Pediatric HESI Questions and Answers
| Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct &
Verified
A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old with croup. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Give cough syrup with codeine
✔✔B. Provide humidified oxygen
C. Encourage vigorous coughing
D. Lay the child flat in bed
A nurse prepares to administer an oral antibiotic to a toddler who refuses to swallow tablets.
What is the best approach?
A. Crush and mix with formula
✔✔B. Crush and mix with applesauce
C. Force swallow with water
D. Hide it in the bottle
A child with sickle cell crisis reports severe leg pain. Which intervention should the nurse
implement first?
1
,✔✔A. Administer prescribed opioid analgesic
B. Apply cold compress to legs
C. Encourage exercise to increase circulation
D. Restrict fluids
A nurse is teaching parents about preventing otitis media in their infant. Which instruction is
correct?
A. Place the baby flat to feed
B. Give a bottle during naps
✔✔C. Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke
D. Delay vaccines
A nurse assesses a 7-year-old with asthma. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Wheezing heard during expiration
✔✔B. Absent breath sounds in lower lobes
C. Cough with thick sputum
D. Respiratory rate of 26
2
,A school-age child with diabetes is pale, sweaty, and shaky. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Offer orange juice
B. Administer insulin
C. Encourage exercise
D. Call the provider
A 10-year-old is scheduled for tonsillectomy. Which finding requires postponing surgery?
A. History of seasonal allergies
✔✔B. Sore throat with fever
C. Enlarged tonsils
D. Snoring at night
A nurse is caring for a child receiving chemotherapy. Which action helps prevent infection?
✔✔A. Encourage hand hygiene
B. Give live vaccines
C. Place child in a shared room
D. Allow fresh flowers at bedside
3
, A 5-year-old child hospitalized for pneumonia asks, “When can I go home?” What is the best
response?
A. “Ask your parents.”
✔✔B. “When your breathing gets better and the doctor says it’s safe.”
C. “Tomorrow for sure.”
D. “Don’t worry about it.”
A nurse teaches parents of a 3-year-old with iron deficiency anemia. Which food should be
encouraged?
A. Whole milk
✔✔B. Lean red meat
C. Ice cream
D. White bread
A 6-month-old is brought to the clinic with projectile vomiting after feeding. Which condition is
suspected?
A. Intussusception
B. Gastroesophageal reflux
✔✔C. Pyloric stenosis
4
| Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct &
Verified
A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old with croup. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Give cough syrup with codeine
✔✔B. Provide humidified oxygen
C. Encourage vigorous coughing
D. Lay the child flat in bed
A nurse prepares to administer an oral antibiotic to a toddler who refuses to swallow tablets.
What is the best approach?
A. Crush and mix with formula
✔✔B. Crush and mix with applesauce
C. Force swallow with water
D. Hide it in the bottle
A child with sickle cell crisis reports severe leg pain. Which intervention should the nurse
implement first?
1
,✔✔A. Administer prescribed opioid analgesic
B. Apply cold compress to legs
C. Encourage exercise to increase circulation
D. Restrict fluids
A nurse is teaching parents about preventing otitis media in their infant. Which instruction is
correct?
A. Place the baby flat to feed
B. Give a bottle during naps
✔✔C. Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke
D. Delay vaccines
A nurse assesses a 7-year-old with asthma. Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Wheezing heard during expiration
✔✔B. Absent breath sounds in lower lobes
C. Cough with thick sputum
D. Respiratory rate of 26
2
,A school-age child with diabetes is pale, sweaty, and shaky. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Offer orange juice
B. Administer insulin
C. Encourage exercise
D. Call the provider
A 10-year-old is scheduled for tonsillectomy. Which finding requires postponing surgery?
A. History of seasonal allergies
✔✔B. Sore throat with fever
C. Enlarged tonsils
D. Snoring at night
A nurse is caring for a child receiving chemotherapy. Which action helps prevent infection?
✔✔A. Encourage hand hygiene
B. Give live vaccines
C. Place child in a shared room
D. Allow fresh flowers at bedside
3
, A 5-year-old child hospitalized for pneumonia asks, “When can I go home?” What is the best
response?
A. “Ask your parents.”
✔✔B. “When your breathing gets better and the doctor says it’s safe.”
C. “Tomorrow for sure.”
D. “Don’t worry about it.”
A nurse teaches parents of a 3-year-old with iron deficiency anemia. Which food should be
encouraged?
A. Whole milk
✔✔B. Lean red meat
C. Ice cream
D. White bread
A 6-month-old is brought to the clinic with projectile vomiting after feeding. Which condition is
suspected?
A. Intussusception
B. Gastroesophageal reflux
✔✔C. Pyloric stenosis
4
