Pediatric HESI Practice Exam questions and 100%
correct answers|graded A +|2025/2026
The nurse is assessing an infant with diarrhea and lethargy. Which finding should the nurse identify th
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
at is consistent with early dehydration?
B B B B B
A. Tachycardia.
B
B. Bradycardia.
B
C. Dry mucous membranes.
B B B
D. Increased skin turgor. - ANSWER-A. Tachycardia.
B B B B B B
While assessing the apical pulse of a 13-year-
B B B B B B B
old, the nurse determines that the rate is 88 beats/minute, and the rhythm is irregular. The heart rate i
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
s phasic with respirations, increasing during inspiration and decreasing with expiration. What action s
B B B B B B B B B B B B B
hould the nurse take? B B B
A. Continue the cardiac examination.
B B B B
B. Inquire about daily caffeine intake.
B B B B B
C. Re-assess the apical pulse in 15 minutes.
B B B B B B B
D. Schedule a consultation with a cardiologist. - ANSWER-A. Continue the cardiac examination.
B B B B B B B B B B B B
An 8-year-
B
old boy who is recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus is admitted to the intensive care unit with di
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
abetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which nursing action has the highest priority?
B B B B B B B B B
A. Place on cardiac monitor.
B B B B
B. Initiate an intravenous infusion.
B B B B
C. Collect specimen for serum electrolytes.
B B B B B
D. Obtain fingerstick glucose. - ANSWER-B. Initiate an intravenous infusion.
B B B B B B B B B
A mother tells the nurse that her children are asking questions about divorce, but one male child tells
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
her that he is sorry that he caused the divorce of the parents. Which age group is most likely to experi
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
ence feelings of punishment or responsibity for the divorce of parents?
B B B B B B B B B B
A. 1 year.
B B
B. 4 years.
B B
C. 8 years.
B B
D. 13 years. - ANSWER-B. 4 years.
B B B B B B
,A 14-year-
B
old returns to the pediatric unit after corrective surgery for scoliosis. In the immediate postoperative p
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
eriod, the nurse should include which action(s) in this client's plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
Select all that applyB B B
A. Record intake and output every 8 hours.
B B B B B B B
B. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees.
B B B B B B B B
C. Assess bowel sounds every 4 hours.
B B B B B B
D. Initiate a logrolling schedule every 2 hours.
B B B B B B B
E. Ambulate for 5 minutes 12 hours postoperative.
B B B B B B B
F. Give morphine sulfate 2 mg IV every 4 hours PRN.
B B B B B B B B B B
Rationale - ANSWER-A. Record intake and output every 8 hours.
B B B B B B B B B
C. Assess bowel sounds every 4 hours.
B B B B B B
D. Initiate a logrolling schedule every 2 hours.
B B B B B B B
F. Give morphine sulfate 2 mg IV every 4 hours PRN.
B B B B B B B B B B
Rationale
A newborn who is breastfeeding is diagnosed with galactosemia. What action should the nurse imple
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
ment?
A. Stop the infant breastfeeding.
B B B B
B. Add amino acids to breast milk.
B B B B B B
C. Give galactokinase with breast milk.
B B B B B
D. Substitute a lactose-containing formula. - ANSWER-A. Stop the infant breastfeeding.
B B B B B B B B B B
The parents of a child with Asperger's disorder asks the nurse to explain the differences between Aspe
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
rger's and autism. Which information should the nurse share with the parents about Asperger's disord
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
er that is not characteristic in autism?
B B B B B B
A. Obsession with moving objects.
B B B B
B. Repetitive patterns of behavior.
B B B B
C. Age-appropriate language development.
B B B
D. Stereotypic movements and speech patterns. - ANSWER-C. Age-
B B B B B B B B
appropriate language development. B B
, The nurse notices that the hem of a skirt on a pre-
B B B B B B B B B B B
adolescent girl is uneven when she comes to the clinic. What procedure should the nurse follow to exa
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
mine the girl for scoliosis? (Arrange the examination process from first on top to last on the bottom.)
