HESI PEDS Exam Questions and Answers
| 2026 Updated Practice Questions |
Grade A+
• A - (The respiratory rate should be taken first, A, in infants, since touching them
or performing unpleasant procedures usually makes them cry, elevating the heart
rate and making respirations difficult to count.) -✓✓To take the vital signs of a 4-
month-old child, which order provides the most accurate results?
A) Respiratory rate, heart rate, then rectal temperature.
B) Heart rate, rectal temperature, then respiratory rate.
C) Rectal temperature, heart rate, then respiratory rate.
D) Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, then heart rate.
• A - (Russell's skin traction is used for fractures of the femur in young children
and adolescents whose growth plates remain open and is applied to the lower leg
using moleskin and elastic wrap bandages, which can compress the peroneal nerve
and arteries that supply the foot. Assessment of adequare circulation, movement,
and sensation of the toes and skin distal to the application is made to identify
compromised blood flow, so cyanosis, A, should be reported immediately.) -
✓✓The nurse is assessing the neurovascular status of a child in Russell's traction.
Which finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
A) Pale bluish coloration of the toes.
B) Skin is warm and dry to the touch.
C) Toes are wiggled upon command.
D) Capillary refill less than 3 seconds.
• C - (A trial of HCG,human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone, C, may aid in
testicular descent, but does not replace surgical repair for true undescended testes.
Undescended testes, cryptorchidism, may be found in the inguinal canal due to
,exaggerated cremasteric reflex. A, is not indicated. Stimulation of the cremasteric
reflex causes the testes to ascend rather than descend in the scrotum, B. D, may
relax the cremasteric muscle, but may not cause the testes to descend.) -
✓✓Surgery is being delayed for an infant with undescended testes. In collaboration
with the healthcare provider and the family, which prescription should the nurse
anticipate?
A) A trial of adrenocorticotrophic hormone injections.
B) Frequent stimulation of the cremasteric reflex.
C) A trial of human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone.
D) Frequent warm baths to gently dilate the scrotal area.
• A - (Signs and symptoms of diabetes or hyperglycemia, A, need to be reported.
Those receiving growth hormone should be monitored to detect elevated blood
sugars and glucose intolerance.) -✓✓The nurse is teaching a 12-year-old male
adolescent and his family about taking injections of growth hormone for idiopathic
hypopituitarism. Which adverse symptoms, commonly associated with growth
hormone therapy, should the nurse plan to describe to the child and his family?
A) Polyuria and polydipsia.
B) Lethargy and fatigue.
C) Increased facial hair.
D) Facial bone structure changes.
• D - (The child must be monitored for signs and symptoms of hyponatremia,
which creates secondary central nervous system alterations such as changes in
level of consciousness, seizure, and coma.) -✓✓The nurse is caring for a 12-year-
old with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH). This child
should be carefully assessed for which complication?
A) Poor skin turgor resulting from dehydration.
B) Changes in level of consciousness.
,C) Premature aging as the disease progresses.
D) Severe edema from an excess of water and sodium.
• D - (Outcome of learning is best demonstrated when the client not only verbalizes
an understanding but can also provide a return demonstration, D.) -✓✓The nurse
is giving preoperative instructions to a 14-year-old female client who is scheduled
for surgery to correct a spinal curvature. Which statement by the client best
demonstrates that learning has taken place?
A) I will read all the literature you gave me before surgery.
B) I have had surgery before when I broke my wrist in a bike accident, so I know
what to expect.
C) All the things people have told me will help me take care of my back.
D) I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught
me to turn.
• A - (Ototoxicity diminishes hearing acuity and causes symptoms of tinnitus and
vertigo in older children who can express subjective symptoms, so assessing an
infant's reaction to loud noises, A, helps to determine an infant's risk for a hearing
deficit related to a history of the mother taking an ototoxic drug, such as aspirin,
while pregnant.) -✓✓The clinic nurse is taking the history for a new 6-month-old
client. The mother reports that she took a great deal of aspirin while pregnant.
