HESI Peds [2026/2027] Updated Version | Verified
Pediatric Nursing Questions & Detailed Rationales
(GRADED A+)
A 3-week-old newborn is brought to the clinic for follow-up after a home
birth. The mother reports that her child bottle feeds for 5 minutes only
and then falls asleep. The nurse auscultates a loud murmur characteristic
of a ventricular septal defect (VSD), and finds the newborn is acyanotic
with a respiratory rate of 64 breaths per minute. What instruction should
the nurse provide the mother to ensure the infant is receiving adequate
intake? (Select all that apply.)
A. Monitor the the infant's weight and number of wet diapers per day.
B. Increase the infant's intake per feeding by 1 to 2 ounces per week.
C. Mix the dose of prophylactic antibiotic in a full bottle of formula.
D. Allow the infant to rest and refeed on demand or every 2 hours.
E. Use a softer nipple or increase the size of the nipple opening. - VERIFIED
ANSWER - A. Monitor the the infant's weight and number of wet diapers
per day.
B. Increase the infant's intake per feeding by 1 to 2 ounces per week.
D. Allow the infant to rest and refeed on demand or every 2 hours.
E. Use a softer nipple or increase the size of the nipple opening.
,A nurse caring for a child with congestive heart failure provides
instructions to the parents regarding the administration of digoxin
(Lanoxin). Which statement by the mother indicates a need for further
instructions?
a. if my child vomits after I give the medication, I will not repeat the dose
b. I will check my child's pulse before giving the medication
c. I will check the dose of the medication with my husband before I give
the medication
d. I will mix the medication with food - VERIFIED ANSWER - d. I will mix the
medication with food
A nurse is preparing a plan of care for a child being admitted to the
hospital with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF). The nurse
avoids including which of the following in the plan?
a. limiting the time the child is allowed to bottle-feed
b. elevating the head of the bed
c. walking the child for feeding to ensure adequate nutrition
d. providing oxygen during stressful periods - VERIFIED ANSWER - c.
walking the child for feeding to ensure adequate nutrition
,A nurse is caring for a child with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure
(CHF). The nurse avoids which action in caring for the child?
a. allowing uninterrupted rest periods
b. limiting the time the child is allowed to bottle-feed
c. providing oxygen during stressful periods
d. keeping the head of the bed flat - VERIFIED ANSWER - d. keeping the
head of the bed flat
A nurse prepares to administer digoxin (Lanoxin) to a newborn infant with
a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The nurse notes that the apical
rate is 140 beats per minute. Which of the following nursing actions is
appropriate?
a. administer the digoxin because the apical rate is within normal limits
b. recheck the apical rate in 1 hour and administer the medication at that
time
c. notify the physician because the apical rate is lower than the normal
range
d. hold the medication, because the apical rate is normal, indicating that
the medication is not needed - VERIFIED ANSWER - a. administer the
digoxin because the apical rate is within normal limits
, "A mother tells the nurse that her child does not want anything to do with
toilet training and yells "NO!" consistently when she tries to toilet train.
The child is 2 years old. According to Erikson, the nurse interprets that
the child is experiencing which psychosocial crisis?"
a. autonomy vs shame and doubt
b. initiative vs guilt
c. industry vs inferiority
d. trust vs mistrust - VERIFIED ANSWER - Autonomy vs shame and doubt
A 2-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with juvenile rheumatoid
arthritis (JRA). During the focused assessment, the nurse makes it a
priority to note the presence of which of the following?"
a. increased irritability and the child's insistence to be carried out
b. complaints of joint stiffness
c. history of daily temperature elevations
d. description of how difficult it is to move around after periods of
inactivity - VERIFIED ANSWER - increased irritability and the child's
insistence to be carried out
Pediatric Nursing Questions & Detailed Rationales
(GRADED A+)
A 3-week-old newborn is brought to the clinic for follow-up after a home
birth. The mother reports that her child bottle feeds for 5 minutes only
and then falls asleep. The nurse auscultates a loud murmur characteristic
of a ventricular septal defect (VSD), and finds the newborn is acyanotic
with a respiratory rate of 64 breaths per minute. What instruction should
the nurse provide the mother to ensure the infant is receiving adequate
intake? (Select all that apply.)
A. Monitor the the infant's weight and number of wet diapers per day.
B. Increase the infant's intake per feeding by 1 to 2 ounces per week.
C. Mix the dose of prophylactic antibiotic in a full bottle of formula.
D. Allow the infant to rest and refeed on demand or every 2 hours.
E. Use a softer nipple or increase the size of the nipple opening. - VERIFIED
ANSWER - A. Monitor the the infant's weight and number of wet diapers
per day.
B. Increase the infant's intake per feeding by 1 to 2 ounces per week.
D. Allow the infant to rest and refeed on demand or every 2 hours.
E. Use a softer nipple or increase the size of the nipple opening.
,A nurse caring for a child with congestive heart failure provides
instructions to the parents regarding the administration of digoxin
(Lanoxin). Which statement by the mother indicates a need for further
instructions?
a. if my child vomits after I give the medication, I will not repeat the dose
b. I will check my child's pulse before giving the medication
c. I will check the dose of the medication with my husband before I give
the medication
d. I will mix the medication with food - VERIFIED ANSWER - d. I will mix the
medication with food
A nurse is preparing a plan of care for a child being admitted to the
hospital with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF). The nurse
avoids including which of the following in the plan?
a. limiting the time the child is allowed to bottle-feed
b. elevating the head of the bed
c. walking the child for feeding to ensure adequate nutrition
d. providing oxygen during stressful periods - VERIFIED ANSWER - c.
walking the child for feeding to ensure adequate nutrition
,A nurse is caring for a child with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure
(CHF). The nurse avoids which action in caring for the child?
a. allowing uninterrupted rest periods
b. limiting the time the child is allowed to bottle-feed
c. providing oxygen during stressful periods
d. keeping the head of the bed flat - VERIFIED ANSWER - d. keeping the
head of the bed flat
A nurse prepares to administer digoxin (Lanoxin) to a newborn infant with
a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The nurse notes that the apical
rate is 140 beats per minute. Which of the following nursing actions is
appropriate?
a. administer the digoxin because the apical rate is within normal limits
b. recheck the apical rate in 1 hour and administer the medication at that
time
c. notify the physician because the apical rate is lower than the normal
range
d. hold the medication, because the apical rate is normal, indicating that
the medication is not needed - VERIFIED ANSWER - a. administer the
digoxin because the apical rate is within normal limits
, "A mother tells the nurse that her child does not want anything to do with
toilet training and yells "NO!" consistently when she tries to toilet train.
The child is 2 years old. According to Erikson, the nurse interprets that
the child is experiencing which psychosocial crisis?"
a. autonomy vs shame and doubt
b. initiative vs guilt
c. industry vs inferiority
d. trust vs mistrust - VERIFIED ANSWER - Autonomy vs shame and doubt
A 2-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with juvenile rheumatoid
arthritis (JRA). During the focused assessment, the nurse makes it a
priority to note the presence of which of the following?"
a. increased irritability and the child's insistence to be carried out
b. complaints of joint stiffness
c. history of daily temperature elevations
d. description of how difficult it is to move around after periods of
inactivity - VERIFIED ANSWER - increased irritability and the child's
insistence to be carried out
