HESI RN Pediatrics Exam 2025 –
Verified Questions with 100% Correct
Answers and Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect?
A. Walking independently
B. Sitting without support
C. Using complete sentences
D. Stacking blocks
Correct Answer: B. Sitting without support
Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically sit without support, reflecting gross motor
development. Walking independently (A) occurs around 12 months, using complete sentences
(C) is expected by 3–4 years, and stacking blocks (D) is a fine motor skill seen around 18
months.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child with asthma. Which medication should the nurse expect
to administer for an acute asthma attack?
A. Montelukast
B. Albuterol
C. Prednisone
D. Fluticasone
Correct Answer: B. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist, is used for acute asthma attacks to relieve
bronchospasm. Montelukast (A) and fluticasone (D) are for long-term control, and prednisone
(C) is used for severe exacerbations but not immediate relief.
Question 3
,A nurse is teaching parents about car seat safety for a 2-year-old child. Which instruction should
the nurse include?
A. “Use a forward-facing car seat in the front seat.”
B. “Keep the child in a rear-facing car seat until age 2.”
C. “Switch to a booster seat at age 2.”
D. “Secure the car seat with a lap belt only.”
Correct Answer: B. “Keep the child in a rear-facing car seat until age 2.”
Rationale: Rear-facing car seats are recommended until age 2 for optimal safety. Forward -facing
in the front seat (A) is unsafe, booster seats (C) are for older children, and lap belts alone (D) are
insufficient.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a 10-year-old child with suspected type 1 diabetes. Which symptom should
the nurse expect?
A. Weight gain
B. Polyuria
C. Constipation
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: B. Polyuria
Rationale: Polyuria is a classic symptom of type 1 diabetes due to glucose-induced osmotic
diuresis. Weight gain (A) is unlikely (weight loss is common), constipation (C) is unrelated, and
bradycardia (D) is not typical.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen to a 5-year-old child for fever. What is the
appropriate dose for a child weighing 20 kg?
A. 100 mg every 4 hours
B. 200 mg every 6 hours
C. 300 mg every 4 hours
D. 400 mg every 6 hours
Correct Answer: C. 300 mg every 4 hours
Rationale: Acetaminophen dosing for children is 10–15 mg/kg every 4–6 hours. For a 20-kg
child, 15 mg/kg × 20 kg = 300 mg every 4 hours. Options A, B, and D are incorrect doses.
, Question 6
A nurse is caring for a 3-month-old infant with suspected dehydration. Which finding should the
nurse report immediately?
A. Heart rate of 120 bpm
B. Sunken fontanel
C. Urine output of 2 mL/kg/hr
D. Skin turgor slightly decreased
Correct Answer: B. Sunken fontanel
Rationale: A sunken fontanel is a critical sign of dehydration in infants, indicating significant
fluid loss. A heart rate of 120 bpm (A) is normal, urine output of 2 mL/kg/hr (C) is adequate, and
slightly decreased skin turgor (D) is less urgent.
Question 7
A nurse is teaching parents about managing a 6-year-old child’s fever. Which instruction should
the nurse include?
A. “Use aspirin to reduce the fever.”
B. “Apply alcohol baths to cool the child.”
C. “Give ibuprofen as prescribed.”
D. “Restrict all fluid intake.”
Correct Answer: C. “Give ibuprofen as prescribed.”
Rationale: Ibuprofen is safe and effective for fever in children when dosed correctly. Aspirin
(A) is contraindicated due to Reye’s syndrome risk, alcohol baths (B) are unsafe, and restricting
fluids (D) worsens dehydration.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant with suspected iron-deficiency anemia. Which
finding should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Pallor
C. Weight gain
D. Hyperactivity
Correct Answer: B. Pallor
Rationale: Pallor is a common sign of iron-deficiency anemia due to reduced hemoglobin.
Bradycardia (A) is not typical, weight gain (C) is unlikely (poor growth is common), and
hyperactivity (D) is not associated.
