HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
40. The nurse is examining an infant and prepares to elicit the Moro reflex at which time during the
examination?
A) When the infant is sleeping
B) At the end of the examination
C) Before auscultation of the thorax
D) Halfway through the examination - CORRECT ANSWERS B) At the end of the examination
Page: 123. Elicit the Moro or "startle" reflex at the end of the examination because it may cause the
infant to cry.
41. Which child's behavior warrants notifying the child developmental specialist? 1. The 1-year-old child
who cries when the parent leaves the room.
2. The 2-year-old child who can talk in two- or three-word sentences.
3. The 3-year-old child who is toilet trained for bowel and bladder.
4. The 4-year-old child who throws frequent temper tantrums. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. A 1 yr
old child who cries when the parent leaves the room is developmentally on target
2. The 2-year-old who can speak in two- or
three-word sentences is developmentally on
target.
3. The 3-year-old should be toilet trained by
this age.
**4. The toddler (age 1-3) is expected to throw temper tantrums, but a 4-year-old child should not be
doing this; therefore, the child is not developmentally on target and the child developmental specialist
should be notified.
,HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
41. A 6-month-old infant has been brought to the well-child clinic for a check-up. She is currently
sleeping. What should the nurse do first when beginning the examination?
A) Auscultate the lungs and heart while the infant is still sleeping.
B) Examine the infant's hips because this procedure is uncomfortable.
C) Begin with the assessment of the eye and continue with the remainder of the examination in a head-
to-toe approach.
D) Wake the infant before beginning any portion of the examination to obtain the most accurate
assessment of body systems. - CORRECT ANSWERS A) Auscultate the lungs and heart while the
infant is still sleeping.
Pages: 122-124. When the infant is quiet or sleeping is an ideal time to assess the cardiac, respiratory,
and abdominal systems. Assessment of the eye, ear, nose, and throat are invasive procedures and
should be performed at the end of the examination.
42. Which child should the nurse assign to the new graduate who has just completed orientation to the
pediatric unit?
1. The 5-year-old child admitted in a sickle cell crisis whose patient-controlled
analgesia (PCA) pump is not controlling the child's pain.
2. The 6-year-old child in Russell's traction for a fractured femur who has insertion
pin sites that are inflamed and infected.
3. The 12-year-old child who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who needs
medication teaching.
4. The 16-year-old female diagnosed with scoliosis who is being admitted for inser-
tion of a spinal rod in the morning. - CORRECT ANSWERS 42. 1. The child with uncontrolled pain
would require a more experienced nurse.
2. Infected skeletal pin sites can lead to osteomyelitis, which would require a more experienced nurse.
,HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
3. This child and parents require extensive teaching and should be assigned to a more experienced
nurse.
**4. The new graduate should be able to com- plete preoperative teaching and prepare the young client
for surgery. This client is stable.
42. The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old male patient. Which assessment findings would be considered
normal?
A) An increase in body weight from younger years
B) Additional deposits of fat on the thighs and lower legs
C) The presence of kyphosis and flexion in the knees and hips
D) A change in overall body proportion, a longer trunk, and shorter extremities - CORRECT
ANSWERS C) The presence of kyphosis and flexion in the knees and hips
Page: 149. Changes that occur in the aging person include more prominent bony landmarks, decreased
body weight (especially in males), a decrease in subcutaneous fat from the face and periphery, and
additional fat deposited on the abdomen and hips. Postural changes of kyphosis and slight flexion in the
knees and hips also occur.
43. Which action by the emergency department (ED) nurse warrants intervention by the charge nurse?
1. The nurse is elevating the right arm of a child who appears to have fractured the wrist.
2. The nurse is notifying Child Protective Services for a child who is suspected of being sexually abused.
3. The nurse is assessing the tonsils on a 4-year-old child who has a sore throat and is drooling.
4. The nurse is obtaining a midstream urine specimen for the child who is complain- ing of burning upon
urination. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Elevating the arm to help decrease edema is an appropriate
intervention and does not warrant intervention.
2. The nurse is legally obligated to notify CPS for any suspected child abuse.
, HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
**3. A child who is drooling may have epiglot- titis and opening the mouth may lead to respiratory
distress. This action warrants intervention by the charge nurse.
4. The nurse needs to confirm a urinary tract
infection by obtaining a urine specimen.
43. When assessing the force, or strength, of a pulse, the nurse recalls that it:
A) is usually recorded on a 0- to 2-point scale.
B) demonstrates elasticity of the vessel wall.
C) is a reflection of the heart's stroke volume.
D) reflects the blood volume in the arteries during diastole. - CORRECT ANSWERS C) is a
reflection of the heart's stroke volume.
Page: 134. The heart pumps an amount of blood (the stroke volume) into the aorta. The force flares the
arterial walls and generates a pressure wave, which is felt in the periphery as the pulse.
45. Which interventions should the nurse implement to help establish a nurse/parent relationship?
Select all that apply.
1. Include the parents when developing the plan of care for their child.
2. Encourage the parents to hold their child as much as possible.
3. Allow the parents to verbalize their feelings of fear and anxiety. 4. Tell the parents to never leave
while the child is hospitalized.
5. Request the parents to bring toys from home the child will enjoy. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1 and
3 are correct.
1. Including the parents in developing the
plan of care will help establish a positive
relationship.
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
40. The nurse is examining an infant and prepares to elicit the Moro reflex at which time during the
examination?
