HESI Pediatric Practice Exam with
Answers
The practical nurse (PN) identifies an increased frequency of otitis media (OM) is children who
are coming to the clinic. Based on this finding, which age group should the PN monitor a child
for signs and symptoms of OM? - ✔✔Toddler
The practical nurse (PN) collects information about infant growth and development milestones
for infants who come to the clinic for a well child visit. Which findings should the PN document
as normal infant growth and development? - ✔✔Birth weight doubles by age 5 months and
triples by 1 year.
Which nonfood item is the most common cause of respiratory arrest in young children?
a. Buttons
b. Pacifiers
c. Broken rattles
d. Latex balloons - ✔✔Latex balloons
The practical nurse (PN) is talking with a group of elementary students about bicycle safety.
Which information should the PN provide? - ✔✔children should wear a bicycle helmet when
riding a bicycle
An adolescent female who comes to the school clinic is reluctant to confide her concerns to the
practical nurse (PN). The PN tells the teen that confidentiality and privacy are maintained unless
a life-threatening situation arises. Which principal supports the PN's response? - ✔✔honest
information ensures establishing a trusting relationship
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a 6 year old girl who had surgery 12 hours ago. The child
tells the PN that she does not have pain but a few minutes later, tells her parents that she does.
, What child development concept is relevant to this situation? - ✔✔a child may have pain yet
deny its presence to the nurse
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a child who is manifesting signs of shock after a motor
vehicle collision. Which finding is most important for the PN to report to the charge nurse? -
✔✔Narrowing pulse pressure
The practical nurse (PN) arrives at the playgrounds and sees a school-aged boy who has eaten
something he is allergic to and is demonstrating a stridor. Which action should the PN
implement first?
a. Ask if the child is alone
b. call for an ambulance
c. move the child to a different environment
d. determine what the child has eaten - ✔✔call for an ambulance
A child who is admitted with acute abdominal pain and possible appendicitis. Which action
should the practical nurse (PN) implement for the child's abdominal discomfort? - ✔✔assist the
child to any position of comfort.
A child is admitted for observation following a closed head injury. Which assessment is most
essential for the practical nues (PN) to monitor for an early sign of a worsening condition? -
✔✔Level of consciousness
A 3 year old boy with cerebral palsy (CP) has difficulty swallowing, cannot hold a utensil, and is
slightly underweight for his height. Which action should the practical nurse implement when
feeding this child? - ✔✔stabilize the child's jaw with the caregiver's hand
Which of Freud's psychosexual development stages occurs during a toddler's growth and
development?
Answers
The practical nurse (PN) identifies an increased frequency of otitis media (OM) is children who
are coming to the clinic. Based on this finding, which age group should the PN monitor a child
for signs and symptoms of OM? - ✔✔Toddler
The practical nurse (PN) collects information about infant growth and development milestones
for infants who come to the clinic for a well child visit. Which findings should the PN document
as normal infant growth and development? - ✔✔Birth weight doubles by age 5 months and
triples by 1 year.
Which nonfood item is the most common cause of respiratory arrest in young children?
a. Buttons
b. Pacifiers
c. Broken rattles
d. Latex balloons - ✔✔Latex balloons
The practical nurse (PN) is talking with a group of elementary students about bicycle safety.
Which information should the PN provide? - ✔✔children should wear a bicycle helmet when
riding a bicycle
An adolescent female who comes to the school clinic is reluctant to confide her concerns to the
practical nurse (PN). The PN tells the teen that confidentiality and privacy are maintained unless
a life-threatening situation arises. Which principal supports the PN's response? - ✔✔honest
information ensures establishing a trusting relationship
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a 6 year old girl who had surgery 12 hours ago. The child
tells the PN that she does not have pain but a few minutes later, tells her parents that she does.
, What child development concept is relevant to this situation? - ✔✔a child may have pain yet
deny its presence to the nurse
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a child who is manifesting signs of shock after a motor
vehicle collision. Which finding is most important for the PN to report to the charge nurse? -
✔✔Narrowing pulse pressure
The practical nurse (PN) arrives at the playgrounds and sees a school-aged boy who has eaten
something he is allergic to and is demonstrating a stridor. Which action should the PN
implement first?
a. Ask if the child is alone
b. call for an ambulance
c. move the child to a different environment
d. determine what the child has eaten - ✔✔call for an ambulance
A child who is admitted with acute abdominal pain and possible appendicitis. Which action
should the practical nurse (PN) implement for the child's abdominal discomfort? - ✔✔assist the
child to any position of comfort.
A child is admitted for observation following a closed head injury. Which assessment is most
essential for the practical nues (PN) to monitor for an early sign of a worsening condition? -
✔✔Level of consciousness
A 3 year old boy with cerebral palsy (CP) has difficulty swallowing, cannot hold a utensil, and is
slightly underweight for his height. Which action should the practical nurse implement when
feeding this child? - ✔✔stabilize the child's jaw with the caregiver's hand
Which of Freud's psychosexual development stages occurs during a toddler's growth and
development?
