2026 teHESI tePEDS teRN teEXIT teEXAM t e | t e Study teEdition
V1 & V2
2026 HESI PEDIATRIC (PEDS) RN EXIT EXAM
Versions 1 & 2 — Redesigned Study Edition
Spring 2026 | Compiled with Correct Answers
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE | V1 uses multiple-choice format with highlighted correct answer(s). V2 uses short-answer/fill-in
format with the answer displayed directly. Questions marked with a note contain clarifications where answers are debated.
VERSION 1 — Multiple Choice (55 Questions)
The nurse is assessing a 9-year-old boy admitted with possible acute poststreptococcal
Q1 glomerulonephritis (APSGN). In obtaining his history, what information is most significant?
A ✔ A sore throat last week
B A history of hypertension
C Diuresis during the night
D Back pain for a few days
ANSWER: A
The nurse is measuring the frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3-month-old infant, and
Q2 notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches (12.7cm) since birth and the child's head appears
large in relation to body size. Which action is most important for the nurse to take next?
A Plot the measurement on the infant's growth chart
B Observe the infant for sunset eyes
C Measure the infant's head-to-heel length
D ✔ Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging
ANSWER: D
A female infant recently admitted with vomiting and diarrhea now weighs 10 kg. Her weight at
Q3 a previous well-baby visit was 11 kg. What is the percentage of body weight loss for this
infant?
A 4%
B ✔ 9%
C 10%
D 5%
ANSWER: B
,2026 teHESI tePEDS teRN teEXIT teEXAM t e | t e Study teEdition
V1 & V2 e 1 | For Study Purposes Only
A male high school student with Type 1 diabetes tests his blood glucose level before playing
Q4 a game of soccer, and he obtains a reading of 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L). Based on this
reading, which action should the nurse take?
A ✔ Tell him to eat a sandwich and fruit before beginning the game
B Check his urine for ketones
C Give him permission to go ahead and play soccer
D Call the healthcare provider
ANSWER: A
A 7-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. In
Q5 obtaining a health history from the child's mother, the recent occurrence of which illness is
most significant?
A ✔ Sore throat
B Chickenpox
C Mumps
D Influenza
ANSWER: A
A mother brings her 2-month-old son to the clinic for a well-baby exam. During the
Q6 assessment the nurse finds that the right testicle is not descended into the scrotum but the
left is palpable. Which action should the nurse take?
A Prepare to obtain a catheterized urine specimen for culture
B Address possible concerns about the child's future fertility
C ✔ Ask if the right testis has been seen in the scrotum before
D Schedule an IV pyelogram to validate presence of testicle
ANSWER: C
The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which response requires further evaluation by
Q7 the nurse?
A Has doubled birth weight
B Turns head to locate sound
C Plays peek-a-boo
D ✔ Demonstrates startle reflex
ANSWER: D
A 4-year-old girl returns to the pediatrician's office for a postoperative visit following
Q8 hospitalization for minor surgery. When observing the child in the waiting area, which
behavior should the nurse consider normal for this age child?
A Ignores other children in the play area
B Draws picture of self with facial features
C ✔ Talks to an imaginary friend
Page 2 | For Study Purposes Only
, 2026 teHESI tePEDS teRN teEXIT teEXAM t e | t e Study teEdition
V1 & V2
D Sits tequietly tein teher temother's telap
ANSWER: teC
A preschool-aged child experiencing respiratory distress is brought to the emergency
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department by the parents. The child is anxious, has a temperature of 102.8°F (39.3°C),
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Q9 and is drooling from the mouth while leaning forward when sitting. Which action should
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the nurse prepare the child for next?