A) When the infant is sleeping
B) At the end of the examination
C) Before auscultation of the thorax
D) Halfway through the examination - CORRECT ANSWERS B) At the end of the examination
Page: 123. Elicit the Moro or "startle" reflex at the end of the examination because it may cause the
infant to cry.
41. Which child's behavior warrants notifying the child developmental specialist? 1. The 1-year-old child
who cries when the parent leaves the room.
2. The 2-year-old child who can talk in two- or three-word sentences.
3. The 3-year-old child who is toilet trained for bowel and bladder.
4. The 4-year-old child who throws frequent temper tantrums. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. A 1 yr
old child who cries when the parent leaves the room is developmentally on target
2. The 2-year-old who can speak in two- or
three-word sentences is developmentally on
target.
3. The 3-year-old should be toilet trained by
this age.
**4. The toddler (age 1-3) is expected to throw temper tantrums, but a 4-year-old child should not be
doing this; therefore, the child is not developmentally on target and the child developmental specialist
should be notified.
,HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
41. A 6-month-old infant has been brought to the well-child clinic for a check-up. She is currently
sleeping. What should the nurse do first when beginning the examination?
A) Auscultate the lungs and heart while the infant is still sleeping.
B) Examine the infant's hips because this procedure is uncomfortable.
C) Begin with the assessment of the eye and continue with the remainder of the examination in a head-
to-toe approach.
D) Wake the infant before beginning any portion of the examination to obtain the most accurate
assessment of body systems. - CORRECT ANSWERS A) Auscultate the lungs and heart while the
infant is still sleeping.
Pages: 122-124. When the infant is quiet or sleeping is an ideal time to assess the cardiac, respiratory,
and abdominal systems. Assessment of the eye, ear, nose, and throat are invasive procedures and
should be performed at the end of the examination.
42. Which child should the nurse assign to the new graduate who has just completed orientation to the
pediatric unit?
1. The 5-year-old child admitted in a sickle cell crisis whose patient-controlled
analgesia (PCA) pump is not controlling the child's pain.
2. The 6-year-old child in Russell's traction for a fractured femur who has insertion
pin sites that are inflamed and infected.
3. The 12-year-old child who is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes who needs
medication teaching.
4. The 16-year-old female diagnosed with scoliosis who is being admitted for inser-
tion of a spinal rod in the morning. - CORRECT ANSWERS 42. 1. The child with uncontrolled pain
would require a more experienced nurse.
2. Infected skeletal pin sites can lead to osteomyelitis, which would require a more experienced nurse.
,HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
3. This child and parents require extensive teaching and should be assigned to a more experienced
nurse.
**4. The new graduate should be able to com- plete preoperative teaching and prepare the young client
for surgery. This client is stable.
42. The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old male patient. Which assessment findings would be considered
normal?
A) An increase in body weight from younger years
B) Additional deposits of fat on the thighs and lower legs
C) The presence of kyphosis and flexion in the knees and hips
D) A change in overall body proportion, a longer trunk, and shorter extremities - CORRECT
ANSWERS C) The presence of kyphosis and flexion in the knees and hips
Page: 149. Changes that occur in the aging person include more prominent bony landmarks, decreased
body weight (especially in males), a decrease in subcutaneous fat from the face and periphery, and
additional fat deposited on the abdomen and hips. Postural changes of kyphosis and slight flexion in the
knees and hips also occur.
43. Which action by the emergency department (ED) nurse warrants intervention by the charge nurse?
1. The nurse is elevating the right arm of a child who appears to have fractured the wrist.
2. The nurse is notifying Child Protective Services for a child who is suspected of being sexually abused.
3. The nurse is assessing the tonsils on a 4-year-old child who has a sore throat and is drooling.
4. The nurse is obtaining a midstream urine specimen for the child who is complain- ing of burning upon
urination. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1. Elevating the arm to help decrease edema is an appropriate
intervention and does not warrant intervention.
2. The nurse is legally obligated to notify CPS for any suspected child abuse.
, HESI A2 - CRITICAL THINKING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATED 2025/2026 A COMPLETE
SOLUTION ALL ANSWERS 100% CORRECT DETAILED
BEST GRADED TO SCORE A+ FOR SUCCESS
**3. A child who is drooling may have epiglot- titis and opening the mouth may lead to respiratory
distress. This action warrants intervention by the charge nurse.
4. The nurse needs to confirm a urinary tract
infection by obtaining a urine specimen.
43. When assessing the force, or strength, of a pulse, the nurse recalls that it:
A) is usually recorded on a 0- to 2-point scale.
B) demonstrates elasticity of the vessel wall.
C) is a reflection of the heart's stroke volume.
D) reflects the blood volume in the arteries during diastole. - CORRECT ANSWERS C) is a
reflection of the heart's stroke volume.
Page: 134. The heart pumps an amount of blood (the stroke volume) into the aorta. The force flares the
arterial walls and generates a pressure wave, which is felt in the periphery as the pulse.
45. Which interventions should the nurse implement to help establish a nurse/parent relationship?
Select all that apply.
1. Include the parents when developing the plan of care for their child.
2. Encourage the parents to hold their child as much as possible.
3. Allow the parents to verbalize their feelings of fear and anxiety. 4. Tell the parents to never leave
while the child is hospitalized.
5. Request the parents to bring toys from home the child will enjoy. - CORRECT ANSWERS 1 and
3 are correct.
1. Including the parents in developing the
plan of care will help establish a positive
relationship.
