Pediatric's HESI Comp Book
Questions with Correct Answers
These are Pediatric Practice Questions from my HESI NCLEX-PN/ HESI EXIT Prep
book that I bought from Evolve. Wanted to put this out there so you guys had the
opportunity as well to practice them for the HESI. :) - ANSWERSnone
To minimize separation anxiety in a hospitalized 2 year old, which nursing intervention
is best for the practical nurse to implement?
a. Provide for privacy.
b. Encourage parents to room-in.
c. Explain procedures and routines.
d. Encourage contact with children of the same age. - ANSWERSb. Encourage parents
to room-in.
Rationale:
Separation anxiety is especially threatening for toddlers, so encouraging parents to
room-in helps the toddler cope with this threat.
The nurse is assisting with data collection for a 2-week-old infant who has been
diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. The nurse recognizes which is a sign or symptom
associated with pyloric stenosis?
a. Occasional burping episodes after swallowing air.
b. Vomiting which appears to contain brownish colored bile.
c. Mass in the upper right abdominal quadrant, shaped like an olive.
d. Emesis which looks and smells as if it had feces backed up into it. - ANSWERSc.
Mass in the upper right abdominal quadrant, shaped like an olive.
Rationale:
An infant with pyloric stenosis will have an olive-shaped mass in the upper right
abdominal quadrant. The child will frequently have projectile vomiting, and is hungry,
loses weight and may quickly dehydrate. Pyloric stenosis is not associated with
occasional burping or bile-colored emesis. Emesis that looks and smells like feces is
associated with bowel obstruction
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a child with asthma for retractions during
respirations. When should the PN recognize the absence or presence of intercostal
retractions?
a. Inspiration
b. Coughing
c. Apneic episodes
d. Expiration - ANSWERSa. Inspiration
The practical nurse (PN) is orienting a new nurse employee as they care for a toddler
who is admitted for cleft palate repair. The nurse realizes the new employee
,understands the plan of care if the new employee gathers which type of restraint to
apply in the postoperative period?
a. Wrist
b. Mummy
c. Elbow
d. Jacket - ANSWERSc. Elbow
Rationale:
Elbow restraints prevent children from bending their arms and bringing their hands to
the oral surgical site.
A mother phones the clinic because her 6-year-old child has been taking prescribed
antibiotics for 7 of the previous 10 days and continues to cough. She also reports that
the cough is worsening and is nonproductive. What information should the practical
nurse (PN) provide to this mother?
a. Watch the child a few more days and see if the cough begins to produce sputum.
b. Complete the full 10-day course of antibiotics and reevaluate the cough then.
c. Give the child plenty of fluids and an over-the-counter cough suppressant.
d. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough. -
ANSWERSd. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough.
Rationale:
The child should be evaluated as soon as possible for pneumonia. Antibiotics usually
improve symptoms during the first few days of treatment but should be continued for the
full prescribed course. A continued cough after 7 days of antibiotic treatment may
indicate an infectious process in the lower lungs, which could cause a nonproductive
cough. Children with pneumonia can deteriorate unexpectedly and rapidly and can
become seriously ill with no sputum production.
A 2-year-old child developed a fever of 103.4° F (39.7° C) and was rushed to the
emergency department when the child developed febrile seizures. After the child was
stabilized, the health care provider diagnosed otitis media in the child. The concerned
caregivers ask the nurse how this can be prevented from happening again. The nurse
should reinforce which instructions?
a. Contact the child's health care provider if the child starts pulling at the ear.
b. If the child develops an elevated temperature, bathe the child in cold water.
c. Give the child a bottle to take while in the supine position to relieve the pain.
d. Use children's chewable baby aspirin if the child's temperature is over 102° F (38.9°
C). - ANSWERSa. Contact the child's health care provider if the child starts pulling at
the ear.
The parents should be taught to contact the health care provider if the child begins to
pull at the ears, an early sign of otitis media. Treating otitis media early can reduce the
risk of a high temperature and a resulting febrile seizure. If the child develops an
elevated temperature, the child should be bathed in tepid water, not cold water or
rubbing alcohol. Taking a bottle in the supine position is not recommended because this
increases the risk of developing otitis media. Children should be given acetaminophen
as prescribed for pain and fever. Aspirin is not recommended in children due to the risk
, of Reyes syndrome, a serious neurological disorder. Unfortunately, pleasantly flavored
children's chewable aspirin is sometimes described or labeled as "baby aspirin."
