HESI RN Pediatrics Exam 2026 – 55 Verified Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales
1. The nurse is caring for a 3-
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year old child who is 2 hours postop from a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral artery. Which assessme
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nt finding is an indication of arterial obstruction?
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a. Blood pressure trend is downward and pulse is rapid and irregular.
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b. Right foot is cool to the touch and appears pale and blanched.
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c. Pulse distal to the femoral artery is weaker on the left foot than right foot.
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d. The pressure dressing at right femoral area is moist and oozing blood.
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b. Right foot is cool to the touch and appears pale and blanched.
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2. Following a motor vehicle collision, a 3- zl zl zl zl zl zl
year old girl has a spica cast applied. Which toy is best for the nurse for this 3-year-old child?
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A. Duckthatsqueaks.
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B. Fashiondollandclothes.
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C. Set of cloth and hand puppets.
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D. Hand held video game.
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C. Set of cloth and hand puppets.
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3. An infant with tetralogy of Fallot becomes acutely cyanotic and hyperpneic. Which action should the nurse im
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plement first? zl
A. Administer morphine sulphate.
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B. Start IV fluids.
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C. Place the infant in a knee-chest position.
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D. Provide 100% oxygen by face mask.
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C. Place the infant in a knee-chest position.
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4. A child admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis is demonstrating Kussmaul respirations. The nurse determines th
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at the increased respiratory rate is a compensatory mechanism for which acid base alteration?
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A. Metabolicalkalosis.
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B. Respiratory acidosis.
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C. Respiratoryalkalosis.
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D. Metabolic acidosis.
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D. Metabolic acidosis.
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,5. 7 years old is admitted to the hospital with persistent vomiting, and a nasogastric tube attached to low int
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ermittent suction is applied. Which finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provi
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der?
A. Gastric output of 100 mL in the last 8 hours.
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B. Shift intake of 640 mL IV fluids plus 30 mL PO ice chips.
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C. Serum potassium of 3.0 mg/dL.
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D. Serum pH of 7.45.
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C. Serum potassium of 3.0 mg/dL.
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6. The nurse is evaluating diet teaching for a client who has nontropical sprue (celiac disease). Choosing which fo
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od indicates that the teaching has been effective?
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A. Creamed corn. zl
B. Pancakes.
C. Rye crackers. zl
D. Cooked oatmeal. zl
A. Creamed corn. zl
7. During a well- zl zl
baby check, the nurse hides a block under the baby's blanket, and the baby looks for the block. Which normal grow
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th and development milestone is the baby developing?
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A. Separation anxiety.
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B. Associativeplay.
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C. Object prehension.
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D. Object permanence.
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D. Object permanence.
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8. The nurse is measuring the frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3-
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months old infant, and notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches since birth and the child's head appears large in re
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
lation to body size. Which action is most important for the nurse to take next?
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A. Measuretheinfant'shead-to-toelength.
B. Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging. zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
C. Observe the infant for sunken eyes. zl zl zl zl zl
D. Plot the measurement on the infant's growth chart.
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B. Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging. zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
9. The nurse is preparing a 10-year-old with a lacerated forehead for suturing. Both parents and 12-year-
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
old sibling are at the child's bedside. Which instruction best supports family?
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, A. While waiting for the healthcare provider, only one visitor may stay with the child.
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B. All of you should leave while the healthcare provider sutures the child's forehead.
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C. It is best if the sibling goes to the waiting room until the suturing is completed.
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D. Please decide who will stay when the healthcare provider begins suturing.
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D. Please decide who will stay when the healthcare provider begins suturing.
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10. The nurse is planning for a 5- zl zl zl zl zl zl
month old with gastroesophageal reflux disease whose weight has decreased by 3 ounces since the last clinic visi
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t one month ago. To increase caloric intake and decrease vomiting, what
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instructions should the nurse provide this mother? zl zl zl zl zl zl
A. Givesmallamountsofbabyfoodwitheachfeeding.
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B. Thicken formula with cereal for each feeding.
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C. Dilute the child's formula with equal parts of water.
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D. Offer 10 % dextrose in water between most feedings.
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B. Thicken formula with cereal for each feeding.
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11. While teaching a parenting class to new parents the nurse describes the needs of infants and toddlers
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regarding discipline and limit setting. What is the most important reason for implementing such parenting behaviors
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?
A. Children need help in developing social skills.This age child fears loss of self-control.
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B.They provide the child with a sense of security
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.C. Children must to learn to deal with authority.
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B.They provide the child with a sense of security
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12. The parents of a newborn infant with hypospadia are concerned about when the surgical correction should oc
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cur. What information should the nurse provide?
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A. Repair should be done by one month to prevent bladder infection. B.Toformaproperurethrarepair,itshouldbedone
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aftersexualmaturity.
C. Repairs typically should be done before the child is potty trained.
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D. Delaying the repair until school age reduces castration fears.
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C. Repairs typically should be done before the child is potty trained.
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13. Which drink choice on a hot day indicates to the nurse that a teenager with sickle cell anemia understands die
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tary consideration related to the disease?
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A. Milkshake.
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B. Iced tea.
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C. Diet cola.
