HESI PEDIATRICS ACTUAL EXAM LATEST QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/26
At which stage of Kohlberg's theory does an individual want to fulfill the expectations of one's immediate
group?
A. Good boy-nice girl orientation
B. Society-maintaining orientation
C. Instrumental relativist orientation
D. Universal ethical principle orientation - CORRECT ANSWERS-A. Good boy-nice girl
orientation
Rationale:
The good boy-nice girl orientation stage involves an individual who wants to win the approval and
maintain the expectations of one's immediate group. During the society-maintaining orientation stage,
an individual expands focus from a relationship with others to societal concerns. The instrumental
relativist orientation stage involves a child who ants to follow his or her parent's rules. The universal
ethical principle orientation stage defines "right" by the decision of conscience according to self-chosen
ethical principles.
How many hours of sleep would the nurse recommend for the 11-year-old client?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 11
D. 12 - CORRECT ANSWERS-B. 9
Rationale:
A school-age client who is 11 years of age would require 9 hours of sleep each night. Ten hours of sleep
is not recommended for the school-age client. A 5-year-old school-age client requires 11.5 hours of sleep
per night; however, 11 and 12 hours of sleep is not recommended for an 11-year-old school-age client.
Which statement is true about Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
,A. Piaget's theory includes five periods that are related to age.
B. In the late preoperational stage, the children experience animism.
C. In the preoperational stage, children are able to perform mental operations.
D. During the sensorimotor stages, infants develop an action pattern for dealing with their environment.
- CORRECT ANSWERS-D. During the sensorimotor stages, infants develop an action pattern for
dealing with their environment.
Rationale:
According to Piaget's theory, during the sensorimotor stage, infants develop a schema or action pattern
for dealing with the environment. Piaget's theory includes four periods that are related to age. In the
early preoperational stage, children experience animism. During the concrete operations stage, children
are able to perform mental operations.
Which of these groups has the highest incidence of lead poisoning?
A. Adult
B. Toddler
C. Adolescent
D. School-age child - CORRECT ANSWERS-B. Toddler
Rationale:
The incidence of lead poisoning is highest in late infancy and toddlerhood. Children at this stage explore
the environment and because of their increased level of oral activity, put objects into their mouths.
Adults have a greater risk of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Drowning and motor vehicle accidents
are more common among adolescents. Bicycle accidents are more common among school-aged children.
Which stage of development classifies boys and girls as differing very little in terms of size?
A. Toddler
B. Preschool
C. School-age
D. Adolescence - CORRECT ANSWERS-C. School- age
, Rationale:
During the school-age stage of development, boys and girls differ vary little in terms of size. During the
toddler, preschool, and adolescence stages of development boys are often larger than girls.
To which client would the nurse provide education regarding the pubertal growth spurt?
A. An 8-year-old school-age male client
B. A 16-year-old adolescent male client
C. A 12-year-old school-age female client
D.. An 18-year-old adolescent female client - CORRECT ANSWERS-C. A 12-year-old school-age
female client
Rationale:
The pubertal growth spurt reaches a peak for female clients at 12 years of age; therefore the nurse
would provide education to this client regarding expected growth during this time period. The 8-year-old
male client would not be expected to experience the pubertal growth spurt until the ages of 14 years.
The 16-year-old and the 18-year-old adolescent clients would have already experience the pubertal
growth spurt.
Which client may have concerns related to sexuality when hospitalized with a chronic illness?
A. An 8-year-old
B. A 10-year-old
C. A 12-year-old
D. An 18-year-old - CORRECT ANSWERS-D. An 18-year-old
Rationale:
An 18-year-old client is an adolescent, which is the stage of development where concerns about
sexuality may occur when the client is hospitalized with a chronic illness. The other clients are not
developmentally characterized as adolescents; therefore, the nurse would not anticipate an 8-year-old,
10 year-old, or 12-year-old child to have this concern.
Which age should an infant achieve permanent eye color?
