neurologic functioning
ed to minimize the risk of infection (C).
,Pediatrics HESI PN Review, HESI PN Obstetrics/Maternity Practice Exam 2025
(A,B, and D) should be implemented but
do not have the priority of (C).
The practical nurse is caring for a 6 year
old girl who had surgery 12 hours ago.
The child tells the PN that she does not Answer: B
have pain but a few minutes later, tells
her parents that she does. What child Rationale:
development concept is relevant to this A child may fear receiving an injection
situation? for pain or may believe that pain is a
deserved punishment for some misdeed,
a) inconsistency in pain reporting sug- so the pain is denied (D) when the nurse
gests that pain not present asks the child, who then readily admits
b) a child may have pain yet deny its having pain to a parent. This behavior
presence to the nurse should not be interpreted as (C) but as
c) truthful reporting of pain should occur a valid indication of pain. (A and C) are
by this age incorrect interpretations of this behavior.
d) children use pain experiences to ma-
nipulate their parents
Answer: A
A 6 year old who had a tonsillectomy 12
Rationale:
hours ago is complaining of thirst. What
Small amounts of clear liquids without
should the practical nurse (PN) offer?
red dyes should be offered to the child.
Popsicles (A) are cold and help soothe
a) popsicle
a dry throat. Citrus drinks (B and C) are
b) lemonade
acidic and irritate the operative site in
c) orange juice
the posterior oropharynx. Milk (D) thick-
d) chocolate milk
ens oral mucus which makes swallowing
more difficult and causes coughing.
The mother of a male newborn calls the
Answer: A
clinic to inquire about the formation of a
yellow crust over her son's circumcision
Rationale:
area. What information should the prac-
Crust formation is part of the healing
tical nurse (PN) provide?
process and should be removed (A). (C)
is not indicated at this time. The diaper
a) do not remove the yellow crust from
should be fastened loosely, not tightly (D)
the site
which can place pressure on the incision
b) stop using petroleum around the head
, Pediatrics HESI PN Review, HESI PN Obstetrics/Maternity Practice Exam 2025
of the penis
site. (B) assists in the healing process
c) bring him into the clinic
and should not be discontinued.
d) tightly fasten the diaper
Answer: C
Rationale:
Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a vi-
The mother of a child with croup is hav- ral infection that causes a "barking"
ing barking, coughing episodes calls the cough and varying degrees of inspiratory
clinic for assistance. What action should stridor, which often responds to a high
the practical nurse (PN) recommend that humidity environment. Most children can
the mother implement first? be managed at home using the stream
from a hot shower in a closed bathroom
a) take the child outside in the cool air (C) which often stops laryngeal spasm.
b) bring the child directly to the emer- Increasing the child's fluid intake is im-
gency room portant (D), but not a priority at this
c) sit with the child in bathroom with a hot time.Although exposure to cold air (A)
shower running also relieves stridor, parents should be
d) have the child drink plenty of fluids encouraged to use mist humidifier in the
child's room. (B) is not necessary unless
the child is having increasingly difficulty
breathing that may lead to a compro-
mised airway.
Answer: A
Which finding should the practical nurse
Rationale:
confirm with the parents of an infant who
Red currant jelly stools (A) is a sign of
is admitted with possible intussuscep-
intussusception, which causes a mixture
tion?
of stool, mucous, and blood as the in-
testines telescopes inside itself. (D) is as-
a) red currant jelly stools
sociated with pyloric stenosis. (B) is con-
b) clay colored stools
sistent with biliary obstruction. Infants
c) constant abdominal pain
with intussusception usually have peri-
d) projectile vomiting after meals
ods of severe pain followed by intervals in
which they appear comfortable, not (C).
Answer: B
The practical nurse (PN) is observing a
group of children at a day care center to
Rationale:
Answer: A
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a
Rationale:
child who is manifesting signs of shock
As shock progresses, perfusion in the
after a motor vehicle collision. Which
microcirculation becomes marginal de-
finding is most important for the PN to
spite compensatory adjustments, and
report to the charge nurse?
the signs of decompensated shock be-
come pronounced, such as tachycardia
a) narrowing pulse pressure
and narrowing pulse pressure (A). (The
b) apprehension
difference between systolic and diastolic
c) irritability
blood pressure), which should be report-
d) thirst
ed immediately. (B,C, and D) are not as
significant as (A).