A child has been treated in the emergency department for a fractured distal radius. The
nurse has reinforced instructions for care of the cast at home. The nurse realizes
additional instruction is needed if the caregiver makes which comments? (Select all that
apply.)
a. "It is normal for the child to not be able to move the fingers very well after the cast is
applied."
b. "If my child is itching under the cast, I can use sterile cotton tipped applicators under
the cast to scratch it."
c. "If my child's arm is hurting so badly, and pain meds have not worked, I should bring
the child back to the emergency department."
d. "If my child's fingers begin to be cold or blue, I should try to wrap up his fingers in
some warm cloths."
e. "I will need to make sure the child does not get the cast wet, I can use plastic wrap
around the cast for bathing." - ANSWERSa. "It is normal for the child to not be able to
move the fingers very well after the cast is applied."
b. "If my child is itching under the cast, I can use sterile cotton tipped applicators under
the cast to scratch it."
d. "If my child's fingers begin to be cold or blue, I should try to wrap up his fingers in
some warm cloths."
Rationale:
The parents should be educated that not being able to move the fingers after cast
application indicates possible compartment syndrome and potential damage to nerves
and vessels of the arm. Extreme pain not relieved by analgesics, or cold, blue fingers
also indicate possible compartment syndrome. If compartment syndrome is suspected,
the nurse should contact the health care provider immediately. The child should not
insert any object under the cast because this can cause an infection in the irritated skin
area. Parents should be instructed to keep the cast dry while bathing.
What is the most important information for the practical nurse (PN) to review with a 12
year old who is receiving long-term and rescue medications for routine management of
asthma?
a. Drink a large amount of cold fluids after exercising to restore hydration.
b. Avoid swimming, which increases the need for oxygen while underwater.
c. Before swimming, use albuterol for prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
d. Keep a prescription for a premeasured dose of epinephrine available. - ANSWERSc.
Before swimming, use albuterol for prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
Rationale:
When used before exercise, the beta-adrenergic agonist albuterol can prevent an
asthma attack.
The teacher reports that a 7-year-old child frequently daydreams in school, experiences
abrupt interruptions in conversations, and stares into space. Which action should the
practical nurse take? - ANSWERSb. Observe the child's behavior in the classroom.
Questions with Correct Answers
These are Pediatric Practice Questions from my HESI NCLEX-PN/ HESI EXIT Prep
book that I bought from Evolve. Wanted to put this out there so you guys had the
opportunity as well to practice them for the HESI. :) - ANSWERSnone
To minimize separation anxiety in a hospitalized 2 year old, which nursing intervention
is best for the practical nurse to implement?
a. Provide for privacy.
b. Encourage parents to room-in.
c. Explain procedures and routines.
d. Encourage contact with children of the same age. - ANSWERSb. Encourage parents
to room-in.
Rationale:
Separation anxiety is especially threatening for toddlers, so encouraging parents to
room-in helps the toddler cope with this threat.
The nurse is assisting with data collection for a 2-week-old infant who has been
diagnosed with pyloric stenosis. The nurse recognizes which is a sign or symptom
associated with pyloric stenosis?
a. Occasional burping episodes after swallowing air.
b. Vomiting which appears to contain brownish colored bile.
c. Mass in the upper right abdominal quadrant, shaped like an olive.
d. Emesis which looks and smells as if it had feces backed up into it. - ANSWERSc.
Mass in the upper right abdominal quadrant, shaped like an olive.
Rationale:
An infant with pyloric stenosis will have an olive-shaped mass in the upper right
abdominal quadrant. The child will frequently have projectile vomiting, and is hungry,
loses weight and may quickly dehydrate. Pyloric stenosis is not associated with
occasional burping or bile-colored emesis. Emesis that looks and smells like feces is
associated with bowel obstruction
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a child with asthma for retractions during
respirations. When should the PN recognize the absence or presence of intercostal
retractions?
a. Inspiration
b. Coughing
c. Apneic episodes
d. Expiration - ANSWERSa. Inspiration
The practical nurse (PN) is orienting a new nurse employee as they care for a toddler
who is admitted for cleft palate repair. The nurse realizes the new employee
,understands the plan of care if the new employee gathers which type of restraint to
apply in the postoperative period?
a. Wrist
b. Mummy
c. Elbow
d. Jacket - ANSWERSc. Elbow
Rationale:
Elbow restraints prevent children from bending their arms and bringing their hands to
the oral surgical site.
