Pediatrics HESI Questions and Correct
Answers
Question 1:
A 5-month-old is admitted to the hospital with vomiting and diarrhea. The pediatrician
prescribes dextrose 5% and 0.25% normal saline with 2 mEq KCl/100 ml to be
infused at 25 ml/hour. Prior to initiating the infusion, the nurse should obtain which
assessment finding?
A. Frequency of emesis in the last 8 hours
B. Serum BUN and creatinine levels
C. Current blood sugar level
D. Appearance of the stool
Answer: B
Question 2:
An 18-month-old is admitted to the hospital with possible Hirschsprung's disease.
When obtaining a nursing history, the nurse asks about bowel habits. What
description of stool is characteristic of the disease?
A. Foul-smelling and fatty
B. Bile-colored and watery
C. Semi-solid and yellow
D. Ribbon-like and brown
Answer: D
Question 3:
A 4-year-old girl continues to interrupt her mother during a routine clinic visit. The
mother appears irritated with the child and asks the nurse, "Is this normal behavior
for a child this age?" The nurse's response should be based on which information?
,A. Children need to retain a sense of initiative without impinging on the rights and
privileges of others
B. Negative feelings of doubt and shame are characteristic of 4-year-old children
C. Role conflict is a common problem of children this age
D. At this age children compete and like to produce and carry through with tasks
Answer: A
Question 4:
The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old. What behavior indicates that the child's
language development is within normal limits?
A. By 18 months is capable of making a three word sentence
B. Half of child's speech is understandable
C. Able to name four colors
D. Can count five blocks
Answer: B
Question 5:
A 2-year-old child with Down syndrome is brought to the clinic for his regular physical
examination. The nurse knows which problem is frequently associated with Down
syndrome?
A. Fragile X chromosome
B. Trisomy 13
C. Congenital heart disease
D. Pyloric stenosis
Answer: C
Question 6:
,The nurse is giving preoperative instructions to a 14-year-old female client who is
scheduled for surgery to correct a spinal curvature. Which statement by the client
best demonstrates that learning has taken place?
A. I will read all the literature you gave me before surgery
B. I have had surgery before when I broke my wrist in a bike accident, so I know
what to expect
C. All the things people have told me will help me take care of my back
D. I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught me to
turn
Answer: D
Question 7:
A 3-month-old infant develops oral thrush. Which pharmacologic agent should the
nurse plan to administer for treatment of this disorder?
A. Nystatin (Mycostatin)
B. Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin)
C. Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
D. Neomycin sulfate (Mycifradin)
Answer: A
Question 8:
A full term infant is admitted to the newborn nursery. After careful assessment, the
nurse suspects that the infant may have an esophageal atresia. Which symptoms
are this newborn likely to exhibit?
A. Choking, coughing, and cyanosis
B. Projectile vomiting and cyanosis
C. Apneic spells and grunting
D. Scaphoid abdomen and anorexia
, Answer: A
Question 9:
The nurse is teaching a 12-year-old male adolescent and his family about taking
injections of growth hormone for idiopathic hypopituitarism. Which adverse
symptoms, commonly associated with growth hormone therapy, should the nurse
plan to describe to the child and his family?
A. Lethargy and fatigue
B. Polyuria and polydipsia
C. Increased facial hair
D. Facial bone structure changes
Answer: B
Question 10:
As part of the physical assessment of children, the nurse observes and palpates the
fontanels. Which child's fontanel finding should be reported to the healthcare
provider?
A. A 6-month-old with failure to thrive that has a closed anterior fontanel
B. A 24-month-old with gastroenteritis that has a closed posterior fontanel
C. A 2-month-old with chickenpox that has an open posterior fontanel
D. A 28-month-old with hydrocephalus that has an open anterior fontanel
Answer: A
Question 11:
A nurse provides the parents with information on health maintenance for their child
with sickle cell disease. Which information reflected by the parents indicates
understanding of the child's care?
