1|Page
Pediatrics HESI 170 Practice Questions and
Correct Answers with Rationales/ 2026 HESI
Pediatrics Exam Prep – 100% Correctly
Answered Questions
A child with leukemia is being discharged after beginning
chemotherapy. Which of the following instructions will the nurse
include when teaching the parents of this child?
a)provide a diet low in protein and high carbohydrates
b) avoid fresh vegetables that are not cooked or peeled
c) notify the doctor if the child's temperature exceeds 101 F (39C)
d) increase the use of humidifiers throughout the house
..........ANSWER.......Answer B
fresh fruits and vegetables harbor microorganisms, which can
cause infections in immune-compromised child. Fruits and
vegetables should either be peeled or cooked. The physician
should be notified of a temperature above 100F, a diet low in
protein is not indicated, and humidifiers harbor fungi in the water
containers.
A client with hemophilia has a very swollen knee after falling from
bicycleriding. Which of the following is the first nursing action?
a)initiate an IV site to begin administration of cryoprecipitate
b) type and cross-match for possible transfusion
c) monitor the client's vital signs for the first 5 minutes
,2|Page
d) apply ice pack and compression dressings to the knee
..........ANSWER.......Answer D
rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)are the immediate
treatments to reduce the swelling and bleeding into the joint.
These are the priority actions for bleeding into the joint of a client
with hemophilia
A client and her husband are positive for the sickle cell trait. The
client asks the nurse about chances of her children having sickle
cell disease. Which of the following is appropriate response by the
nurse?
a)one of her children will have sickle cell disease
b) only the male children will be affected
c) each pregnancy carries a 25% chance of the child
being affected
d) if she had four children, one of them would have the disease
..........ANSWER.......Answer C
In autosomal recessive traits, both parents are carriers. There is a
25% chance with each pregnancy that a child will have the disease.
An 8 year old child has been diagnosed to have iron deficiency
anemia. Which ofthe following activities is most appropriate for
the child to decrease oxygen demands on the body?
a)Dancing
b) playing video games
c) reading a book
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d) riding a bicycle ..........ANSWER.......Answer C
reading a book is restful activity and can keep the child from
becoming bored. Choices a, b, and d require too much energy for a
child with anemia and can increase oxygen demands on the body.
A 16 month old child diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease (KD) is
very irritable,refuses to eat, and exhibits peeling skin on the hands
and feet. Which of the following would the nurse interpret as the
priority?
a)applying lotions to the hands and feet
b) offering foods the toddler likes
c) placing the toddler in a quiet environment
d) encouraging the parents to get some rest
..........ANSWER.......Answer C
One of the characteristics of children with KD is irritability. They
are often inconsolable.Placing the child in a quiet environment
may help quiet the child and reduce the workload of the heart.
The child's irritability takes priority over peeling of the skin.
A newborn's failure to pass meconium within the first 24 hours
after birth may indicate which of the following?
a.Hirschsprung disease
b. Celiac disease
c. Intussusception
d. Abdominal wall defect ..........ANSWER.......Answer A
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Failure to pass meconium within the first 24 hours after birth may
be an indication of Hirschsprung disease, a congenital anomaly
resulting in mechanical obstruction due to inadequate motility in
an intestinal segment. Failure to pass meconium is not associated
with celiac disease, intussusception, or abdominal wall defect.
Which of the following should the nurse do first after noting that a
child with Hirschsprung disease has a fever and watery explosive
diarrhea?
a. Notify the physician immediately
b. Administer antidiarrheal medications
c. Monitor child ever 30 minutes
d. Nothing, this is characteristic of Hirschsprung disease
..........ANSWER.......Answer A
For the child with Hirschsprung disease, fever and explosive
diarrhea indicate enterocolitis, a life-threatening situation.
Therefore, the physician should be notified immediately.
Generally, because of the intestinal obstruction and inadequate
propulsive intestinal movement, antidiarrheals are not used to
treat Hirschsprung disease. The child is acutely ill and requires
intervention, with monitoring more frequently than every 30
minutes.Hirschsprung disease typically presents with chronic
constipation.
When assessing a child for possible intussusception, which of the
following would be least likely to provide valuable information?
