HESI PN Obstetrics/Maternity Practice Exam,
Pediatrics HESI PN Review, Hesi Peds, PN
HESI Peds, Peds & Maternity HESI, HESI
Maternity/Pediatric Remediation Answered
Correctly Updated
A mother phones the clinic because her 6-year-old child has been taking prescribed antibiotics
for 7 of the previous 10 days and continues to cough. She also reports that the cough is
worsening and is nonproductive. What information should the practical nurse (PN) provide to
this mother?
a. Watch the child a few more days and see if the cough begins to produce sputum.
b. Complete the full 10-day course of antibiotics and reevaluate the cough then.
c. Give the child plenty of fluids and an over-the-counter cough suppressant.
d. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough. - Correct Answer-
d. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough.
Rationale:The child should be evaluated as soon as possible for pneumonia. Antibiotics usually
improve symptoms during the first few days of treatment but should be continued for the full
prescribed course. A continued cough after 7 days of antibiotic treatment may indicate an
infectious process in the lower lungs, which could cause a nonproductive cough. Children with
pneumonia can deteriorate unexpectedly and rapidly and can become seriously ill with no
sputum production.
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing an 8-month-old who has a medical diagnosis of tetralogy of
Fallot. The child demonstrates cyanosis with crying and exertion. Which other symptom is this
infant most likely to exhibit?
a. Bradycardia
b. Squatting posture
c. Weak pedal pulses
d. Clubbed fingers - Correct Answer-d. Clubbed fingers
Page 1 of 126
,Rationale:Tetralogy of Fallot, a cyanotic heart defect, causes clubbing of fingers and toes
resulting from tissue hypoxia.
A high-school graduate with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents to the
family health care provider for a precollege physical and tells the practical nurse (PN), "I don't
want to take my amphetamine-dextroamphetamine in college." How should the PN respond?
a. "There are other medications you can use for ADHD."
b. "Your ADHD probably won't be a problem in college."
c. "What will happen if you stop your Adderall?"
d. "What are your concerns about continuing Adderall?" - Correct Answer-d. "What are your
concerns about continuing Adderall?"
Rationale:It is important to understand the client's concerns about taking amphetamine-
dextroamphetamine before making a judgment about his future use of the drug.
Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement first when obtaining the tympanic
temperature of a 2-year-old child?
a. Point the thermometer probe tip anteriorly.
b. Remove drainage from the external auditory meatus.
c. Apply the probe cover to the electronic thermometer.
d. Ask the mother to help stabilize the child's head. - Correct Answer-c. Apply the probe cover
to the electronic thermometer.
Rationale:Before a tympanic temperature is obtained, the equipment should be prepared for
use without manipulating the electronic thermometer in front of the child, so a clean probe
cover should be applied first.
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a child with asthma for retractions during respirations.
When should the PN recognize the absence or presence of intercostal retractions?
Page 2 of 126
,a. Inspiration
b. Coughing
c. Apneic episodes
d. Expiration - Correct Answer-a. Inspiration
Rationale:Intercostal retractions result during the respiratory effort to draw air into restricted
airways.
A short arm cast is applied to a child with a fractured right ulna. The practical nurse (PN) is
preparing the parents with home instructions and should reinforce that the parents follow
which discharge instruction?
a. Call the health care provider immediately if the nail beds appear "blue" or "empty."
b. Check the child's ability to move his fingers without pain hourly for the first 48 hours.
c. Elevate the arm above the heart for the first 24 hours.
d. Monitor temperature every 4 hours for the next 2 days and call if an elevation is noted. -
Correct Answer-a. Call the health care provider immediately if the nail beds appear "blue" or
"empty."
Rationale:Cyanosis indicates impaired circulation to the fingers and should be reported
immediately.
A 2-year-old child who is hospitalized with an acute upper respiratory infection (URI) is crying
uncontrollably because her mother went to the cafeteria for lunch. Which action should the
practical nurse implement?
a. Distract the child with a favorite toy.
b. Tell the child that her mother will return.
c. Take the child to the cafeteria.
d. Calm the child with a dietary treat. - Correct Answer-a. Distract the child with a favorite toy.
Rationale:The best action is to refocus the child's attention by distracting with a favorite toy.
Page 3 of 126
, A 2-month-old infant is scheduled to receive the first DPT immunization. What is the preferred
injection site to administer this immunization?
a. Dorsal gluteal
b. Vastus lateralis
c. Ventral gluteal
d. Deltoid - Correct Answer-b. Vastus lateralis
Rationale:The preferred intramuscular site for children younger than 2 years of age is the vastus
lateralis.
The practical nurse (PN) observes the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) placing a tongue
blade at the bedside of a child admitted with a seizure disorder. Which intervention should the
PN implement?
a. Determine if the tongue blade is the correct size based on the child's height and weight.
b. Advise the UAP that a nurse should assume this responsibility.
c. Assist the UAP to tape padding securely around the tongue blade.
d. Tell the UAP that tongue blades should not be inserted during a seizure. - Correct Answer-d.
Tell the UAP that tongue blades should not be inserted during a seizure.
Rationale:Tongue blades can cause damage or force the tongue to obstruct the airway and
should not be inserted during seizure activity. Nothing should be placed in the child's mouth.
During a seizure, the airway can be opened with jaw thrust technique, and the child can be
turned to the side to prevent pooling of secretions.