Verified Questions with 100% Correct
Answers and Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect?
A. Walking independently
B. Sitting without support
C. Using complete sentences
D. Stacking blocks
Correct Answer: B. Sitting without support
Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically sit without support, reflecting gross motor
development. Walking independently (A) occurs around 12 months, using complete sentences
(C) is expected by 3–4 years, and stacking blocks (D) is a fine motor skill seen around 18
months.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child with asthma. Which medication should the nurse expect
to administer for an acute asthma attack?
A. Montelukast
B. Albuterol
C. Prednisone
D. Fluticasone
Correct Answer: B. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol, a short-acting beta-2 agonist, is used for acute asthma attacks to relieve
bronchospasm. Montelukast (A) and fluticasone (D) are for long-term control, and prednisone
(C) is used for severe exacerbations but not immediate relief.
Question 3
,A nurse is teaching parents about car seat safety for a 2-year-old child. Which instruction should
the nurse include?
A. “Use a forward-facing car seat in the front seat.”
B. “Keep the child in a rear-facing car seat until age 2.”
C. “Switch to a booster seat at age 2.”
D. “Secure the car seat with a lap belt only.”
Correct Answer: B. “Keep the child in a rear-facing car seat until age 2.”
Rationale: Rear-facing car seats are recommended until age 2 for optimal safety. Forward -facing
in the front seat (A) is unsafe, booster seats (C) are for older children, and lap belts alone (D) are
insufficient.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a 10-year-old child with suspected type 1 diabetes. Which symptom should
the nurse expect?
A. Weight gain
B. Polyuria
C. Constipation
D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: B. Polyuria
Rationale: Polyuria is a classic symptom of type 1 diabetes due to glucose-induced osmotic
diuresis. Weight gain (A) is unlikely (weight loss is common), constipation (C) is unrelated, and
bradycardia (D) is not typical.
Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen to a 5-year-old child for fever. What is the
appropriate dose for a child weighing 20 kg?
A. 100 mg every 4 hours
B. 200 mg every 6 hours
C. 300 mg every 4 hours
D. 400 mg every 6 hours
Correct Answer: C. 300 mg every 4 hours
Rationale: Acetaminophen dosing for children is 10–15 mg/kg every 4–6 hours. For a 20-kg
child, 15 mg/kg × 20 kg = 300 mg every 4 hours. Options A, B, and D are incorrect doses.
, Question 6
A nurse is caring for a 3-month-old infant with suspected dehydration. Which finding should the
nurse report immediately?
A. Heart rate of 120 bpm
B. Sunken fontanel
C. Urine output of 2 mL/kg/hr
D. Skin turgor slightly decreased
Correct Answer: B. Sunken fontanel
Rationale: A sunken fontanel is a critical sign of dehydration in infants, indicating significant
fluid loss. A heart rate of 120 bpm (A) is normal, urine output of 2 mL/kg/hr (C) is adequate, and
slightly decreased skin turgor (D) is less urgent.
Question 7
A nurse is teaching parents about managing a 6-year-old child’s fever. Which instruction should
the nurse include?
A. “Use aspirin to reduce the fever.”
B. “Apply alcohol baths to cool the child.”
C. “Give ibuprofen as prescribed.”
D. “Restrict all fluid intake.”
Correct Answer: C. “Give ibuprofen as prescribed.”
Rationale: Ibuprofen is safe and effective for fever in children when dosed correctly. Aspirin
(A) is contraindicated due to Reye’s syndrome risk, alcohol baths (B) are unsafe, and restricting
fluids (D) worsens dehydration.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant with suspected iron-deficiency anemia. Which
finding should the nurse expect?
A. Bradycardia
B. Pallor
C. Weight gain
D. Hyperactivity
Correct Answer: B. Pallor
Rationale: Pallor is a common sign of iron-deficiency anemia due to reduced hemoglobin.
Bradycardia (A) is not typical, weight gain (C) is unlikely (poor growth is common), and
hyperactivity (D) is not associated.