A mother phones the clinic because her 6-year-old child has been taking prescribed
antibiotics for 7 of the previous 10 days and continues to cough. She also reports that
the cough is worsening and is nonproductive. What information should the practical
nurse (PN) provide to this mother?
a. Watch the child a few more days and see if the cough begins to produce sputum.
b. Complete the full 10-day course of antibiotics and reevaluate the cough then.
c. Give the child plenty of fluids and an over-the-counter cough suppressant.
d. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough. -
ANSWERSd. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough.
Rationale:
The child should be evaluated as soon as possible for pneumonia. Antibiotics usually
improve symptoms during the first few days of treatment but should be continued for the
full prescribed course. A continued cough after 7 days of antibiotic treatment may
indicate an infectious process in the lower lungs, which could cause a nonproductive
cough. Children with pneumonia can deteriorate unexpectedly and rapidly and can
become seriously ill with no sputum production.
A 2-year-old child developed a fever of 103.4° F (39.7° C) and was rushed to the
emergency department when the child developed febrile seizures. After the child was
stabilized, the health care provider diagnosed otitis media in the child. The concerned
caregivers ask the nurse how this can be prevented from happening again. The nurse
should reinforce which instructions?
a. Contact the child's health care provider if the child starts pulling at the ear.
b. If the child develops an elevated temperature, bathe the child in cold water.
c. Give the child a bottle to take while in the supine position to relieve the pain.
d. Use children's chewable baby aspirin if the child's temperature is over 102° F (38.9°
C). - ANSWERSa. Contact the child's health care provider if the child starts pulling at
the ear.
The parents should be taught to contact the health care provider if the child begins to
pull at the ears, an early sign of otitis media. Treating otitis media early can reduce the
risk of a high temperature and a resulting febrile seizure. If the child develops an
elevated temperature, the child should be bathed in tepid water, not cold water or
rubbing alcohol. Taking a bottle in the supine position is not recommended because this
increases the risk of developing otitis media. Children should be given acetaminophen
as prescribed for pain and fever. Aspirin is not recommended in children due to the risk
, of Reyes syndrome, a serious neurological disorder. Unfortunately, pleasantly flavored
children's chewable aspirin is sometimes described or labeled as "baby aspirin."
A child has been treated in the emergency department for a fractured distal radius. The
nurse has reinforced instructions for care of the cast at home. The nurse realizes
additional instruction is needed if the caregiver makes which comments? (Select all that
apply.)
a. "It is normal for the child to not be able to move the fingers very well after the cast is
applied."
b. "If my child is itching under the cast, I can use sterile cotton tipped applicators under
the cast to scratch it."
c. "If my child's arm is hurting so badly, and pain meds have not worked, I should bring
the child back to the emergency department."
d. "If my child's fingers begin to be cold or blue, I should try to wrap up his fingers in
some warm cloths."
e. "I will need to make sure the child does not get the cast wet, I can use plastic wrap
around the cast for bathing." - ANSWERSa. "It is normal for the child to not be able to
move the fingers very well after the cast is applied."
b. "If my child is itching under the cast, I can use sterile cotton tipped applicators under
the cast to scratch it."
d. "If my child's fingers begin to be cold or blue, I should try to wrap up his fingers in
some warm cloths."
Rationale:
The parents should be educated that not being able to move the fingers after cast
application indicates possible compartment syndrome and potential damage to nerves
and vessels of the arm. Extreme pain not relieved by analgesics, or cold, blue fingers
also indicate possible compartment syndrome. If compartment syndrome is suspected,
the nurse should contact the health care provider immediately. The child should not
insert any object under the cast because this can cause an infection in the irritated skin
area. Parents should be instructed to keep the cast dry while bathing.
What is the most important information for the practical nurse (PN) to review with a 12
year old who is receiving long-term and rescue medications for routine management of
asthma?
a. Drink a large amount of cold fluids after exercising to restore hydration.
b. Avoid swimming, which increases the need for oxygen while underwater.
c. Before swimming, use albuterol for prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
d. Keep a prescription for a premeasured dose of epinephrine available. - ANSWERSc.
Before swimming, use albuterol for prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm.
Rationale:
When used before exercise, the beta-adrenergic agonist albuterol can prevent an
asthma attack.
The teacher reports that a 7-year-old child frequently daydreams in school, experiences
abrupt interruptions in conversations, and stares into space. Which action should the
practical nurse take? - ANSWERSb. Observe the child's behavior in the classroom.
