Pediatrics HESI PN exam Review / HESI PN
– Pediatrics Exam Review | 2025 Updated |
Practice Questions & Detailed Rationales
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a child who is manifesting signs of shock
after a motor vehicle collision. Which finding is most important for the PN to
report to the charge nurse?
a) narrowing pulse pressure
b) apprehension
c) irritability
d) thirst - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: A
Rationale:
As shock progresses, perfusion in the microcirculation becomes marginal despite
compensatory adjustments, and the signs of decompensated shock become
pronounced, such as tachycardia and narrowing pulse pressure (A). (The
,difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure), which should be
reported immediately. (B,C, and D) are not as significant as (A).
The mother of a 9 month old male infant is concerned because he cries whenever
she leaves him with a sitter. What is the best response for the practical nurse (PN)
to provide?
a) "Have you noticed whether your baby is teething?"
b) "Crying when you leave him in a healthy sign of attachment."
c) "Consider taking the baby to the doctor because he may be ill."
d) "You could consider leaving the infant more often so he can adjust." - ---
✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: B
Rationale:
Healthy attachment is manifested by stranger anxiety in late infancy (B). Pain from
teething expressed by the infant's cries does not occur only when the mother
leaves the infant with another person (A). The PN should evaluate the infant's
developmental needs (C) before suggesting the infant may be ill. An infant who
manifests stranger anxiety is best supported by the mother if the infant is left for
shorter periods of time, not (D).
Which preoperative action is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to
implement for a newborn with meningomyelocele?
a) document vital signs
b) prevent skin breakdown
,c) minimize the risk for infection
d) monitor neurologic functioning - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: C
Rationale:
A meningomyelocele provides a direct entry for bacteria into the central nervous
system, leading to meningitis. Measures that protect the integrity of the
meningomyelocele sac and infection control measures should be implemented to
minimize the risk of infection (C). (A,B, and D) should be implemented but do not
have the priority of (C).
The practical nurse is caring for a 6 year old girl who had surgery 12 hours ago.
The child tells the PN that she does not have pain but a few minutes later, tells her
parents that she does. What child development concept is relevant to this
situation?
a) inconsistency in pain reporting suggests that pain not present
b) a child may have pain yet deny its presence to the nurse
c) truthful reporting of pain should occur by this age
d) children use pain experiences to manipulate their parents - ---
✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: B
Rationale:
A child may fear receiving an injection for pain or may believe that pain is a
deserved punishment for some misdeed, so the pain is denied (D) when the nurse
asks the child, who then readily admits having pain to a parent. This behavior
, should not be interpreted as (C) but as a valid indication of pain. (A and C) are
incorrect interpretations of this behavior.
A 6 year old who had a tonsillectomy 12 hours ago is complaining of thirst. What
should the practical nurse (PN) offer?
a) popsicle
b) lemonade
c) orange juice
d) chocolate milk - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: A
Rationale:
Small amounts of clear liquids without red dyes should be offered to the child.
Popsicles (A) are cold and help soothe a dry throat. Citrus drinks (B and C) are
acidic and irritate the operative site in the posterior oropharynx. Milk (D) thickens
oral mucus which makes swallowing more difficult and causes coughing.
The mother of a male newborn calls the clinic to inquire about the formation of a
yellow crust over her son's circumcision area. What information should the
practical nurse (PN) provide?
a) do not remove the yellow crust from the site
b) stop using petroleum around the head of the penis
c) bring him into the clinic
d) tightly fasten the diaper - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: A
– Pediatrics Exam Review | 2025 Updated |
Practice Questions & Detailed Rationales
The practical nurse (PN) is monitoring a child who is manifesting signs of shock
after a motor vehicle collision. Which finding is most important for the PN to
report to the charge nurse?
a) narrowing pulse pressure
b) apprehension
c) irritability
d) thirst - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: A
Rationale:
As shock progresses, perfusion in the microcirculation becomes marginal despite
compensatory adjustments, and the signs of decompensated shock become
pronounced, such as tachycardia and narrowing pulse pressure (A). (The
,difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure), which should be
reported immediately. (B,C, and D) are not as significant as (A).
The mother of a 9 month old male infant is concerned because he cries whenever
she leaves him with a sitter. What is the best response for the practical nurse (PN)
to provide?
a) "Have you noticed whether your baby is teething?"
b) "Crying when you leave him in a healthy sign of attachment."
c) "Consider taking the baby to the doctor because he may be ill."
d) "You could consider leaving the infant more often so he can adjust." - ---
✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: B
Rationale:
Healthy attachment is manifested by stranger anxiety in late infancy (B). Pain from
teething expressed by the infant's cries does not occur only when the mother
leaves the infant with another person (A). The PN should evaluate the infant's
developmental needs (C) before suggesting the infant may be ill. An infant who
manifests stranger anxiety is best supported by the mother if the infant is left for
shorter periods of time, not (D).
Which preoperative action is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to
implement for a newborn with meningomyelocele?
a) document vital signs
b) prevent skin breakdown
,c) minimize the risk for infection
d) monitor neurologic functioning - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: C
Rationale:
A meningomyelocele provides a direct entry for bacteria into the central nervous
system, leading to meningitis. Measures that protect the integrity of the
meningomyelocele sac and infection control measures should be implemented to
minimize the risk of infection (C). (A,B, and D) should be implemented but do not
have the priority of (C).
The practical nurse is caring for a 6 year old girl who had surgery 12 hours ago.
The child tells the PN that she does not have pain but a few minutes later, tells her
parents that she does. What child development concept is relevant to this
situation?
a) inconsistency in pain reporting suggests that pain not present
b) a child may have pain yet deny its presence to the nurse
c) truthful reporting of pain should occur by this age
d) children use pain experiences to manipulate their parents - ---
✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: B
Rationale:
A child may fear receiving an injection for pain or may believe that pain is a
deserved punishment for some misdeed, so the pain is denied (D) when the nurse
asks the child, who then readily admits having pain to a parent. This behavior
, should not be interpreted as (C) but as a valid indication of pain. (A and C) are
incorrect interpretations of this behavior.
A 6 year old who had a tonsillectomy 12 hours ago is complaining of thirst. What
should the practical nurse (PN) offer?
a) popsicle
b) lemonade
c) orange juice
d) chocolate milk - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: A
Rationale:
Small amounts of clear liquids without red dyes should be offered to the child.
Popsicles (A) are cold and help soothe a dry throat. Citrus drinks (B and C) are
acidic and irritate the operative site in the posterior oropharynx. Milk (D) thickens
oral mucus which makes swallowing more difficult and causes coughing.
The mother of a male newborn calls the clinic to inquire about the formation of a
yellow crust over her son's circumcision area. What information should the
practical nurse (PN) provide?
a) do not remove the yellow crust from the site
b) stop using petroleum around the head of the penis
c) bring him into the clinic
d) tightly fasten the diaper - ---✔✔✔ANSWER----Answer: A