Pediatrics HESI 170 Practice Questions and
Correct Answers with Rationales/ 2026 HESI
Pediatrics Exam Prep – 100% Correctly
Answered Questions
A child with leukemia is being discharged after beginning
chemotherapy. Which of the following instructions will the nurse
include when teaching the parents of this child?
a)provide a diet low in protein and high carbohydrates
b) avoid fresh vegetables that are not cooked or peeled
c) notify the doctor if the child's temperature exceeds 101 F (39C)
d) increase the use of humidifiers throughout the house
..........ANSWER.......Answer B
fresh fruits and vegetables harbor microorganisms, which can
cause infections in immune-compromised child. Fruits and
vegetables should either be peeled or cooked. The physician
should be notified of a temperature above 100F, a diet low in
protein is not indicated, and humidifiers harbor fungi in the water
containers.
A client with hemophilia has a very swollen knee after falling from
bicycleriding. Which of the following is the first nursing action?
a)initiate an IV site to begin administration of cryoprecipitate
b) type and cross-match for possible transfusion
c) monitor the client's vital signs for the first 5 minutes
,2|Page
d) apply ice pack and compression dressings to the knee
..........ANSWER.......Answer D
rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE)are the immediate
treatments to reduce the swelling and bleeding into the joint.
These are the priority actions for bleeding into the joint of a client
with hemophilia
A client and her husband are positive for the sickle cell trait. The
client asks the nurse about chances of her children having sickle
cell disease. Which of the following is appropriate response by the
nurse?
a)one of her children will have sickle cell disease
b) only the male children will be affected
c) each pregnancy carries a 25% chance of the child
being affected
d) if she had four children, one of them would have the disease
..........ANSWER.......Answer C
In autosomal recessive traits, both parents are carriers. There is a
25% chance with each pregnancy that a child will have the disease.
An 8 year old child has been diagnosed to have iron deficiency
anemia. Which ofthe following activities is most appropriate for
the child to decrease oxygen demands on the body?
a)Dancing
b) playing video games
c) reading a book
,3|Page
d) riding a bicycle ..........ANSWER.......Answer C
reading a book is restful activity and can keep the child from
becoming bored. Choices a, b, and d require too much energy for a
child with anemia and can increase oxygen demands on the body.
A 16 month old child diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease (KD) is
very irritable,refuses to eat, and exhibits peeling skin on the hands
and feet. Which of the following would the nurse interpret as the
priority?
a)applying lotions to the hands and feet
b) offering foods the toddler likes
c) placing the toddler in a quiet environment
d) encouraging the parents to get some rest
..........ANSWER.......Answer C
One of the characteristics of children with KD is irritability. They
are often inconsolable.Placing the child in a quiet environment
may help quiet the child and reduce the workload of the heart.
The child's irritability takes priority over peeling of the skin.
A newborn's failure to pass meconium within the first 24 hours
after birth may indicate which of the following?
a.Hirschsprung disease
b. Celiac disease
c. Intussusception
d. Abdominal wall defect ..........ANSWER.......Answer A
, 4|Page
Failure to pass meconium within the first 24 hours after birth may
be an indication of Hirschsprung disease, a congenital anomaly
resulting in mechanical obstruction due to inadequate motility in
an intestinal segment. Failure to pass meconium is not associated
with celiac disease, intussusception, or abdominal wall defect.
Which of the following should the nurse do first after noting that a
child with Hirschsprung disease has a fever and watery explosive
diarrhea?
a. Notify the physician immediately
b. Administer antidiarrheal medications
c. Monitor child ever 30 minutes
d. Nothing, this is characteristic of Hirschsprung disease
..........ANSWER.......Answer A
For the child with Hirschsprung disease, fever and explosive
diarrhea indicate enterocolitis, a life-threatening situation.
Therefore, the physician should be notified immediately.
Generally, because of the intestinal obstruction and inadequate
propulsive intestinal movement, antidiarrheals are not used to
treat Hirschsprung disease. The child is acutely ill and requires
intervention, with monitoring more frequently than every 30
minutes.Hirschsprung disease typically presents with chronic
constipation.
When assessing a child for possible intussusception, which of the
following would be least likely to provide valuable information?