Which assessment should the nurse obtain?
A) Type of reaction to loud noises.
B) Any surgeries on the ears since birth.
C) Drainage from the infant's ears.
D) Number of ear infections since birth.
• C - (A patent airway has the highest priority. Humidification will liquefy the
nasal secretions thereby increasing the amount of secretions and making, C, the
highest priority. When asked "priority" questions, REMEMBER MASLOW!
, Physical needs usually have a higher priority than psychosocial needs and an open
airway is the highest physiological need!) -✓✓A 12-month-old boy is admitted
with a respiratory infection and possible pneumonia. He is placed in a mist tent
with oxygen. Which nursing intervention has the greatest priority for this infant?
A) Give small, frequent feedings of fluids.
B) Accurately chart observations regarding breath sounds.
C) Have a bulb syringe readily available to remove secretions.
D) Encourage older siblings to visit.
• A, C, F - (The most accurate calculations of pediatric dosages use the child's
height and weight, A. The child's BSA is calculated using the square root of weight
in kg times height in cm divided by 3600 or the square root of weight in lb times
height in inches divided by 3131, C, then the child's BSA is multiplied by the
recommended published dose per BSA. The nomogram, F, is used to plot the
child's height and weight, and the point at which they intersect is the BSA
mathematical constant used to calculate the child's dose.) -✓✓Which
measurements should be used to accurately calculate a pediatric medication
dosage? (Select all that apply.)
A) Child's height and weight.
B) Adult dosage of medication.
C) Body surface area of child.
D) Average adult's body surface area.
E) Average pediatric dosage of medication.
F) Nomogram determined mathematical constant.
• B - ( The only reliable way to prevent poisonings in young children is to make
them inaccessible, B. Teaching children not to taste is important, A, but ineffective
for young children. C and D, will not control a child's curiosity.) -✓✓The nurse is
preparing a health teaching program for parents of toddlers and preschoolers and
| 2026 Updated Practice Questions |
Grade A+
• A - (The respiratory rate should be taken first, A, in infants, since touching them
or performing unpleasant procedures usually makes them cry, elevating the heart
rate and making respirations difficult to count.) -✓✓To take the vital signs of a 4-
month-old child, which order provides the most accurate results?
A) Respiratory rate, heart rate, then rectal temperature.
B) Heart rate, rectal temperature, then respiratory rate.
C) Rectal temperature, heart rate, then respiratory rate.
D) Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, then heart rate.
• A - (Russell's skin traction is used for fractures of the femur in young children
and adolescents whose growth plates remain open and is applied to the lower leg
using moleskin and elastic wrap bandages, which can compress the peroneal nerve
and arteries that supply the foot. Assessment of adequare circulation, movement,
and sensation of the toes and skin distal to the application is made to identify
compromised blood flow, so cyanosis, A, should be reported immediately.) -
✓✓The nurse is assessing the neurovascular status of a child in Russell's traction.
Which finding should the nurse report to the healthcare provider?
A) Pale bluish coloration of the toes.
B) Skin is warm and dry to the touch.
C) Toes are wiggled upon command.
D) Capillary refill less than 3 seconds.
• C - (A trial of HCG,human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone, C, may aid in
testicular descent, but does not replace surgical repair for true undescended testes.
Undescended testes, cryptorchidism, may be found in the inguinal canal due to
,exaggerated cremasteric reflex. A, is not indicated. Stimulation of the cremasteric
reflex causes the testes to ascend rather than descend in the scrotum, B. D, may
relax the cremasteric muscle, but may not cause the testes to descend.) -
✓✓Surgery is being delayed for an infant with undescended testes. In collaboration
with the healthcare provider and the family, which prescription should the nurse
anticipate?
A) A trial of adrenocorticotrophic hormone injections.
B) Frequent stimulation of the cremasteric reflex.
C) A trial of human chorionic gonadotrophic hormone.
D) Frequent warm baths to gently dilate the scrotal area.