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A ✔Obtain bedside trays for intubation or tracheotomy by the healthcare provider
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B Begin teprescribed teintravenous teantibiotic teadministration
C Provide tea tenebulizer tetreatment tewith tebronchodilators
D Schedule tethe techild tefor tea testat temagnetic teresonance teimaging te(MRI) teof tethe teneck
ANSWER: teA
The nurse is caring for a preschool-aged child with a congenital heart defect who is
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admitted with intermittent low-grade fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Further physical
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Q10 assessment findings include a new murmur, splinter hemorrhages under the nails, and
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painless red lesions on the palms of the hands. Which diagnostic procedure should the
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nurse prepare the parents to expect the healthcare provider to prescribe?
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A ✔Echocardiogram
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B Electrocardiogram
C Chest teradiography
D Computerized tetomography te(CT) tescan
ANSWER: teA t e | t e Note: teA teor teB teare tedebated; teEchocardiogram teis tepreferred
A 6-year-old male with a body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile arrives at the
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clinic after a referral from the school nurse. His laboratory findings include hemoglobin
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Q11 A1c of 5.5%, blood pressure (BP) in the 50th percentile, height in the 75th percentile,
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and an LDL cholesterol of 90 mg/dL. Which lifestyle modification should the nurse
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discuss with the parents?
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A ✔Recommend increasing daily fruits and vegetables and daily exercise
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B Return tein teone temonth tefor teanother teevaluation teof teserum telipids teand teblood tepressure
C Instruct tethe teparents teto teweigh tethe techild teweekly teand temeasure tehis teBP tedaily
D See tea tehealthcare teprovider teto tefurther teassess tefor tediabetes teand tehypertension
ANSWER: teA
When administering indomethacin to a premature infant who has patent ductus
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Q12 arteriosus, the nurse should anticipate which outcome?
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A Decreased teurinary teoutput
B ✔Decreased cardiac murmur
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C Increased tenumber teof tered teblood tecells
D Increased terespiratory teeffort
ANSWER: teB
Page te3 t e | t e For teStudy tePurposes teOnly
V1 & V2
2026 HESI PEDIATRIC (PEDS) RN EXIT EXAM
Versions 1 & 2 — Redesigned Study Edition
Spring 2026 | Compiled with Correct Answers
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE | V1 uses multiple-choice format with highlighted correct answer(s). V2 uses short-answer/fill-in
format with the answer displayed directly. Questions marked with a note contain clarifications where answers are debated.
VERSION 1 — Multiple Choice (55 Questions)
The nurse is assessing a 9-year-old boy admitted with possible acute poststreptococcal
Q1 glomerulonephritis (APSGN). In obtaining his history, what information is most significant?
A ✔ A sore throat last week
B A history of hypertension
C Diuresis during the night
D Back pain for a few days
ANSWER: A
The nurse is measuring the frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3-month-old infant, and
Q2 notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches (12.7cm) since birth and the child's head appears
large in relation to body size. Which action is most important for the nurse to take next?
A Plot the measurement on the infant's growth chart
B Observe the infant for sunset eyes
C Measure the infant's head-to-heel length
D ✔ Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging
ANSWER: D
A female infant recently admitted with vomiting and diarrhea now weighs 10 kg. Her weight at
Q3 a previous well-baby visit was 11 kg. What is the percentage of body weight loss for this
infant?
A 4%
B ✔ 9%
C 10%
D 5%
ANSWER: B
,2026 teHESI tePEDS teRN teEXIT teEXAM t e | t e Study teEdition
V1 & V2 e 1 | For Study Purposes Only
A male high school student with Type 1 diabetes tests his blood glucose level before playing
Q4 a game of soccer, and he obtains a reading of 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L). Based on this
reading, which action should the nurse take?
A ✔ Tell him to eat a sandwich and fruit before beginning the game
B Check his urine for ketones
C Give him permission to go ahead and play soccer
D Call the healthcare provider
ANSWER: A
A 7-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever. In
Q5 obtaining a health history from the child's mother, the recent occurrence of which illness is
most significant?
A ✔ Sore throat
B Chickenpox
C Mumps
D Influenza
ANSWER: A
A mother brings her 2-month-old son to the clinic for a well-baby exam. During the
Q6 assessment the nurse finds that the right testicle is not descended into the scrotum but the
left is palpable. Which action should the nurse take?
