HESI RN Pediatrics 2025/2026.
Complete Verified Exam Questions and
Professional Rationales.
Questions 1-15: Growth & Development Milestones
Question 1: Growth & Development Milestones
A 2-month-old infant is seen for a well-child visit. The parent reports the baby smiles
responsively and turns toward sounds. According to CDC milestones, this indicates achievement
of:
A. Social smile and head control
B. Social smiling and cooing
C. Rolling over and babbling
D. Sitting unsupported and waving
B. Social smiling and cooing
Rationale: CDC/AAP milestones at 2 months include social smiling in response to faces and
cooing during interactions, signaling secure attachment and early communication development.
Early identification supports interventions like responsive parenting education to foster
neurodevelopmental bonds and prevent delays.
Question 2: Growth & Development Milestones
During a 6-month well-visit, a parent demonstrates the infant grasping a rattle and transferring
objects between hands. This aligns with fine motor milestones per Bright Futures:
A. Pincer grasp and finger feeding
B. Raking grasp and reaching
C. Thumb opposition and stacking blocks
D. Writing and buttoning
B. Raking grasp and reaching
,Rationale: AAP Bright Futures at 6 months emphasizes raking (whole-hand grasp) and
bimanual reaching, critical for self-feeding and exploration. Assessment guides anticipatory
guidance on safe toys, promoting independence and reducing injury risks from mouthing objects.
Question 3: Growth & Development Milestones
A 9-month-old toddler pulls to stand and cruises along furniture during the visit. The nurse
recognizes this as gross motor progress in the:
A. Crawling and sitting phase
B. Pre-walking exploration stage
C. Independent walking and climbing
D. Running and jumping
B. Pre-walking exploration stage
Rationale: CDC milestones at 9 months include pulling to stand and cruising, supporting
balance development. Nurses provide home safety education (e.g., outlet covers) to prevent falls,
aligning with AAP injury prevention during mobility onset.
Question 4: Growth & Development Milestones
At 12 months, a child says "mama" specifically and points to request objects. Language
milestone:
A. 50-word vocabulary
B. First words with gestures
C. Two-word sentences
D. Naming colors
B. First words with gestures
Rationale: AAP at 12 months expects 1-3 words with pointing for needs, foundational for
expressive language. Screening with ASQ identifies delays early, recommending speech therapy
to enhance cognitive-social growth and family communication.
Question 5: Growth & Development Milestones
A 15-month-old stacks 2 blocks and imitates scribbling. Cognitive milestone per CDC:
A. Pretend play and sorting shapes
B. Simple imitation and basic stacking
, C. Drawing lines and counting
D. Puzzles and naming animals
B. Simple imitation and basic stacking
Rationale: CDC 15-month cognitive markers include imitating actions and stacking 2-3 items,
reflecting problem-solving. Rationales emphasize toy selection for fine motor, preventing
frustration and supporting self-esteem per Erikson's autonomy stage.
Question 6: Growth & Development Milestones
During a 2-year visit, the toddler runs, kicks a ball, and climbs stairs with help. This is gross
motor for:
A. Jumping and throwing
B. Locomotion and balance
C. Skipping and hopping
D. Riding tricycle
B. Locomotion and balance
Rationale: AAP 24-month milestones include running/climbing, essential for physical
confidence. Guidance on supervised play prevents injuries, aligning with CDC's active play
recommendations for obesity prevention.
Question 7: Growth & Development Milestones
A 3-year-old names colors, counts to 3, and engages in parallel play shifting to cooperative.
Social milestone:
A. Solitary play
B. Emerging peer interaction
C. Large group games
D. Role-playing alone
B. Emerging peer interaction
Rationale: CDC 3-year social development includes turn-taking and sharing, per Piaget's
preoperational stage. Nurses assess for autism red flags, promoting playgroups for
social-emotional health.
Question 8: Growth & Development Milestones
Complete Verified Exam Questions and
Professional Rationales.
Questions 1-15: Growth & Development Milestones
Question 1: Growth & Development Milestones
A 2-month-old infant is seen for a well-child visit. The parent reports the baby smiles
responsively and turns toward sounds. According to CDC milestones, this indicates achievement
of:
A. Social smile and head control
B. Social smiling and cooing
C. Rolling over and babbling
D. Sitting unsupported and waving
B. Social smiling and cooing
Rationale: CDC/AAP milestones at 2 months include social smiling in response to faces and
cooing during interactions, signaling secure attachment and early communication development.
Early identification supports interventions like responsive parenting education to foster
neurodevelopmental bonds and prevent delays.
Question 2: Growth & Development Milestones
During a 6-month well-visit, a parent demonstrates the infant grasping a rattle and transferring
objects between hands. This aligns with fine motor milestones per Bright Futures:
A. Pincer grasp and finger feeding
B. Raking grasp and reaching
C. Thumb opposition and stacking blocks
D. Writing and buttoning
B. Raking grasp and reaching
,Rationale: AAP Bright Futures at 6 months emphasizes raking (whole-hand grasp) and
bimanual reaching, critical for self-feeding and exploration. Assessment guides anticipatory
guidance on safe toys, promoting independence and reducing injury risks from mouthing objects.
Question 3: Growth & Development Milestones
A 9-month-old toddler pulls to stand and cruises along furniture during the visit. The nurse
recognizes this as gross motor progress in the:
A. Crawling and sitting phase
B. Pre-walking exploration stage
C. Independent walking and climbing
D. Running and jumping
B. Pre-walking exploration stage
Rationale: CDC milestones at 9 months include pulling to stand and cruising, supporting
balance development. Nurses provide home safety education (e.g., outlet covers) to prevent falls,
aligning with AAP injury prevention during mobility onset.
Question 4: Growth & Development Milestones
At 12 months, a child says "mama" specifically and points to request objects. Language
milestone:
A. 50-word vocabulary
B. First words with gestures
C. Two-word sentences
D. Naming colors
B. First words with gestures
Rationale: AAP at 12 months expects 1-3 words with pointing for needs, foundational for
expressive language. Screening with ASQ identifies delays early, recommending speech therapy
to enhance cognitive-social growth and family communication.
Question 5: Growth & Development Milestones
A 15-month-old stacks 2 blocks and imitates scribbling. Cognitive milestone per CDC:
A. Pretend play and sorting shapes
B. Simple imitation and basic stacking
, C. Drawing lines and counting
D. Puzzles and naming animals
B. Simple imitation and basic stacking
Rationale: CDC 15-month cognitive markers include imitating actions and stacking 2-3 items,
reflecting problem-solving. Rationales emphasize toy selection for fine motor, preventing
frustration and supporting self-esteem per Erikson's autonomy stage.
Question 6: Growth & Development Milestones
During a 2-year visit, the toddler runs, kicks a ball, and climbs stairs with help. This is gross
motor for:
A. Jumping and throwing
B. Locomotion and balance
C. Skipping and hopping
D. Riding tricycle
B. Locomotion and balance
Rationale: AAP 24-month milestones include running/climbing, essential for physical
confidence. Guidance on supervised play prevents injuries, aligning with CDC's active play
recommendations for obesity prevention.
Question 7: Growth & Development Milestones
A 3-year-old names colors, counts to 3, and engages in parallel play shifting to cooperative.
Social milestone:
A. Solitary play
B. Emerging peer interaction
C. Large group games
D. Role-playing alone
B. Emerging peer interaction
Rationale: CDC 3-year social development includes turn-taking and sharing, per Piaget's
preoperational stage. Nurses assess for autism red flags, promoting playgroups for
social-emotional health.
Question 8: Growth & Development Milestones