• A - (Signs and symptoms of diabetes or hyperglycemia, A, need to be reported.
Those receiving growth hormone should be monitored to detect elevated blood
sugars and glucose intolerance.) -✓✓The nurse is teaching a 12-year-old male
adolescent and his family about taking injections of growth hormone for idiopathic
hypopituitarism. Which adverse symptoms, commonly associated with growth
hormone therapy, should the nurse plan to describe to the child and his family?
A) Polyuria and polydipsia.
B) Lethargy and fatigue.
C) Increased facial hair.
D) Facial bone structure changes.
• D - (The child must be monitored for signs and symptoms of hyponatremia,
which creates secondary central nervous system alterations such as changes in
level of consciousness, seizure, and coma.) -✓✓The nurse is caring for a 12-year-
old with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH). This child
should be carefully assessed for which complication?
A) Poor skin turgor resulting from dehydration.
B) Changes in level of consciousness.
,C) Premature aging as the disease progresses.
D) Severe edema from an excess of water and sodium.
• D - (Outcome of learning is best demonstrated when the client not only verbalizes
an understanding but can also provide a return demonstration, D.) -✓✓The nurse
is giving preoperative instructions to a 14-year-old female client who is scheduled
for surgery to correct a spinal curvature. Which statement by the client best
demonstrates that learning has taken place?
A) I will read all the literature you gave me before surgery.
B) I have had surgery before when I broke my wrist in a bike accident, so I know
what to expect.
C) All the things people have told me will help me take care of my back.
D) I understand that I will be in a body cast and I will show you how you taught
me to turn.
• A - (Ototoxicity diminishes hearing acuity and causes symptoms of tinnitus and
vertigo in older children who can express subjective symptoms, so assessing an
infant's reaction to loud noises, A, helps to determine an infant's risk for a hearing
deficit related to a history of the mother taking an ototoxic drug, such as aspirin,
while pregnant.) -✓✓The clinic nurse is taking the history for a new 6-month-old
client. The mother reports that she took a great deal of aspirin while pregnant.
Which assessment should the nurse obtain?
A) Type of reaction to loud noises.
B) Any surgeries on the ears since birth.
C) Drainage from the infant's ears.
D) Number of ear infections since birth.
• C - (A patent airway has the highest priority. Humidification will liquefy the
nasal secretions thereby increasing the amount of secretions and making, C, the
highest priority. When asked "priority" questions, REMEMBER MASLOW!
, Physical needs usually have a higher priority than psychosocial needs and an open
airway is the highest physiological need!) -✓✓A 12-month-old boy is admitted
with a respiratory infection and possible pneumonia. He is placed in a mist tent
with oxygen. Which nursing intervention has the greatest priority for this infant?
A) Give small, frequent feedings of fluids.
B) Accurately chart observations regarding breath sounds.
C) Have a bulb syringe readily available to remove secretions.
D) Encourage older siblings to visit.
• A, C, F - (The most accurate calculations of pediatric dosages use the child's
height and weight, A. The child's BSA is calculated using the square root of weight
in kg times height in cm divided by 3600 or the square root of weight in lb times
height in inches divided by 3131, C, then the child's BSA is multiplied by the
recommended published dose per BSA. The nomogram, F, is used to plot the
child's height and weight, and the point at which they intersect is the BSA
mathematical constant used to calculate the child's dose.) -✓✓Which
measurements should be used to accurately calculate a pediatric medication
dosage? (Select all that apply.)
A) Child's height and weight.
B) Adult dosage of medication.
C) Body surface area of child.
D) Average adult's body surface area.
E) Average pediatric dosage of medication.
F) Nomogram determined mathematical constant.
• B - ( The only reliable way to prevent poisonings in young children is to make
them inaccessible, B. Teaching children not to taste is important, A, but ineffective
for young children. C and D, will not control a child's curiosity.) -✓✓The nurse is
preparing a health teaching program for parents of toddlers and preschoolers and
