TEST BANK FOR PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION AN ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK
3RD EDITION BY DUDERSTADT UPDATED
2026
,TABLE OF CONTENT
Unit I — General Assessment
1. Approach to Care and Assessment of Children and Adolescents
2. Physical Assessment Parameters
3. Developmental Surveillance and Screening
4. Comprehensive Health Gathering
5. Environmental Health History
6. Newborn Assessment
Unit II — System-Specific Assessment
7. Skin
8. Heart and Vascular System
9. Chest and Respiratory System
10. Head and Neck
11. Lymphatic System
12. Eyes
13. Ears
14. Nose, Mouth, and Throat
15. Abdomen and Rectum
16. Male Genitalia
17. Male and Female Breast
18. Female Genitalia
19. Musculoskeletal System
20. Neurological System
,CHAPTER 1: APPROACH TO CARE AND ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS
This chapter emphasizes a family-centered, developmentally appropriate approach to
pediatric care. It covers communication strategies, therapeutic relationships, cultural
sensitivity, and ethical considerations. Nurses assess growth, behavior, and health patterns,
prioritize safety, integrate pharmacologic knowledge, and use clinical judgment to guide
interventions while supporting children’s and families’ physical, emotional, and
developmental needs.
1. A 6-year-old child is anxious during a physical assessment. What is the nurse’s best
initial approach?
A. Proceed with the full exam immediately
B. Use medical jargon to explain procedures
C. Allow the child to explore equipment first
D. Perform the assessment without parental presence
- CORRECT ANSWER - : C
Rationale: Allowing exploration reduces fear and promotes cooperation. Forcing the
exam or using complex terms increases anxiety. Parental presence usually supports
comfort.
2. Which strategy promotes effective communication with adolescents?
A. Speaking only to parents
B. Using open-ended questions directly to the teen
C. Avoiding sensitive topics
D. Using yes/no questions exclusively
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage adolescents to express concerns. Ignoring
them or limiting responses hinders rapport and accurate assessment.
3. During a well-child visit, which is a priority for the nurse to assess first?
A. Blood pressure
B. Weight and height
C. Parent satisfaction
D. Immunization status
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
, Rationale: Growth parameters provide immediate indicators of health and nutritional
status, forming the basis for age-appropriate interventions.
4. When assessing a newborn, which finding requires immediate attention?
A. Normal reflexes present
B. Mild acrocyanosis of hands and feet
C. Grunting respirations and chest retractions
D. Heart rate 140 bpm
- CORRECT ANSWER - : C
Rationale: Grunting and retractions indicate respiratory distress requiring urgent
intervention, unlike mild acrocyanosis or normal heart rate.
5. Which is the best method to assess pain in a nonverbal toddler?
A. Ask the child to rate pain on a numeric scale
B. Use the FLACC behavioral scale
C. Assume absence of pain if the child is quiet
D. Wait for the parent to report pain
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
Rationale: The FLACC scale objectively evaluates pain behaviors in nonverbal
children. Self-report may be unreliable, and assumptions can lead to undertreatment.
6. A 4-year-old refuses to cooperate during a throat exam. The nurse should:
A. Restrain the child immediately
B. Use a toy or game to gain cooperation
C. Skip the examination entirely
D. Ask the parent to perform the exam
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
Rationale: Play-based techniques encourage cooperation and reduce fear, supporting
accurate assessment without trauma.
7. Which approach demonstrates cultural sensitivity in pediatric assessment?
A. Using standardized procedures without modification
B. Avoiding discussion of family beliefs
C. Incorporating family practices into care planning
D. Assuming all families share similar values
- CORRECT ANSWER - : C
EXAMINATION AN ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK
3RD EDITION BY DUDERSTADT UPDATED
2026
,TABLE OF CONTENT
Unit I — General Assessment
1. Approach to Care and Assessment of Children and Adolescents
2. Physical Assessment Parameters
3. Developmental Surveillance and Screening
4. Comprehensive Health Gathering
5. Environmental Health History
6. Newborn Assessment
Unit II — System-Specific Assessment
7. Skin
8. Heart and Vascular System
9. Chest and Respiratory System
10. Head and Neck
11. Lymphatic System
12. Eyes
13. Ears
14. Nose, Mouth, and Throat
15. Abdomen and Rectum
16. Male Genitalia
17. Male and Female Breast
18. Female Genitalia
19. Musculoskeletal System
20. Neurological System
,CHAPTER 1: APPROACH TO CARE AND ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN AND
ADOLESCENTS
This chapter emphasizes a family-centered, developmentally appropriate approach to
pediatric care. It covers communication strategies, therapeutic relationships, cultural
sensitivity, and ethical considerations. Nurses assess growth, behavior, and health patterns,
prioritize safety, integrate pharmacologic knowledge, and use clinical judgment to guide
interventions while supporting children’s and families’ physical, emotional, and
developmental needs.
1. A 6-year-old child is anxious during a physical assessment. What is the nurse’s best
initial approach?
A. Proceed with the full exam immediately
B. Use medical jargon to explain procedures
C. Allow the child to explore equipment first
D. Perform the assessment without parental presence
- CORRECT ANSWER - : C
Rationale: Allowing exploration reduces fear and promotes cooperation. Forcing the
exam or using complex terms increases anxiety. Parental presence usually supports
comfort.
2. Which strategy promotes effective communication with adolescents?
A. Speaking only to parents
B. Using open-ended questions directly to the teen
C. Avoiding sensitive topics
D. Using yes/no questions exclusively
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage adolescents to express concerns. Ignoring
them or limiting responses hinders rapport and accurate assessment.
3. During a well-child visit, which is a priority for the nurse to assess first?
A. Blood pressure
B. Weight and height
C. Parent satisfaction
D. Immunization status
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
, Rationale: Growth parameters provide immediate indicators of health and nutritional
status, forming the basis for age-appropriate interventions.
4. When assessing a newborn, which finding requires immediate attention?
A. Normal reflexes present
B. Mild acrocyanosis of hands and feet
C. Grunting respirations and chest retractions
D. Heart rate 140 bpm
- CORRECT ANSWER - : C
Rationale: Grunting and retractions indicate respiratory distress requiring urgent
intervention, unlike mild acrocyanosis or normal heart rate.
5. Which is the best method to assess pain in a nonverbal toddler?
A. Ask the child to rate pain on a numeric scale
B. Use the FLACC behavioral scale
C. Assume absence of pain if the child is quiet
D. Wait for the parent to report pain
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
Rationale: The FLACC scale objectively evaluates pain behaviors in nonverbal
children. Self-report may be unreliable, and assumptions can lead to undertreatment.
6. A 4-year-old refuses to cooperate during a throat exam. The nurse should:
A. Restrain the child immediately
B. Use a toy or game to gain cooperation
C. Skip the examination entirely
D. Ask the parent to perform the exam
- CORRECT ANSWER - : B
Rationale: Play-based techniques encourage cooperation and reduce fear, supporting
accurate assessment without trauma.
7. Which approach demonstrates cultural sensitivity in pediatric assessment?
A. Using standardized procedures without modification
B. Avoiding discussion of family beliefs
C. Incorporating family practices into care planning
D. Assuming all families share similar values
- CORRECT ANSWER - : C
