2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
Terms in this set (101)
a 1-year-old infant has been admitted with a tentative increased protein level
diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. which cerebrospinal fluid
(csf) laboratory finding would support this diagnosis?
- decreased cell count
- increased protein level
- increased glucose level
- low spinal fluid pressure
a 2-year-old child is placed in an oxygen tent. what clothes an all cotton sleeper
will the nurse recommend the parents bring from home for
the child? (rationale: the child will be in an environment of cool, moist air. cotton is a breathable
- an all cotton sleeper fabric appropriate for this environment. polyester and synthetic fibers will trap the
- a synthetic shirt and baggy shorts cool moisture. wool will make the child feel cold when it gets moist)
- a polyester play outfit
- a lightly woven wool sweater
a 3-month-old infant returns from surgery with elbow provide matters with the use of elbow restraints
restraints and a logan bow over a cleft lip suture line. which
action should the nurse take to maintain suture line integrity (rationale: the use of an infant seat simulates a supine position with the head elevated
during the initial postoperative period? and also prevents aspiration. prone positioning should be avoided to prevent
- place the infant upright in an infant seat position disruption of the protective logan bow and prevent the infant from rubbing the face on
- provide matters with the use of elbow restraints the bed surface. mittens are not necessary and decrease the ability to provide sensory
- use soft rubber catheters for nasal suctioning comfort, such as hand holding)
- apply water soluble lubricant to the suture line
1
, 2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
a 3-month-old infant weighing 10 lb 15 oz has an axillary 600 calories/day
temperature of 99.6°F. how many calories per day will the
nurse include in the infant's plan of care? (rationale: an infant requires 108 calories/kg/day. the first step is to change 10 lb 15 oz
- 400 calories/day to 10.9 lb. then convert pounds to kilograms by dividing pounds by 2.2, which is
- 500 calories/day 10.9/2.2 = 4.954 kg, rounded to 5 kg. The second step is to multiply 108
- 600 calories/day calories/kg/day (108 × 5 = 540 calories/day). however, this infant requires 10% more
- 700 calories/day calories because of the 1°F temperature elevation. Ten percent of 540 (calories/day) is
54, and 540 + 54 = 594. this infant will require approximately 600 calories/day)
a 6-month-old infant is admitted to the postanesthesia care remove restrains one at a time and provide ROM exercises
unit with elbow restraints in place. an endotracheal tube is in
place connected to a ventilator, but the child will be
extubated soon following recovery from anesthesia. which
action should the nurse include in the child's postoperative
care?
- keep restraints on at all times to prevent unplanned
extubation
- remove restrains one at a time and provide ROM exercises
- remove all restrains simultaneously and provide play
activities
- document the reason for application of the restraints for
every 72 hours
2
, 2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
a 7-month-old male infant diagnosed with spastic cerebral "my son often chokes while I am feeding him"
palsy is seen by the nurse in the clinic. which statement by
the parent warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
- "my son often chokes while I am feeding him"
- "is it normal for my child's legs to cross each other?"
- "he gets stiff when I pull him up to a sitting position?"
- "my 4 year old son is jealous of his little brother"
a 9-month-old infant is admitted to the pediatric unit. twelve taking the next measurement with both a neonate and a child size cuff
hours later, the nurse determines that the previous blood
pressures were taken using a neonate-size cuff. which is the
best action for the nurse to take?
- removing all neonate size cuffs from the unit
- using the neonate size cuff for future measurement
- taking the next measurement with both a neonate and a
child size cuff
- notifying the health care provider that the results were
obtained with a neonate-size cuff
a 10-month-old is admitted for a tetralogy of fallot repair. - absence of cyanosis when feeding
which postoperative finding indicates that the repair is - lips are pink when crying
successful? (select all that apply.) - heart rate is 120 beats/min
- absence of cyanosis when feeding - respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min
- presence of a heart murmur
- lips are pink when crying (rationale: the heart murmur associated with tetralogy of fallot should be resolved
- heart rate is 120 beats/min after the repair. the cyanosis with feeding, crying, and defecation should resolve. vital
- respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min signs are normal as there is no need to compensate for the congenital defect)
3
, 2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
an 18-month-old child returns to the unit following a cardiac show the parents how to hold the child with the extremity extended
catheterization with a cannulated femoral artery site. which
action will the nurse include when teaching the parents about (rationale: the extremity should be extended to prevent trauma to the femoral
immediate post-procedure care? catheterization site. options A and D increase the risk for complications and are
- teach the parents how to ambulate the child in the room contraindicated. option C is not necessary. only the extremity that was catheterized
safely requires immobilization)
- show the parents how to hold the child with the extremity
extended
- restrain the child's lower extremities for a minimum of 4
hours
- place the child in a prone position to apply pressure to the
site
according to erikson's theory, in which stage would the nurse initiative vs guilt stage
expect a preschooler to start to pretend?
- initiative vs guilt stage
- integrity vs despair stage
- autonomy vs a sense of shame and doubt stage
- generatively vs self absorption and stagnation stage
according to erikson's theory of psychosocial development, development of a sense of initiative
which task does the nurse recognize as the chief
psychosocial task of preschoolers?
- control over bodily functions
- development of a sense of initiative
- toleration of separation from parents
- ability to interact with others in a less egocentric manner
4
Terms in this set (101)
a 1-year-old infant has been admitted with a tentative increased protein level
diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. which cerebrospinal fluid
(csf) laboratory finding would support this diagnosis?
