HESI Pediatrics Exam Questions and
Answers Rated A+
1. The nurse is planning postoperative care for a child who has had a cleft lip repair. What is the most
important reason to minimize this child's crying during the recovery period?
A. Tear formation increases salivation.
B. This behavior increases respirations.
C. Excessive hysteria can lead to vomiting.
D. Crying stresses the suture line: D. Crying stresses the suture line
Rationale:
Prevention of stress on the lip suture line is essential for optimum healing and the cosmetic appearance of a cleft lip repai
2. An infant is receiving digoxin for congestive heart failure. The apical heart rate is assessed at 80 beats/min.
What intervention should the nurse imple- ment?
A. Call for a portable chest radiograph.
B. Obtain a therapeutic drug level.
C. Reassess the heart rate in 30 minutes.
D. Administer digoxin immune Fab stat.: B. Obtain a therapeutic drug level.
Rationale:
Sinus bradycardia (heart rate <90 to 110 beats/min in an infant) is an indication of digoxin toxicity, so assessment of the
,client's digoxin level has the highest priority
3. The nurse admits a child to the intensive care unit with a possible diagnosis of Wilms tumor - What is the most
safety precaution for child?
A. maintain NPO status
B. Limit visitors to the immediate family
C. Place a do not palpate abdomen sign on head of bed
D. Encourage ambulation in the pre-operative period: C. Place a do not palpate abdomen sign on head of bed
Rationale:
Protect child from injury; place a sign on bed stating "no abdominal palpation" (to prevent accidental fragmentation and
dislodging into the abdominal cavity).
4. The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for the mother of a child who has been diagnosed with celiac disease.
Choosing which lunch will be within the therapeutic management of a child with celiac disease?
A. Turkey salad, milk, and oatmeal cookies
B. Baked chicken, coleslaw, soda, and frozen fruit dessert
C. Tuna salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, milk, and ice cream
D. Turkey sandwich on rye bread, orange juice, and fresh fruit: B. Baked chicken, coleslaw, soda, and frozen fruit
dessert
Rationale:
A child with celiac disease is managed on a gluten-free diet, which eliminates food products containing oats, wheat, rye,
, barley.
5. A 6-month-old male infant is admitted to the post anesthesia care unit with elbow restraints in place. He has
an endotracheal tube and is ventilator-de- pendent but will be extubated soon following recovery from anesthesia.
Which nursing intervention should be included in this child's plan of care?
A. Keep restraints on at all times to prevent unplanned extubation.
B. Remove restraints one at a time and provide range-of-motion exercises. C. Remove all restraints
simultaneously and provide play activities.
D. Document the reason for application of the restraints every 72 hours.: B. Remove restraints one at a time and
provide range-of-motion
Rationale:
Removing restraints one at a time is safer than option C. The infant should have the restrained extremities assessed
frequently for signs of neurologic or vascular impair- ment, and range-of-motion exercises should be performed with
these assessments. Under no circumstances should restraints be applied to the client continuously.
Documentation of assessment findings regarding the restrained extremities must occur much more frequently than every
hours; however, the reason for using restraints must be justified and should be stated in the medical record
6. The nurse assigns an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to provide morning care to a newly admitted child
with bacterial meningitis. What is the most important instruction for the nurse to review with the UAP?
A. Use designated isolation precautions.
B. Keep the lighting in the room dim.
C. Allow the parents to assist with care.
D. Report any pain that the child experiences.: A. Use designated isolation precautions.
Answers Rated A+
1. The nurse is planning postoperative care for a child who has had a cleft lip repair. What is the most
important reason to minimize this child's crying during the recovery period?
A. Tear formation increases salivation.
B. This behavior increases respirations.
C. Excessive hysteria can lead to vomiting.
D. Crying stresses the suture line: D. Crying stresses the suture line
Rationale:
Prevention of stress on the lip suture line is essential for optimum healing and the cosmetic appearance of a cleft lip repai
2. An infant is receiving digoxin for congestive heart failure. The apical heart rate is assessed at 80 beats/min.
What intervention should the nurse imple- ment?
A. Call for a portable chest radiograph.
B. Obtain a therapeutic drug level.
C. Reassess the heart rate in 30 minutes.
D. Administer digoxin immune Fab stat.: B. Obtain a therapeutic drug level.
Rationale:
Sinus bradycardia (heart rate <90 to 110 beats/min in an infant) is an indication of digoxin toxicity, so assessment of the
,client's digoxin level has the highest priority
3. The nurse admits a child to the intensive care unit with a possible diagnosis of Wilms tumor - What is the most
safety precaution for child?
A. maintain NPO status
B. Limit visitors to the immediate family
C. Place a do not palpate abdomen sign on head of bed
D. Encourage ambulation in the pre-operative period: C. Place a do not palpate abdomen sign on head of bed
Rationale:
Protect child from injury; place a sign on bed stating "no abdominal palpation" (to prevent accidental fragmentation and
dislodging into the abdominal cavity).
4. The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for the mother of a child who has been diagnosed with celiac disease.
Choosing which lunch will be within the therapeutic management of a child with celiac disease?
A. Turkey salad, milk, and oatmeal cookies
B. Baked chicken, coleslaw, soda, and frozen fruit dessert
C. Tuna salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, milk, and ice cream
D. Turkey sandwich on rye bread, orange juice, and fresh fruit: B. Baked chicken, coleslaw, soda, and frozen fruit
dessert
Rationale:
A child with celiac disease is managed on a gluten-free diet, which eliminates food products containing oats, wheat, rye,
, barley.
5. A 6-month-old male infant is admitted to the post anesthesia care unit with elbow restraints in place. He has
an endotracheal tube and is ventilator-de- pendent but will be extubated soon following recovery from anesthesia.
Which nursing intervention should be included in this child's plan of care?
A. Keep restraints on at all times to prevent unplanned extubation.
B. Remove restraints one at a time and provide range-of-motion exercises. C. Remove all restraints
simultaneously and provide play activities.
D. Document the reason for application of the restraints every 72 hours.: B. Remove restraints one at a time and
provide range-of-motion
Rationale:
Removing restraints one at a time is safer than option C. The infant should have the restrained extremities assessed
frequently for signs of neurologic or vascular impair- ment, and range-of-motion exercises should be performed with
these assessments. Under no circumstances should restraints be applied to the client continuously.
Documentation of assessment findings regarding the restrained extremities must occur much more frequently than every
hours; however, the reason for using restraints must be justified and should be stated in the medical record
6. The nurse assigns an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to provide morning care to a newly admitted child
with bacterial meningitis. What is the most important instruction for the nurse to review with the UAP?
A. Use designated isolation precautions.
B. Keep the lighting in the room dim.
C. Allow the parents to assist with care.
D. Report any pain that the child experiences.: A. Use designated isolation precautions.