A. Daily iron supplements should be given
Answers
Question 1:
A 5-month-old is admitted to the hospital with vomiting and diarrhea. The pediatrician
prescribes dextrose 5% and 0.25% normal saline with 2 mEq KCl/100 ml to be
infused at 25 ml/hour. Prior to initiating the infusion, the nurse should obtain which
assessment finding?
A. Frequency of emesis in the last 8 hours
B. Serum BUN and creatinine levels
C. Current blood sugar level
D. Appearance of the stool
Answer: B
Question 2:
An 18-month-old is admitted to the hospital with possible Hirschsprung's disease.
When obtaining a nursing history, the nurse asks about bowel habits. What
description of stool is characteristic of the disease?
A. Foul-smelling and fatty
B. Bile-colored and watery
C. Semi-solid and yellow
D. Ribbon-like and brown
Answer: D
Question 3:
A 4-year-old girl continues to interrupt her mother during a routine clinic visit. The
mother appears irritated with the child and asks the nurse, "Is this normal behavior
for a child this age?" The nurse's response should be based on which information?
,A. Children need to retain a sense of initiative without impinging on the rights and
privileges of others
B. Negative feelings of doubt and shame are characteristic of 4-year-old children
C. Role conflict is a common problem of children this age
D. At this age children compete and like to produce and carry through with tasks
Answer: A
Question 4:
The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old. What behavior indicates that the child's
language development is within normal limits?
A. By 18 months is capable of making a three word sentence
B. Half of child's speech is understandable
C. Able to name four colors
D. Can count five blocks
Answer: B
Question 5:
A 2-year-old child with Down syndrome is brought to the clinic for his regular physical
examination. The nurse knows which problem is frequently associated with Down
syndrome?
A. Fragile X chromosome
B. Trisomy 13
C. Congenital heart disease
D. Pyloric stenosis
Answer: C
Question 6:
,The nurse is giving preoperative instructions to a 14-year-old female client who is
scheduled for surgery to correct a spinal curvature. Which statement by the client
best demonstrates that learning has taken place?
A. I will read all the literature you gave me before surgery
B. I have had surgery before when I broke my wrist in a bike accident, so I know
what to expect
C. All the things people have told me will help me take care of my back
D. I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught me to
turn
Answer: D
Question 7:
A 3-month-old infant develops oral thrush. Which pharmacologic agent should the
nurse plan to administer for treatment of this disorder?
A. Nystatin (Mycostatin)
B. Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin)
C. Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
D. Neomycin sulfate (Mycifradin)
Answer: A
Question 8:
A full term infant is admitted to the newborn nursery. After careful assessment, the
nurse suspects that the infant may have an esophageal atresia. Which symptoms
are this newborn likely to exhibit?
A. Choking, coughing, and cyanosis
B. Projectile vomiting and cyanosis
C. Apneic spells and grunting
D. Scaphoid abdomen and anorexia
, Answer: A
Question 9:
The nurse is teaching a 12-year-old male adolescent and his family about taking
injections of growth hormone for idiopathic hypopituitarism. Which adverse
symptoms, commonly associated with growth hormone therapy, should the nurse
plan to describe to the child and his family?
A. Lethargy and fatigue
B. Polyuria and polydipsia
C. Increased facial hair
D. Facial bone structure changes
Answer: B
Question 10:
As part of the physical assessment of children, the nurse observes and palpates the
fontanels. Which child's fontanel finding should be reported to the healthcare
provider?
A. A 6-month-old with failure to thrive that has a closed anterior fontanel
B. A 24-month-old with gastroenteritis that has a closed posterior fontanel
C. A 2-month-old with chickenpox that has an open posterior fontanel
D. A 28-month-old with hydrocephalus that has an open anterior fontanel
Answer: A
Question 11:
A nurse provides the parents with information on health maintenance for their child
with sickle cell disease. Which information reflected by the parents indicates
understanding of the child's care?
A. Daily iron supplements should be given
