HESI RN
HESI Practice Test Pediatrics
1. A 2-year-old child with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is being treated in the hospital. What should the healthcare provider monitor for in this child?
- A. Increased urine output.
- B. Decreased respiratory rate.
- C. Labored breathing.
- D. Improved appetite.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Labored breathing is a critical sign of worsening respiratory distress in children with RSV. It indicates that the child's condition may be deteriorating, requiring prompt intervention to ensure adequate oxygenation and prevent respiratory failure. Monitoring for labored breathing allows healthcare providers to promptly assess and manage the child's respiratory status, potentially preventing further complications associated with RSV infection.
2. When instilling ear drops in a 2-year-old child, how should the practical nurse (PN) position the earlobe to straighten the external auditory canal?
- A. Up and back.
- B. Down and back.
- C. Up and forward.
- D. Down and forward.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When administering ear drops to a child under three years old, it is essential to pull the earlobe down and back. This positioning helps straighten the external auditory canal, facilitating the proper administration of the ear drops. Pulling the earlobe down and back in young children aims to ensure that the medication reaches the intended area for optimal effectiveness.
3. The healthcare provider is providing postoperative care to a 7-year-old child who had surgery for appendicitis. The child is experiencing pain at the surgical site. What is the healthcare provider's priority action?
- A. Administer the prescribed pain medication
- B. Encourage the child to take deep breaths
- C. Apply a warm compress to the surgical site
- D. Reposition the child to a more comfortable position
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Administering the prescribed pain medication is crucial to effectively manage the child's postoperative pain. Pain management is a priority to ensure the child's comfort and promote healing following surgery. Encouraging deep breaths, applying warm compresses, or repositioning the child may help, but addressing the pain with medication is the initial and most vital intervention.
4. A 2-year-old boy begins to cry when the mother starts to leave. What is the nurse's best response in this situation?
- A. Let me read this book to you.
- B. Two years old usually stop crying the minute the parent leaves.
- C. Now be a big boy. Mommy will be back soon.
- D. Let's wave bye-bye to mommy.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Waving bye-bye to mommy helps the child understand that the separation is temporary.
5. The parents of a 3-year-old boy who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) ask, 'how can our son have this disease? We are wondering if we should have any more children.' What information should the nurse provide these parents?
- A. This is an inherited X-linked recessive disorder, which primarily affects male children in the family.
- B. The male infant had a viral infection that went unnoticed and untreated, leading to muscle damage.
- C. The lack of the protein dystrophin in the mother can impact the muscle groups of males.
- D. Damage to the spinal cord due to birth trauma from a breech vaginal birth weakens the muscles.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should inform the parents that Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked recessive disorder, which primarily affects male children in the family. This genetic condition is caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene located on the X chromosome. Females are usually carriers of the gene mutation and may pass it on to their sons. Daughters of carrier mothers have a 50% chance of being carriers themselves. Understanding the genetics of DMD can help the parents make informed decisions about family planning and genetic counseling.
Similar Questions

Access More Features
HESI RN Basic
$69.99/ 30 days
- 50,000 Questions with answers
- All HESI courses Coverage
- 30 days access @ $69.99
HESI RN Premium
$149.99/ 90 days
- 50,000 Questions with answers
- All HESI courses Coverage
- 30 days access @ $149.99