A. 2 weeks
DETAILED ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/26
At which stage of Kohlberg's theory does an individual want to fulfill the expectations of one's immediate
group?
A. Good boy-nice girl orientation
B. Society-maintaining orientation
C. Instrumental relativist orientation
D. Universal ethical principle orientation - CORRECT ANSWERS-A. Good boy-nice girl
orientation
Rationale:
The good boy-nice girl orientation stage involves an individual who wants to win the approval and
maintain the expectations of one's immediate group. During the society-maintaining orientation stage,
an individual expands focus from a relationship with others to societal concerns. The instrumental
relativist orientation stage involves a child who ants to follow his or her parent's rules. The universal
ethical principle orientation stage defines "right" by the decision of conscience according to self-chosen
ethical principles.
How many hours of sleep would the nurse recommend for the 11-year-old client?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 11
D. 12 - CORRECT ANSWERS-B. 9
Rationale:
A school-age client who is 11 years of age would require 9 hours of sleep each night. Ten hours of sleep
is not recommended for the school-age client. A 5-year-old school-age client requires 11.5 hours of sleep
per night; however, 11 and 12 hours of sleep is not recommended for an 11-year-old school-age client.
Which statement is true about Piaget's theory of cognitive development?
,A. Piaget's theory includes five periods that are related to age.
B. In the late preoperational stage, the children experience animism.
C. In the preoperational stage, children are able to perform mental operations.
D. During the sensorimotor stages, infants develop an action pattern for dealing with their environment.
- CORRECT ANSWERS-D. During the sensorimotor stages, infants develop an action pattern for
dealing with their environment.
Rationale:
According to Piaget's theory, during the sensorimotor stage, infants develop a schema or action pattern
for dealing with the environment. Piaget's theory includes four periods that are related to age. In the
early preoperational stage, children experience animism. During the concrete operations stage, children
are able to perform mental operations.
Which of these groups has the highest incidence of lead poisoning?
A. Adult
B. Toddler
C. Adolescent
D. School-age child - CORRECT ANSWERS-B. Toddler
Rationale:
The incidence of lead poisoning is highest in late infancy and toddlerhood. Children at this stage explore
the environment and because of their increased level of oral activity, put objects into their mouths.
Adults have a greater risk of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Drowning and motor vehicle accidents
are more common among adolescents. Bicycle accidents are more common among school-aged children.
Which stage of development classifies boys and girls as differing very little in terms of size?
A. Toddler
B. Preschool
C. School-age
D. Adolescence - CORRECT ANSWERS-C. School- age
, Rationale:
During the school-age stage of development, boys and girls differ vary little in terms of size. During the
toddler, preschool, and adolescence stages of development boys are often larger than girls.
To which client would the nurse provide education regarding the pubertal growth spurt?
A. An 8-year-old school-age male client
B. A 16-year-old adolescent male client
C. A 12-year-old school-age female client
D.. An 18-year-old adolescent female client - CORRECT ANSWERS-C. A 12-year-old school-age
female client
Rationale:
The pubertal growth spurt reaches a peak for female clients at 12 years of age; therefore the nurse
would provide education to this client regarding expected growth during this time period. The 8-year-old
male client would not be expected to experience the pubertal growth spurt until the ages of 14 years.
The 16-year-old and the 18-year-old adolescent clients would have already experience the pubertal
growth spurt.
Which client may have concerns related to sexuality when hospitalized with a chronic illness?
A. An 8-year-old
B. A 10-year-old
C. A 12-year-old
D. An 18-year-old - CORRECT ANSWERS-D. An 18-year-old
Rationale:
An 18-year-old client is an adolescent, which is the stage of development where concerns about
sexuality may occur when the client is hospitalized with a chronic illness. The other clients are not
developmentally characterized as adolescents; therefore, the nurse would not anticipate an 8-year-old,
10 year-old, or 12-year-old child to have this concern.
Which age should an infant achieve permanent eye color?
A. 2 weeks