A Prepare to obtain a catheterized urine specimen for culture
B Address possible concerns about the child's future fertility
C ✔ Ask if the right testis has been seen in the scrotum before
D Schedule an IV pyelogram to validate presence of testicle
ANSWER: C
The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which response requires further evaluation by
Q7 the nurse?
A Has doubled birth weight
B Turns head to locate sound
C Plays peek-a-boo
D ✔ Demonstrates startle reflex
ANSWER: D
A 4-year-old girl returns to the pediatrician's office for a postoperative visit following
Q8 hospitalization for minor surgery. When observing the child in the waiting area, which
behavior should the nurse consider normal for this age child?
A Ignores other children in the play area
B Draws picture of self with facial features
C ✔ Talks to an imaginary friend
Page 2 | For Study Purposes Only
, 2026 teHESI tePEDS teRN teEXIT teEXAM t e | t e Study teEdition
V1 & V2
D Sits tequietly tein teher temother's telap
ANSWER: teC
A preschool-aged child experiencing respiratory distress is brought to the emergency
te te te te te te te te te te
department by the parents. The child is anxious, has a temperature of 102.8°F (39.3°C),
te te te te te te te te te te te te te te
Q9 and is drooling from the mouth while leaning forward when sitting. Which action should
te te te te te te te te te te te te te te
the nurse prepare the child for next?
te te te te te te te
A ✔Obtain bedside trays for intubation or tracheotomy by the healthcare provider
e
t te te te te te te te te te te
B Begin teprescribed teintravenous teantibiotic teadministration
C Provide tea tenebulizer tetreatment tewith tebronchodilators
D Schedule tethe techild tefor tea testat temagnetic teresonance teimaging te(MRI) teof tethe teneck
ANSWER: teA
The nurse is caring for a preschool-aged child with a congenital heart defect who is
te te te te te te te te te te te te te te
admitted with intermittent low-grade fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Further physical
te te te te te te te te te te te
Q10 assessment findings include a new murmur, splinter hemorrhages under the nails, and
te te te te te te te te te te te te
painless red lesions on the palms of the hands. Which diagnostic procedure should the
te te te te te te te te te te te te te te
nurse prepare the parents to expect the healthcare provider to prescribe?
te te te te te te te te te te te
A ✔Echocardiogram
e
t
B Electrocardiogram
C Chest teradiography
D Computerized tetomography te(CT) tescan
ANSWER: teA t e | t e Note: teA teor teB teare tedebated; teEchocardiogram teis tepreferred
A 6-year-old male with a body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile arrives at the
te te te te te te te te te te te te te te te
clinic after a referral from the school nurse. His laboratory findings include hemoglobin
te te te te te te te te te te te te te
Q11 A1c of 5.5%, blood pressure (BP) in the 50th percentile, height in the 75th percentile,
te te te te te te te te te te te te te te te
and an LDL cholesterol of 90 mg/dL. Which lifestyle modification should the nurse
te te te te te te te te te te te te te
discuss with the parents?
te te te te
A ✔Recommend increasing daily fruits and vegetables and daily exercise
e
t te te te te te te te te
B Return tein teone temonth tefor teanother teevaluation teof teserum telipids teand teblood tepressure
C Instruct tethe teparents teto teweigh tethe techild teweekly teand temeasure tehis teBP tedaily
D See tea tehealthcare teprovider teto tefurther teassess tefor tediabetes teand tehypertension
ANSWER: teA
When administering indomethacin to a premature infant who has patent ductus
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Q12 arteriosus, the nurse should anticipate which outcome?
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A Decreased teurinary teoutput
B ✔Decreased cardiac murmur
e
t te te
C Increased tenumber teof tered teblood tecells
D Increased terespiratory teeffort
ANSWER: teB
Page te3 t e | t e For teStudy tePurposes teOnly
