HESI RN PEDS EXAM | 200 QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
COMPLETE A+ GUIDE | 100%
GUARANTEED PASS
Exam Blueprint:
Growth & Development (20%) – 40 Qs
Pediatric Assessment & Common Illnesses (25%) – 50 Qs
Immunizations & Preventive Care (10%) – 20 Qs
Pediatric Pharmacology & Medication Administration (10%) – 20 Qs
Congenital & Genetic Disorders (10%) – 20 Qs
Pediatric Emergencies & Child Abuse (15%) – 30 Qs
Chronic Illness, Palliative Care & Family Dynamics (10%) – 20 Qs
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT – Questions 1–40
1. A mother asks the nurse when her infant will be able to sit without
support. Which age range is most appropriate?
A) 2-4 months
B) 4-6 months
C) 6-8 months
D) 8-10 months
Answer: C
Rationale: Most infants can sit unsupported by 8 months (range 6-8
months). Sitting with support occurs around 5-6 months.
,2. The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill is
expected at this age?
A) Builds a tower of 2 blocks
B) Holds a crayon with a mature (tripod) grasp
C) Uses a spoon without spilling
D) Turns book pages one at a time
Answer: A
Rationale: By 12 months, a child can place one block on top of another.
Tripod grasp appears around 3-4 years.
3. A toddler is in the “parallel play” stage. The nurse explains that this means
the child will:
A) Play alongside another child without interacting
B) Play cooperatively with other children
C) Play alone and ignore others completely
D) Engage in competitive games with rules
Answer: A
Rationale: Parallel play is typical for toddlers (age 2-3). Cooperative play
emerges in preschool years.
4. The mother of a 4-year-old expresses concern because the child has an
imaginary friend. How should the nurse respond?
A) “This is abnormal and needs psychological evaluation.”
B) “Imaginary friends are common at this age and usually harmless.”
C) “You should discourage the child from talking about the friend.”
D) “This indicates the child is lonely and needs more social interaction.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Imaginary friends are a normal part of preschool development,
reflecting creativity and social exploration.
,5. The nurse is assessing a 2-week-old infant. Which primitive reflex should
still be present?
A) Moro (startle) reflex
B) Palmar grasp
C) Rooting reflex
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: All primitive reflexes are present at birth and gradually disappear
by 4-6 months. Absence or persistence may indicate neurological issues.
6. A 15-month-old child should be able to perform which gross motor task?
A) Walk independently
B) Walk up stairs with help
C) Jump with both feet
D) Stand on one foot
Answer: A
Rationale: Most children walk independently by 12-15 months. Walking up
stairs with help occurs around 18 months; jumping around 2 years.
7. The nurse is teaching a parent about language development. At 18 months,
the child should be able to say about how many words?
A) 3-5 words
B) 10-15 words
C) 20-30 words
D) 50-100 words
Answer: B
Rationale: At 18 months, a vocabulary of 10-15 words is typical. By 2 years,
most children use 50-100 words and two-word phrases.
, 8. The mother of a 5-year-old asks about school readiness. Which of the
following is an appropriate milestone?
A) The child can tie their shoes
B) The child knows left from right
C) The child can count to 20
D) The child is able to skip
Answer: C
Rationale: Counting to 20 is a pre-academic skill common in 5-year-olds.
Tying shoes and knowing left/right occur later (6-7 years).
9. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 9-month-old
infant. Which developmental milestone would the nurse discuss?
A) Stranger anxiety
B) Separation anxiety
C) Object permanence
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: By 9 months, infants show stranger and separation anxiety and
begin to develop object permanence (understanding that objects continue to
exist when out of sight).
10. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of the toddler (age
1-3) is:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: B
& ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
COMPLETE A+ GUIDE | 100%
GUARANTEED PASS
Exam Blueprint:
Growth & Development (20%) – 40 Qs
Pediatric Assessment & Common Illnesses (25%) – 50 Qs
Immunizations & Preventive Care (10%) – 20 Qs
Pediatric Pharmacology & Medication Administration (10%) – 20 Qs
Congenital & Genetic Disorders (10%) – 20 Qs
Pediatric Emergencies & Child Abuse (15%) – 30 Qs
Chronic Illness, Palliative Care & Family Dynamics (10%) – 20 Qs
SECTION 1: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT – Questions 1–40
1. A mother asks the nurse when her infant will be able to sit without
support. Which age range is most appropriate?
A) 2-4 months
B) 4-6 months
C) 6-8 months
D) 8-10 months
Answer: C
Rationale: Most infants can sit unsupported by 8 months (range 6-8
months). Sitting with support occurs around 5-6 months.
,2. The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill is
expected at this age?
A) Builds a tower of 2 blocks
B) Holds a crayon with a mature (tripod) grasp
C) Uses a spoon without spilling
D) Turns book pages one at a time
Answer: A
Rationale: By 12 months, a child can place one block on top of another.
Tripod grasp appears around 3-4 years.
3. A toddler is in the “parallel play” stage. The nurse explains that this means
the child will:
A) Play alongside another child without interacting
B) Play cooperatively with other children
C) Play alone and ignore others completely
D) Engage in competitive games with rules
Answer: A
Rationale: Parallel play is typical for toddlers (age 2-3). Cooperative play
emerges in preschool years.
4. The mother of a 4-year-old expresses concern because the child has an
imaginary friend. How should the nurse respond?
A) “This is abnormal and needs psychological evaluation.”
B) “Imaginary friends are common at this age and usually harmless.”
C) “You should discourage the child from talking about the friend.”
D) “This indicates the child is lonely and needs more social interaction.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Imaginary friends are a normal part of preschool development,
reflecting creativity and social exploration.
,5. The nurse is assessing a 2-week-old infant. Which primitive reflex should
still be present?
A) Moro (startle) reflex
B) Palmar grasp
C) Rooting reflex
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: All primitive reflexes are present at birth and gradually disappear
by 4-6 months. Absence or persistence may indicate neurological issues.
6. A 15-month-old child should be able to perform which gross motor task?
A) Walk independently
B) Walk up stairs with help
C) Jump with both feet
D) Stand on one foot
Answer: A
Rationale: Most children walk independently by 12-15 months. Walking up
stairs with help occurs around 18 months; jumping around 2 years.
7. The nurse is teaching a parent about language development. At 18 months,
the child should be able to say about how many words?
A) 3-5 words
B) 10-15 words
C) 20-30 words
D) 50-100 words
Answer: B
Rationale: At 18 months, a vocabulary of 10-15 words is typical. By 2 years,
most children use 50-100 words and two-word phrases.
, 8. The mother of a 5-year-old asks about school readiness. Which of the
following is an appropriate milestone?
A) The child can tie their shoes
B) The child knows left from right
C) The child can count to 20
D) The child is able to skip
Answer: C
Rationale: Counting to 20 is a pre-academic skill common in 5-year-olds.
Tying shoes and knowing left/right occur later (6-7 years).
9. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 9-month-old
infant. Which developmental milestone would the nurse discuss?
A) Stranger anxiety
B) Separation anxiety
C) Object permanence
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: By 9 months, infants show stranger and separation anxiety and
begin to develop object permanence (understanding that objects continue to
exist when out of sight).
10. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of the toddler (age
1-3) is:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: B