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
1. Ask the girl to remove her shirt but leave on her bra or swimsuit top.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
2. Instruct the girl to bend at the waist so back is parallel to the floor.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
3. Look for asymmetry in the hip area.
B B B B B B B
4. Examine for scapular prominence. - ANSWER-
B B B B B B
1. Ask the girl to remove her shirt but leave on her bra or swimsuit top.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
2. Look for asymmetry in the hip area.
B B B B B B B
3. Instruct the girl to bend at the waist so back is parallel to the floor.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
4. Examine for scapular prominence.
B B B B
A 3-year-
B
old boy is brought to the emergency room because of a possible diazepam (Valium) overdose. He is let
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
hargic and confused, and his vital signs are: pulse rate 100 beats/minute, respiratory rate 20 breaths/
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
minute, and blood pressure 70/30. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority?
B B B B B B B B B B B
A. Insert an orogastric tube for gastric lavage.
B B B B B B B
B. Prepare a set-up for an endotracheal intubation.
B B B B B B B
C. Draw blood for stat chemistries and blood gases.
B B B B B B B B
D. Insert a Foley catheter to monitor renal functioning. - ANSWER-B. Prepare a set-
B B B B B B B B B B B B B
up for an endotracheal intubation.
B B B B
A seven-
B
month old infant is admitted with nonorganic failure to thrive (NFTT). To aid the child's growth and de
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
velopment, which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
B B B B B B B B B B
A. Encourage the parents to participate in a planned program of play with the infant.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
B. Refer the parents for psychological counseling to identify parental detachment.
B B B B B B B B B B
C. Demonstrate feeding strategies and infant cues that indicate hunger and satiation.
B B B B B B B B B B B
D. Provide instructions about formula preparation and feeding schedules. - ANSWER-
B B B B B B B B B B
C. Demonstrate feeding strategies and infant cues that indicate hunger and satiation.
B B B B B B B B B B B
The nurse is caring for a premature infant who needs an IV access restarted. What action should the n
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
urse take when using adhesive tape?
B B B B B
A. Remove adhesives with water, mineral oil, or petrolatum.
B B B B B B B B
B. Avoid using tape and adhesives until skin is more mature.
B B B B B B B B B B
correct answers|graded A +|2025/2026
The nurse is assessing an infant with diarrhea and lethargy. Which finding should the nurse identify th
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
at is consistent with early dehydration?
B B B B B
A. Tachycardia.
B
B. Bradycardia.
B
C. Dry mucous membranes.
B B B
D. Increased skin turgor. - ANSWER-A. Tachycardia.
B B B B B B
While assessing the apical pulse of a 13-year-
B B B B B B B
old, the nurse determines that the rate is 88 beats/minute, and the rhythm is irregular. The heart rate i
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
s phasic with respirations, increasing during inspiration and decreasing with expiration. What action s
B B B B B B B B B B B B B
hould the nurse take? B B B
A. Continue the cardiac examination.
B B B B
B. Inquire about daily caffeine intake.
B B B B B
C. Re-assess the apical pulse in 15 minutes.
B B B B B B B
D. Schedule a consultation with a cardiologist. - ANSWER-A. Continue the cardiac examination.
B B B B B B B B B B B B
An 8-year-
B
old boy who is recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus is admitted to the intensive care unit with di
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
abetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which nursing action has the highest priority?
B B B B B B B B B
A. Place on cardiac monitor.
B B B B
B. Initiate an intravenous infusion.
B B B B
C. Collect specimen for serum electrolytes.
B B B B B
D. Obtain fingerstick glucose. - ANSWER-B. Initiate an intravenous infusion.
B B B B B B B B B
A mother tells the nurse that her children are asking questions about divorce, but one male child tells
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
her that he is sorry that he caused the divorce of the parents. Which age group is most likely to experi
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
ence feelings of punishment or responsibity for the divorce of parents?