A child is admitted to the hospital for confirmation of a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic
leukemia. When performing a nursing assessment, which symptoms that are commonly
manifested by this condition should the practical nurse (PN) observe in the child?
a. Bone pain, pallor
b.Weakness, tremors
Page 4 of 126
Pediatrics HESI PN Review, Hesi Peds, PN
HESI Peds, Peds & Maternity HESI, HESI
Maternity/Pediatric Remediation Answered
Correctly Updated
A mother phones the clinic because her 6-year-old child has been taking prescribed antibiotics
for 7 of the previous 10 days and continues to cough. She also reports that the cough is
worsening and is nonproductive. What information should the practical nurse (PN) provide to
this mother?
a. Watch the child a few more days and see if the cough begins to produce sputum.
b. Complete the full 10-day course of antibiotics and reevaluate the cough then.
c. Give the child plenty of fluids and an over-the-counter cough suppressant.
d. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough. - Correct Answer-
d. Bring the child to the clinic today for an examination related to the cough.
Rationale:The child should be evaluated as soon as possible for pneumonia. Antibiotics usually
improve symptoms during the first few days of treatment but should be continued for the full
prescribed course. A continued cough after 7 days of antibiotic treatment may indicate an
infectious process in the lower lungs, which could cause a nonproductive cough. Children with
pneumonia can deteriorate unexpectedly and rapidly and can become seriously ill with no
sputum production.
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing an 8-month-old who has a medical diagnosis of tetralogy of
Fallot. The child demonstrates cyanosis with crying and exertion. Which other symptom is this
infant most likely to exhibit?
a. Bradycardia
b. Squatting posture
c. Weak pedal pulses
d. Clubbed fingers - Correct Answer-d. Clubbed fingers
Page 1 of 126
,Rationale:Tetralogy of Fallot, a cyanotic heart defect, causes clubbing of fingers and toes
resulting from tissue hypoxia.
A high-school graduate with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) presents to the
family health care provider for a precollege physical and tells the practical nurse (PN), "I don't
want to take my amphetamine-dextroamphetamine in college." How should the PN respond?
a. "There are other medications you can use for ADHD."
b. "Your ADHD probably won't be a problem in college."
c. "What will happen if you stop your Adderall?"
d. "What are your concerns about continuing Adderall?" - Correct Answer-d. "What are your
concerns about continuing Adderall?"
Rationale:It is important to understand the client's concerns about taking amphetamine-
dextroamphetamine before making a judgment about his future use of the drug.
Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement first when obtaining the tympanic
temperature of a 2-year-old child?
a. Point the thermometer probe tip anteriorly.
b. Remove drainage from the external auditory meatus.
c. Apply the probe cover to the electronic thermometer.
d. Ask the mother to help stabilize the child's head. - Correct Answer-c. Apply the probe cover
to the electronic thermometer.
Rationale:Before a tympanic temperature is obtained, the equipment should be prepared for
use without manipulating the electronic thermometer in front of the child, so a clean probe
cover should be applied first.
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a child with asthma for retractions during respirations.
When should the PN recognize the absence or presence of intercostal retractions?
Page 2 of 126
,a. Inspiration
b. Coughing
c. Apneic episodes
d. Expiration - Correct Answer-a. Inspiration
Rationale:Intercostal retractions result during the respiratory effort to draw air into restricted
airways.
A short arm cast is applied to a child with a fractured right ulna. The practical nurse (PN) is
preparing the parents with home instructions and should reinforce that the parents follow
which discharge instruction?
a. Call the health care provider immediately if the nail beds appear "blue" or "empty."
b. Check the child's ability to move his fingers without pain hourly for the first 48 hours.
c. Elevate the arm above the heart for the first 24 hours.
d. Monitor temperature every 4 hours for the next 2 days and call if an elevation is noted. -
Correct Answer-a. Call the health care provider immediately if the nail beds appear "blue" or
"empty."
Rationale:Cyanosis indicates impaired circulation to the fingers and should be reported
immediately.
A 2-year-old child who is hospitalized with an acute upper respiratory infection (URI) is crying
uncontrollably because her mother went to the cafeteria for lunch. Which action should the
practical nurse implement?
a. Distract the child with a favorite toy.
b. Tell the child that her mother will return.
c. Take the child to the cafeteria.
d. Calm the child with a dietary treat. - Correct Answer-a. Distract the child with a favorite toy.
Rationale:The best action is to refocus the child's attention by distracting with a favorite toy.
Page 3 of 126
, A 2-month-old infant is scheduled to receive the first DPT immunization. What is the preferred
injection site to administer this immunization?
a. Dorsal gluteal
b. Vastus lateralis
c. Ventral gluteal
d. Deltoid - Correct Answer-b. Vastus lateralis
Rationale:The preferred intramuscular site for children younger than 2 years of age is the vastus
lateralis.
The practical nurse (PN) observes the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) placing a tongue
blade at the bedside of a child admitted with a seizure disorder. Which intervention should the
PN implement?
a. Determine if the tongue blade is the correct size based on the child's height and weight.
b. Advise the UAP that a nurse should assume this responsibility.
c. Assist the UAP to tape padding securely around the tongue blade.
d. Tell the UAP that tongue blades should not be inserted during a seizure. - Correct Answer-d.
Tell the UAP that tongue blades should not be inserted during a seizure.
Rationale:Tongue blades can cause damage or force the tongue to obstruct the airway and
should not be inserted during seizure activity. Nothing should be placed in the child's mouth.
During a seizure, the airway can be opened with jaw thrust technique, and the child can be
turned to the side to prevent pooling of secretions.
A child is admitted to the hospital for confirmation of a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic
leukemia. When performing a nursing assessment, which symptoms that are commonly
manifested by this condition should the practical nurse (PN) observe in the child?
a. Bone pain, pallor
b.Weakness, tremors
Page 4 of 126