- decreased cell count
- increased protein level
- increased glucose level
- low spinal fluid pressure
a 2-year-old child is placed in an oxygen tent. what clothes an all cotton sleeper
will the nurse recommend the parents bring from home for
the child? (rationale: the child will be in an environment of cool, moist air. cotton is a breathable
- an all cotton sleeper fabric appropriate for this environment. polyester and synthetic fibers will trap the
- a synthetic shirt and baggy shorts cool moisture. wool will make the child feel cold when it gets moist)
- a polyester play outfit
- a lightly woven wool sweater
a 3-month-old infant returns from surgery with elbow provide matters with the use of elbow restraints
restraints and a logan bow over a cleft lip suture line. which
action should the nurse take to maintain suture line integrity (rationale: the use of an infant seat simulates a supine position with the head elevated
during the initial postoperative period? and also prevents aspiration. prone positioning should be avoided to prevent
- place the infant upright in an infant seat position disruption of the protective logan bow and prevent the infant from rubbing the face on
- provide matters with the use of elbow restraints the bed surface. mittens are not necessary and decrease the ability to provide sensory
- use soft rubber catheters for nasal suctioning comfort, such as hand holding)
- apply water soluble lubricant to the suture line
1
, 2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
a 3-month-old infant weighing 10 lb 15 oz has an axillary 600 calories/day
temperature of 99.6°F. how many calories per day will the
nurse include in the infant's plan of care? (rationale: an infant requires 108 calories/kg/day. the first step is to change 10 lb 15 oz
- 400 calories/day to 10.9 lb. then convert pounds to kilograms by dividing pounds by 2.2, which is
- 500 calories/day 10.9/2.2 = 4.954 kg, rounded to 5 kg. The second step is to multiply 108
- 600 calories/day calories/kg/day (108 × 5 = 540 calories/day). however, this infant requires 10% more
- 700 calories/day calories because of the 1°F temperature elevation. Ten percent of 540 (calories/day) is
54, and 540 + 54 = 594. this infant will require approximately 600 calories/day)
a 6-month-old infant is admitted to the postanesthesia care remove restrains one at a time and provide ROM exercises
unit with elbow restraints in place. an endotracheal tube is in
place connected to a ventilator, but the child will be
extubated soon following recovery from anesthesia. which
action should the nurse include in the child's postoperative
care?
- keep restraints on at all times to prevent unplanned
extubation
- remove restrains one at a time and provide ROM exercises
- remove all restrains simultaneously and provide play
activities
- document the reason for application of the restraints for
every 72 hours
2
, 2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
a 7-month-old male infant diagnosed with spastic cerebral "my son often chokes while I am feeding him"
palsy is seen by the nurse in the clinic. which statement by
the parent warrants immediate intervention by the nurse?
- "my son often chokes while I am feeding him"
- "is it normal for my child's legs to cross each other?"
- "he gets stiff when I pull him up to a sitting position?"
- "my 4 year old son is jealous of his little brother"
a 9-month-old infant is admitted to the pediatric unit. twelve taking the next measurement with both a neonate and a child size cuff
hours later, the nurse determines that the previous blood
pressures were taken using a neonate-size cuff. which is the
best action for the nurse to take?
- removing all neonate size cuffs from the unit
- using the neonate size cuff for future measurement
- taking the next measurement with both a neonate and a
child size cuff
- notifying the health care provider that the results were
obtained with a neonate-size cuff
a 10-month-old is admitted for a tetralogy of fallot repair. - absence of cyanosis when feeding
which postoperative finding indicates that the repair is - lips are pink when crying
successful? (select all that apply.) - heart rate is 120 beats/min
- absence of cyanosis when feeding - respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min
- presence of a heart murmur
- lips are pink when crying (rationale: the heart murmur associated with tetralogy of fallot should be resolved
- heart rate is 120 beats/min after the repair. the cyanosis with feeding, crying, and defecation should resolve. vital
- respiratory rate is 32 breaths/min signs are normal as there is no need to compensate for the congenital defect)
3
, 2026 pediatrics HESI practice Q&A Questions Answered
an 18-month-old child returns to the unit following a cardiac show the parents how to hold the child with the extremity extended
catheterization with a cannulated femoral artery site. which
action will the nurse include when teaching the parents about (rationale: the extremity should be extended to prevent trauma to the femoral
immediate post-procedure care? catheterization site. options A and D increase the risk for complications and are
- teach the parents how to ambulate the child in the room contraindicated. option C is not necessary. only the extremity that was catheterized
safely requires immobilization)
- show the parents how to hold the child with the extremity
extended
- restrain the child's lower extremities for a minimum of 4
hours
- place the child in a prone position to apply pressure to the
site
according to erikson's theory, in which stage would the nurse initiative vs guilt stage
expect a preschooler to start to pretend?
- initiative vs guilt stage
- integrity vs despair stage
- autonomy vs a sense of shame and doubt stage
- generatively vs self absorption and stagnation stage
according to erikson's theory of psychosocial development, development of a sense of initiative
which task does the nurse recognize as the chief
psychosocial task of preschoolers?
- control over bodily functions
- development of a sense of initiative
- toleration of separation from parents
- ability to interact with others in a less egocentric manner
4