B B B B B B B B B B
A. 1 year.
B B
B. 4 years.
B B
C. 8 years.
B B
D. 13 years. - ANSWER-B. 4 years.
B B B B B B
,A 14-year-
B
old returns to the pediatric unit after corrective surgery for scoliosis. In the immediate postoperative p
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
eriod, the nurse should include which action(s) in this client's plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
Select all that applyB B B
A. Record intake and output every 8 hours.
B B B B B B B
B. Elevate the head of the bed 30 degrees.
B B B B B B B B
C. Assess bowel sounds every 4 hours.
B B B B B B
D. Initiate a logrolling schedule every 2 hours.
B B B B B B B
E. Ambulate for 5 minutes 12 hours postoperative.
B B B B B B B
F. Give morphine sulfate 2 mg IV every 4 hours PRN.
B B B B B B B B B B
Rationale - ANSWER-A. Record intake and output every 8 hours.
B B B B B B B B B
C. Assess bowel sounds every 4 hours.
B B B B B B
D. Initiate a logrolling schedule every 2 hours.
B B B B B B B
F. Give morphine sulfate 2 mg IV every 4 hours PRN.
B B B B B B B B B B
Rationale
A newborn who is breastfeeding is diagnosed with galactosemia. What action should the nurse imple
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
ment?
A. Stop the infant breastfeeding.
B B B B
B. Add amino acids to breast milk.
B B B B B B
C. Give galactokinase with breast milk.
B B B B B
D. Substitute a lactose-containing formula. - ANSWER-A. Stop the infant breastfeeding.
B B B B B B B B B B
The parents of a child with Asperger's disorder asks the nurse to explain the differences between Aspe
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
rger's and autism. Which information should the nurse share with the parents about Asperger's disord
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
er that is not characteristic in autism?
B B B B B B
A. Obsession with moving objects.
B B B B
B. Repetitive patterns of behavior.
B B B B
C. Age-appropriate language development.
B B B
D. Stereotypic movements and speech patterns. - ANSWER-C. Age-
B B B B B B B B
appropriate language development. B B
, The nurse notices that the hem of a skirt on a pre-
B B B B B B B B B B B
adolescent girl is uneven when she comes to the clinic. What procedure should the nurse follow to exa
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
mine the girl for scoliosis? (Arrange the examination process from first on top to last on the bottom.)
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
1. Ask the girl to remove her shirt but leave on her bra or swimsuit top.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
2. Instruct the girl to bend at the waist so back is parallel to the floor.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
3. Look for asymmetry in the hip area.
B B B B B B B
4. Examine for scapular prominence. - ANSWER-
B B B B B B
1. Ask the girl to remove her shirt but leave on her bra or swimsuit top.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
2. Look for asymmetry in the hip area.
B B B B B B B
3. Instruct the girl to bend at the waist so back is parallel to the floor.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
4. Examine for scapular prominence.
B B B B
A 3-year-
B
old boy is brought to the emergency room because of a possible diazepam (Valium) overdose. He is let
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
hargic and confused, and his vital signs are: pulse rate 100 beats/minute, respiratory rate 20 breaths/
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
minute, and blood pressure 70/30. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority?
B B B B B B B B B B B
A. Insert an orogastric tube for gastric lavage.
B B B B B B B
B. Prepare a set-up for an endotracheal intubation.
B B B B B B B
C. Draw blood for stat chemistries and blood gases.
B B B B B B B B
D. Insert a Foley catheter to monitor renal functioning. - ANSWER-B. Prepare a set-
B B B B B B B B B B B B B
up for an endotracheal intubation.
B B B B
A seven-
B
month old infant is admitted with nonorganic failure to thrive (NFTT). To aid the child's growth and de
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
velopment, which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?
B B B B B B B B B B
A. Encourage the parents to participate in a planned program of play with the infant.
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
B. Refer the parents for psychological counseling to identify parental detachment.
B B B B B B B B B B
C. Demonstrate feeding strategies and infant cues that indicate hunger and satiation.
B B B B B B B B B B B
D. Provide instructions about formula preparation and feeding schedules. - ANSWER-
B B B B B B B B B B
C. Demonstrate feeding strategies and infant cues that indicate hunger and satiation.
B B B B B B B B B B B
The nurse is caring for a premature infant who needs an IV access restarted. What action should the n
B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B
urse take when using adhesive tape?
B B B B B
A. Remove adhesives with water, mineral oil, or petrolatum.
B B B B B B B B
B. Avoid using tape and adhesives until skin is more mature.
B B B B B B B B B B
