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HESI Practice Test: Pediatrics Practice Exam
Correct and Verified Answers Graded A
Question: A child is admitted for observation following a closed head injury. Which assessment is most essential for the practical nurse (PN) to monitor for an early sign of a
worsening condition?Correct Answer: Level of consciousness
Question: The practical nurse (PN) arrives at the playgrounds and sees a school-aged boy who has eaten something he is allergic to and is demonstrating a stridor. Which action should the PN implement first?Multiple Choices: a. Ask if the child is alone b. call for an ambulance c. move the child to a different environment d. determine what the child has
eaten Correct Answer: call for an ambulance
Question: Which nonfood item is the most common cause of respiratory arrest in young children?Multiple Choices: a. Buttons b. Pacifiers c. Broken rattles d. Latex balloons
Correct Answer: Latex balloons
Question: The practical nurse (PN) identifies an increased frequency of otitis media (OM) in children who are coming to the clinic. Based on this finding, which age group should the
PN monitor a child for signs and symptoms of OM?Correct Answer: Toddler
Question: An adolescent female who comes to the school clinic is reluctant to confide her concerns to the practical nurse (PN). The PN tells the teen that confidentiality and privacy are maintained unless a life-threatening situation arises. Which principal supports the PN's response?Correct Answer: honest information ensures establishing a trusting relationship
Question: The practical nurse (PN) collects information about infant growth and
development milestones for infants who come to the clinic for a well child visit. Which findings should the PN document as normal infant growth and development?Correct
Answer: Birth weight doubles by age 5 months and triples by 1 year.
Question: 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?Correct Answer: Narrowing pulse pressure
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Question: The practical nurse (PN) is talking with a group of elementary students about bicycle safety. Which information should the PN provide?Correct Answer: children should wear a bicycle helmet when riding a bicycle Question: A child is admitted with acute abdominal pain and possible appendicitis. Which action should the practical nurse (PN) implement for the child's abdominal
discomfort?Correct Answer: assist the child to any position of comfort.
Question: The practical nurse (PN) 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?Correct Answer: a child may have pain yet deny its presence to the nurse Question: A 3 year old boy with cerebral palsy (CP) has difficulty swallowing, cannot hold a utensil, and is slightly underweight for his height. Which action should the practical nurse implement when feeding this child?Correct Answer: stabilize the child's jaw with the caregiver's hand Question: Which of Freud's psychosexual development stages occurs during a toddler's growth and development?Multiple Choices: a) anal b) oral c) genital d) phallic Correct
Answer: Anal
Question: Using Freud's theory, the practical nurse should expect a 2 year old boy to demonstrate the behaviors of which stage?Multiple Choices: a) phallic b) anal c) latency
d) oral Correct Answer: Anal
Question: The practical nurse (PN) is observing a group of children at a day care center to determine whether children are achieving developmental milestones. Which activity should the PN identify as typical for a 2 year old child's cognitive development?Correct
Answer: uses short sentences to express self
Question: The practical nurse (PN) is caring a 6 year old who is hospitalized with asthma.Which developmentally correct activity should the PN provide the child?Correct Answer: Crayons and coloring book Question: A child is prescribed radiographs of the hand and wrist. The child's parent asks the practical nurse (PN) the purpose of this procedure. What finding should the PN explain
is provided by the diagnostic study?Correct Answer: Skeletal age
Question: A mother asks the practical nurse (PN), "When will I know if my daughter has entered puberty?" Which finding should the PN tell the mother to observe for with the onset
of puberty?Correct Answer: Growth of pubic hair
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Question: Which finding should the practical nurse confirm with the parents of an infant who is admitted with possible intussusception?Correct Answer: red currant jelly stools Question: 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?Correct Answer: do not remove the yellow crust from the site
Question: Which preoperative action is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to implement for a newborn with meningomyelocele?Correct Answer: minimize the risk for infection Question: The PN is checking the musculoskeletal system of a one month old infant during a well child visit. Which finding should the PN report to the healthcare provider?Correct
Answer: one leg is shorter than the other.
Question: Which physiological difference is present in a 3 month old infant that affects
oral drug absorption rates?Correct Answer: variable pancreatic enzyme activity
Question: The practical nurse (PN) is preparing to administer an intramuscular
immunization to a 6 month old infant. What site should the PN select?Correct Answer: vastus lateralis Question: The mother of a young child with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) who needs insulin injections at home tells the practical nurse (PN) that she is afraid she does not know what to do properly. Which action is most important for the PN implement to decrease the mother's apprehension?Correct Answer: observe the mother while she administers an insulin injection Question: The mother of a child with croup is having barking, coughing episodes calls the clinic for assistance. What action should the practical nurse (PN) recommend that the mother implement first?Correct Answer: sit with the child in bathroom with a hot shower running Question: A 6 year old who had a tonsillectomy 12 hours ago is complaining of thirst. What
should the practical nurse (PN) offer?Correct Answer: Popsicle
Question: Which first aid action should the practical nurse implement for a child who has sustained a second degree thermal burn?Correct Answer: immerse the burned area in cold water Question: What information should the practical nurse (PN) reinforce with the parents of a
- month old infant about liquid medication administration?Correct Answer: use an oral
syringe to place the medication in the side of the infant's mouth
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Question: The practical nurse (PN) is interviewing a 10 year old girl about school and her extracurricular activities. She responds, "I like school. I play the flute in the school band, and I take tennis lessons." Based on Erikson's psychosocial theory, the PN identifies that
this child is in what stage of development?Correct Answer: Industry
Question: What action should the practical nurse (PN) implement when caring for a dying child and the family?Correct Answer: Tell family to continue talking to the child until time of death Question: A 2 year old child who is hospitalized has become withdrawn and quiet on the fourth day after admission. The parent expresses concern about this change in behavior.Which explanation should the practical nurse (PN) provide? The child is Correct Answer: Experiencing the despair stage of separation Question: A 3 year old boy cries, kicks, and clings to his father when the parents try to leave the hospital room. The parents express their concern to the practical nurse (PN).What response should the PN provide?Correct Answer: "Your child is showing a normal response to the stress of hospitalization." Question: Which action is best for the practical nurse (PN) to implement to help a 7 year old child cope with a lengthy course of IV antibiotics therapy?Correct Answer: allow the child to participate in injection play Question: A 3 year old male child who has been toilet trained has had several urinary "accidents" since hospital admission. What action should the practical nurse (PN) implement?Correct Answer: provide the child with frequent opportunities to urinate Question: The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a school aged male child who is having problems adjusting to a new school. Which action should the PN recommend to the parents that may foster their child's developmental task of industry?Correct Answer: structure the tasks in the home environment and recreational settings Question: During a well child visit, the mother of an infant states, "I will probably not have my baby immunized because I am concerned about the risk of a severe reaction." Which response should the PN provide?Correct Answer: no immunization poses a greater risk for your child
Question: 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?Correct Answer: "Crying when you leave him is a healthy sign of attachment."
