HESI Pediatric Practice Exam Questions
and Answers | 2026 Complete Study
Guide | Grade A+
• Following a motor vehicle collision, a 3 year old girl has a spica cast applied.
Which toy is best for the nurse for this 3 year old child? -✓✓Set of cloth and hand
puppets
• An infant with tetralogy of fallot becomes acutely cyanotic and hyperpneic.
Which action should the nurse implement first? -✓✓Place the infant in a knee-
chest position
• A child admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis is demonstrating Kussmaul
respirations. The nurse determines that the increased respiratory rate is a
compensatory mechanism for which acid base alteration? -✓✓Metabolic Acidoses
• A 7 year old is admitted to the hospital with persistent vomiting, and a
nasogastric tube attached to low intermittent suction is applied. Which finding is
most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider? -✓✓Serum
potassium of 3.0 mg/dL
• The nurse is evaluating diet teaching for a client who has nontropical sprue
(celiac disease). Choosing which food indicates that the teaching has been
effective? -✓✓Creamed corn
• During a well-baby check, the nurse hides a block under the baby's blanket, and
the baby looks for the block. Which normal growth and development milestone is
the baby developing? -✓✓Object Permanence
, • The nurse is measuring he frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3 month old
infant, and notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches 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? -✓✓Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging
• The nurse is preparing a 10 year old with a lacerated forehead for suturing. Both
parents and 12 years old sibling are at the child's bedside. Which instruction best
supports family? -✓✓Please decide who will stay when the healthcare provider
begins suturing
• The nurse is planning for a 5 month old with gastroesophageal reflux disease
whose weight has decreased by 3 ounces since the last clinic visit one month ago.
To increase caloric intake and decrease vomiting, what instructions should the
nurse provide this mother? -✓✓Thicken formula with cereal for each feeding
• While teaching a parenting class to new parents the nurse describes the needs of
infants and toddlers regarding discipline and limit setting. What is the most
important reason for implementing such parenting behaviors? -✓✓They provide
the child with a sense of security
• The parents of a newborn infant with hypospadia are concerned about when the
surgical correction should occur. What information should the nurse provide? -
✓✓Repairs typically should be done before the child is potty trained
• Which drink choice on a hot day indicates to the nurse that a teenager with sickle
cell anemia understands dietary considerations related to the disease? -
✓✓Lemonade
• The nurse is assessing an infant with diarrhea and lethargy. Which finding should
the nurse identify that is consistent with early dehydration? -✓✓Tachycardia
and Answers | 2026 Complete Study
Guide | Grade A+
• Following a motor vehicle collision, a 3 year old girl has a spica cast applied.
Which toy is best for the nurse for this 3 year old child? -✓✓Set of cloth and hand
puppets
• An infant with tetralogy of fallot becomes acutely cyanotic and hyperpneic.
Which action should the nurse implement first? -✓✓Place the infant in a knee-
chest position
• A child admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis is demonstrating Kussmaul
respirations. The nurse determines that the increased respiratory rate is a
compensatory mechanism for which acid base alteration? -✓✓Metabolic Acidoses
• A 7 year old is admitted to the hospital with persistent vomiting, and a
nasogastric tube attached to low intermittent suction is applied. Which finding is
most important for the nurse to report to the healthcare provider? -✓✓Serum
potassium of 3.0 mg/dL
• The nurse is evaluating diet teaching for a client who has nontropical sprue
(celiac disease). Choosing which food indicates that the teaching has been
effective? -✓✓Creamed corn
• During a well-baby check, the nurse hides a block under the baby's blanket, and
the baby looks for the block. Which normal growth and development milestone is
the baby developing? -✓✓Object Permanence
, • The nurse is measuring he frontal occipital circumference (FOC) of a 3 month old
infant, and notes that the FOC has increased 5 inches 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? -✓✓Palpate the anterior fontanel for tension and bulging
• The nurse is preparing a 10 year old with a lacerated forehead for suturing. Both
parents and 12 years old sibling are at the child's bedside. Which instruction best
supports family? -✓✓Please decide who will stay when the healthcare provider
begins suturing
• The nurse is planning for a 5 month old with gastroesophageal reflux disease
whose weight has decreased by 3 ounces since the last clinic visit one month ago.
To increase caloric intake and decrease vomiting, what instructions should the
nurse provide this mother? -✓✓Thicken formula with cereal for each feeding
• While teaching a parenting class to new parents the nurse describes the needs of
infants and toddlers regarding discipline and limit setting. What is the most
important reason for implementing such parenting behaviors? -✓✓They provide
the child with a sense of security
• The parents of a newborn infant with hypospadia are concerned about when the
surgical correction should occur. What information should the nurse provide? -
✓✓Repairs typically should be done before the child is potty trained
• Which drink choice on a hot day indicates to the nurse that a teenager with sickle
cell anemia understands dietary considerations related to the disease? -
✓✓Lemonade
• The nurse is assessing an infant with diarrhea and lethargy. Which finding should
the nurse identify that is consistent with early dehydration? -✓✓Tachycardia