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Rationales
1. The nurse is caring for a 3-
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year old child who is 2 hours postop from a cardiac catheterization via the right femoral artery. Which assessme
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
nt finding is an indication of arterial obstruction?
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
a. Blood pressure trend is downward and pulse is rapid and irregular.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
b. Right foot is cool to the touch and appears pale and blanched.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
c. Pulse distal to the femoral artery is weaker on the left foot than right foot.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
d. The pressure dressing at right femoral area is moist and oozing blood.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
b. Right foot is cool to the touch and appears pale and blanched.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
2. Following a motor vehicle collision, a 3- zl zl zl zl zl zl
year old girl has a spica cast applied. Which toy is best for the nurse for this 3-year-old child?
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A. Duckthatsqueaks.
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B. Fashiondollandclothes.
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C. Set of cloth and hand puppets.
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D. Hand held video game.
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C. Set of cloth and hand puppets.
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3. An infant with tetralogy of Fallot becomes acutely cyanotic and hyperpneic. Which action should the nurse im
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
plement first? zl
A. Administer morphine sulphate.
zl zl zl
B. Start IV fluids.
zl zl zl
C. Place the infant in a knee-chest position.
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D. Provide 100% oxygen by face mask.
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C. Place the infant in a knee-chest position.
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4. A child admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis is demonstrating Kussmaul respirations. The nurse determines th
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
at the increased respiratory rate is a compensatory mechanism for which acid base alteration?
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
A. Metabolicalkalosis.
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B. Respiratory acidosis.
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C. Respiratoryalkalosis.
zl
D. Metabolic acidosis.
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D. Metabolic acidosis.
zl zl
,5. 7 years old is admitted to the hospital with persistent vomiting, and a nasogastric tube attached to low int
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
ermittent suction is applied. Which finding is most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provi
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
der?
A. Gastric output of 100 mL in the last 8 hours.
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B. Shift intake of 640 mL IV fluids plus 30 mL PO ice chips.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
C. Serum potassium of 3.0 mg/dL.
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D. Serum pH of 7.45.
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C. Serum potassium of 3.0 mg/dL.
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6. The nurse is evaluating diet teaching for a client who has nontropical sprue (celiac disease). Choosing which fo
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
od indicates that the teaching has been effective?
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A. Creamed corn. zl
B. Pancakes.
C. Rye crackers. zl
D. Cooked oatmeal. zl
A. Creamed corn. zl
7. During a well- zl zl
baby check, the nurse hides a block under the baby's blanket, and the baby looks for the block. Which normal grow
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
th and development milestone is the baby developing?
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A. Separation anxiety.
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B. Associativeplay.
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C. Object prehension.
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D. Object permanence.
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D. Object permanence.
zl zl
8. The nurse is measuring the frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3-
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
months old infant, and notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches since birth and the child's head appears large in re
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
lation to body size. Which action is most important for the nurse to take next?
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
A. Measuretheinfant'shead-to-toelength.
B. Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging. zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
C. Observe the infant for sunken eyes. zl zl zl zl zl
D. Plot the measurement on the infant's growth chart.
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B. Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging. zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
9. The nurse is preparing a 10-year-old with a lacerated forehead for suturing. Both parents and 12-year-
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
old sibling are at the child's bedside. Which instruction best supports family?
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, A. While waiting for the healthcare provider, only one visitor may stay with the child.
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B. All of you should leave while the healthcare provider sutures the child's forehead.
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C. It is best if the sibling goes to the waiting room until the suturing is completed.
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D. Please decide who will stay when the healthcare provider begins suturing.
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D. Please decide who will stay when the healthcare provider begins suturing.
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10. The nurse is planning for a 5- zl zl zl zl zl zl
month old with gastroesophageal reflux disease whose weight has decreased by 3 ounces since the last clinic visi
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
t one month ago. To increase caloric intake and decrease vomiting, what
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
instructions should the nurse provide this mother? zl zl zl zl zl zl
A. Givesmallamountsofbabyfoodwitheachfeeding.
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B. Thicken formula with cereal for each feeding.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
C. Dilute the child's formula with equal parts of water.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
D. Offer 10 % dextrose in water between most feedings.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
B. Thicken formula with cereal for each feeding.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
11. While teaching a parenting class to new parents the nurse describes the needs of infants and toddlers
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
regarding discipline and limit setting. What is the most important reason for implementing such parenting behaviors
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
?
A. Children need help in developing social skills.This age child fears loss of self-control.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
B.They provide the child with a sense of security
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.C. Children must to learn to deal with authority.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
B.They provide the child with a sense of security
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
12. The parents of a newborn infant with hypospadia are concerned about when the surgical correction should oc
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
cur. What information should the nurse provide?
zl zl zl zl zl zl
A. Repair should be done by one month to prevent bladder infection. B.Toformaproperurethrarepair,itshouldbedone
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
aftersexualmaturity.
C. Repairs typically should be done before the child is potty trained.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
D. Delaying the repair until school age reduces castration fears.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
C. Repairs typically should be done before the child is potty trained.
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
13. Which drink choice on a hot day indicates to the nurse that a teenager with sickle cell anemia understands die
zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl zl
tary consideration related to the disease?
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A. Milkshake.
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B. Iced tea.
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C. Diet cola.
zl zl