The mother of a 9 month old male infant Answer: B
is concerned because he cries whenev-
er she leaves him with a sitter. What is Rationale:
the best response for the practical nurse Healthy attachment is manifested by
(PN) to provide? stranger anxiety in late infancy (B). Pain
from teething expressed by the infant's
a) "Have you noticed whether your baby cries does not occur only when the moth-
is teething?" er leaves the infant with another per-
b) "Crying when you leave him in a son (A). The PN should evaluate the in-
healthy sign of attachment." fant's developmental needs (C) before
c) "Consider taking the baby to the doc- suggesting the infant may be ill. An infant
tor because he may be ill." who manifests stranger anxiety is best
d) "You could consider leaving the infant supported by the mother if the infant is
more often so he can adjust." left for shorter periods of time, not (D).
Answer: C
Which preoperative action is most impor-
tant for the practical nurse (PN) to imple-
Rationale:
ment for a newborn with meningomyelo-
A meningomyelocele provides a di-
cele?
rect entry for bacteria into the central
nervous system, leading to meningitis.
a) document vital signs
Measures that protect the integrity of
b) prevent skin breakdown
the meningomyelocele sac and infection
c) minimize the risk for infection
control measures should be implement-
d) monitor neurologic functioning
ed to minimize the risk of infection (C).
,Pediatrics HESI PN Review, HESI PN Obstetrics/Maternity Practice Exam 2025
(A,B, and D) should be implemented but
do not have the priority of (C).
The practical nurse is caring for a 6 year
old girl who had surgery 12 hours ago.
The child tells the PN that she does not Answer: B
have pain but a few minutes later, tells
her parents that she does. What child Rationale:
development concept is relevant to this A child may fear receiving an injection
situation? for pain or may believe that pain is a
deserved punishment for some misdeed,
a) inconsistency in pain reporting sug- so the pain is denied (D) when the nurse
gests that pain not present asks the child, who then readily admits
b) a child may have pain yet deny its having pain to a parent. This behavior
presence to the nurse should not be interpreted as (C) but as
c) truthful reporting of pain should occur a valid indication of pain. (A and C) are
by this age incorrect interpretations of this behavior.
d) children use pain experiences to ma-
nipulate their parents
Answer: A
A 6 year old who had a tonsillectomy 12
Rationale:
hours ago is complaining of thirst. What
Small amounts of clear liquids without
should the practical nurse (PN) offer?
red dyes should be offered to the child.
Popsicles (A) are cold and help soothe
a) popsicle
a dry throat. Citrus drinks (B and C) are
b) lemonade
acidic and irritate the operative site in
c) orange juice
the posterior oropharynx. Milk (D) thick-
d) chocolate milk
ens oral mucus which makes swallowing
more difficult and causes coughing.
The mother of a male newborn calls the
Answer: A
clinic to inquire about the formation of a
yellow crust over her son's circumcision
Rationale:
area. What information should the prac-
Crust formation is part of the healing
tical nurse (PN) provide?
process and should be removed (A). (C)
is not indicated at this time. The diaper
a) do not remove the yellow crust from
should be fastened loosely, not tightly (D)
the site
which can place pressure on the incision
b) stop using petroleum around the head
, Pediatrics HESI PN Review, HESI PN Obstetrics/Maternity Practice Exam 2025
of the penis
site. (B) assists in the healing process
c) bring him into the clinic
and should not be discontinued.
d) tightly fasten the diaper
Answer: C
Rationale:
Croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) is a vi-
The mother of a child with croup is hav- ral infection that causes a "barking"
ing barking, coughing episodes calls the cough and varying degrees of inspiratory
clinic for assistance. What action should stridor, which often responds to a high
the practical nurse (PN) recommend that humidity environment. Most children can
the mother implement first? be managed at home using the stream
from a hot shower in a closed bathroom
a) take the child outside in the cool air (C) which often stops laryngeal spasm.
b) bring the child directly to the emer- Increasing the child's fluid intake is im-
gency room portant (D), but not a priority at this
c) sit with the child in bathroom with a hot time.Although exposure to cold air (A)
shower running also relieves stridor, parents should be
d) have the child drink plenty of fluids encouraged to use mist humidifier in the
child's room. (B) is not necessary unless
the child is having increasingly difficulty
breathing that may lead to a compro-
mised airway.
Answer: A
Which finding should the practical nurse
Rationale:
confirm with the parents of an infant who
Red currant jelly stools (A) is a sign of
is admitted with possible intussuscep-
intussusception, which causes a mixture
tion?
of stool, mucous, and blood as the in-
testines telescopes inside itself. (D) is as-
a) red currant jelly stools
sociated with pyloric stenosis. (B) is con-
b) clay colored stools
sistent with biliary obstruction. Infants
c) constant abdominal pain
with intussusception usually have peri-
d) projectile vomiting after meals
ods of severe pain followed by intervals in
which they appear comfortable, not (C).
Answer: B
The practical nurse (PN) is observing a
group of children at a day care center to
Rationale:
