pediatrics final exam questions and
answers 2026\2027 A+ Grade
Which approach is best for administering oral medication to a young child?
1. "Would you please take your medicine now, David?"
2. "Look how good Johnny takes his medication. Can you do that too, David"
3. "You must take your medication now if you want to get better."
4. "It's time for the medicine, David. Would you like water juice after it?"
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale: Allowing a young child autonomy, providing praise for cooperation, and providing a good-
tasting liquid or a frozen treat following administration of a medication are all techniques that
encourage compliance.
Page reference: Page 501-502
The preferred site for an intramuscular injection in small infant is:
1. dorsogluteal
2. ventrogluteal
3. vastus lateralis
4. deltoid
- correct answer Correct answer: 3
Rationale: IM injections are given into the vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh in all infants. The site is
free of major nerves and blood vessels.
Page reference: Page 503
The physician orders 10 mg of Demerol for an infant after surgery. If the label reads 50 mg/ml, the nurse
would administer
1. 2.0 mL
2. 0.8 mL
,3. 0.5 mL
4. 0.2 mL
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale:
Page reference: Page 509 Box 22-2
Which of the following medication can be crushed when administered to a pediatric patient?
1. Potassium chloride (Slo-K" capsule
2. Colace gel tablets ( Docusate)
3. Ditropan XL tablets (oxybutynin)
4. Simethicone tablet
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale: Most pediatric medications are available in liquid, suspension, or chewable tablets. Only
scored tablets should be divided. Extended-release tablets and medication in capsule form, such as
Ditropan XL (oxybutynin) and potassium chloride (Slo-K), should not be chewed or crushed. Gel tablets,
such as Colace (docusate sodium) should not be cut or dissolved.
Page reference: Page 501
The mother and grandmother of a child are at the bedside, rubbing the skin of a child when the nurse
enters the room, the visitors a startled and drop the item they were rubbing against the child's skin. The
nurse picks up the item and recognizes it as a penny. The best response of the nurse is to?
1. ask, "What on earth are you doing to that child with this penny?"
2. Give a penny back to mother leave the room to give them their privacy.
3. Tell them that they could hurt the child with the penny and there are many germs on coins.
4. Return the paint to the mother an open dialogue about the practices are using.
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale: Cultural practices need to be considered, and an open dialogue about these practices will
help the health care team to understand the reasoning behind them. As long as patient safety is not
compromised, the caregivers should allow these practices to take place. Communication should reflect a
nonjudgmental attitude on the part of the caretaker. If the cultural practice compromises safety or is
against hospital policy, the health care provider should educate the patient and family members as to
why the practice should not take place in the hospital setting.
Page reference: Page 490 (See also Chapter 24 Page 575.)
,What is the most effective position for the nurse to place a toddler in to administer medications?
Semi-sitting position on a nurse's lap
Sitting in a high chair
Semi-Fowler's in a crib
Standing after providing an explanation
- correct answer Semi-sitting position on a nurse's lap
Toddlers are usually going to resist and this will allow for the most effective method to administer
medications.REF: Page 501
A child on the pediatric unit has an order for a 24-hour urine specimen. Six hours after initiating the
specimen collection the parents inform nursing staff that the child was incontinent. What instruction
does the nurse provide to the parents at this time?
Lost specimens necessitate restarting the test.
The specimen can now be sent to the laboratory.
They should continue collecting the child's urine.
The child will now require a straight catheterization to obtain urine.
- correct answer Lost specimens necessitate restarting the test.
At times a 24-hour urine specimen may be requested to determine the rate of urine production and
measure the excretion of specific chemicals from the body. The nurses on each shift must closely
supervise this test to maintain its accuracy, because lost specimens necessitate restarting the test.REF:
Page 497
The nurse enters the room of a 2-month-old patient and observes the infant actively feeding with a
propped formula bottle. What fact related to propping bottles should the nurse consider when
preparing education for the family at this time?
It is an effective technique for feeding.
It significantly increases choking risk.
It is a common cultural practice and requires respect.
, It will assist the infant to learn how to hold the bottle independently.
- correct answer It significantly increases choking risk.
Propped nursing bottles or force-feeding small children can lead to choking.REF: Page 488
Which procedure could be performed to obtain spinal fluid for examination?
Thoracentesis
Needle aspiration
Lumbar puncture
Bone marrow aspiration
- correct answer Lumbar puncture
A lumbar puncture is also referred to as a spinal tap and is done to obtain spinal fluid for examination or
to reduce pressure within the brain in conditions such as hydrocephalus or meningitis.REF: Page 498
A 3-year-old patient requires a pulse assessment. Which anatomical area is the best to assess the
toddler's pulse?
Radial
Popliteal
Apical
Carotid
- correct answer Apical
The pulse of the older child is taken just like that of an adult. Apical pulses are advised for children
younger than 5 years of age.REF: Page 491
Which of the following statements are appropriate when administering medications to children?
Select all that apply.
The nurse should plan additional time for administering medications to children.
The nurse may leave non-narcotic pain relievers at the bedside for an adolescent.
The nurse will find that resistive behavior to taking medications is at a peak with toddlers..
answers 2026\2027 A+ Grade
Which approach is best for administering oral medication to a young child?
1. "Would you please take your medicine now, David?"
2. "Look how good Johnny takes his medication. Can you do that too, David"
3. "You must take your medication now if you want to get better."
4. "It's time for the medicine, David. Would you like water juice after it?"
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale: Allowing a young child autonomy, providing praise for cooperation, and providing a good-
tasting liquid or a frozen treat following administration of a medication are all techniques that
encourage compliance.
Page reference: Page 501-502
The preferred site for an intramuscular injection in small infant is:
1. dorsogluteal
2. ventrogluteal
3. vastus lateralis
4. deltoid
- correct answer Correct answer: 3
Rationale: IM injections are given into the vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh in all infants. The site is
free of major nerves and blood vessels.
Page reference: Page 503
The physician orders 10 mg of Demerol for an infant after surgery. If the label reads 50 mg/ml, the nurse
would administer
1. 2.0 mL
2. 0.8 mL
,3. 0.5 mL
4. 0.2 mL
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale:
Page reference: Page 509 Box 22-2
Which of the following medication can be crushed when administered to a pediatric patient?
1. Potassium chloride (Slo-K" capsule
2. Colace gel tablets ( Docusate)
3. Ditropan XL tablets (oxybutynin)
4. Simethicone tablet
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale: Most pediatric medications are available in liquid, suspension, or chewable tablets. Only
scored tablets should be divided. Extended-release tablets and medication in capsule form, such as
Ditropan XL (oxybutynin) and potassium chloride (Slo-K), should not be chewed or crushed. Gel tablets,
such as Colace (docusate sodium) should not be cut or dissolved.
Page reference: Page 501
The mother and grandmother of a child are at the bedside, rubbing the skin of a child when the nurse
enters the room, the visitors a startled and drop the item they were rubbing against the child's skin. The
nurse picks up the item and recognizes it as a penny. The best response of the nurse is to?
1. ask, "What on earth are you doing to that child with this penny?"
2. Give a penny back to mother leave the room to give them their privacy.
3. Tell them that they could hurt the child with the penny and there are many germs on coins.
4. Return the paint to the mother an open dialogue about the practices are using.
- correct answer Correct answer: 4
Rationale: Cultural practices need to be considered, and an open dialogue about these practices will
help the health care team to understand the reasoning behind them. As long as patient safety is not
compromised, the caregivers should allow these practices to take place. Communication should reflect a
nonjudgmental attitude on the part of the caretaker. If the cultural practice compromises safety or is
against hospital policy, the health care provider should educate the patient and family members as to
why the practice should not take place in the hospital setting.
Page reference: Page 490 (See also Chapter 24 Page 575.)
,What is the most effective position for the nurse to place a toddler in to administer medications?
Semi-sitting position on a nurse's lap
Sitting in a high chair
Semi-Fowler's in a crib
Standing after providing an explanation
- correct answer Semi-sitting position on a nurse's lap
Toddlers are usually going to resist and this will allow for the most effective method to administer
medications.REF: Page 501
A child on the pediatric unit has an order for a 24-hour urine specimen. Six hours after initiating the
specimen collection the parents inform nursing staff that the child was incontinent. What instruction
does the nurse provide to the parents at this time?
Lost specimens necessitate restarting the test.
The specimen can now be sent to the laboratory.
They should continue collecting the child's urine.
The child will now require a straight catheterization to obtain urine.
- correct answer Lost specimens necessitate restarting the test.
At times a 24-hour urine specimen may be requested to determine the rate of urine production and
measure the excretion of specific chemicals from the body. The nurses on each shift must closely
supervise this test to maintain its accuracy, because lost specimens necessitate restarting the test.REF:
Page 497
The nurse enters the room of a 2-month-old patient and observes the infant actively feeding with a
propped formula bottle. What fact related to propping bottles should the nurse consider when
preparing education for the family at this time?
It is an effective technique for feeding.
It significantly increases choking risk.
It is a common cultural practice and requires respect.
, It will assist the infant to learn how to hold the bottle independently.
- correct answer It significantly increases choking risk.
Propped nursing bottles or force-feeding small children can lead to choking.REF: Page 488
Which procedure could be performed to obtain spinal fluid for examination?
Thoracentesis
Needle aspiration
Lumbar puncture
Bone marrow aspiration
- correct answer Lumbar puncture
A lumbar puncture is also referred to as a spinal tap and is done to obtain spinal fluid for examination or
to reduce pressure within the brain in conditions such as hydrocephalus or meningitis.REF: Page 498
A 3-year-old patient requires a pulse assessment. Which anatomical area is the best to assess the
toddler's pulse?
Radial
Popliteal
Apical
Carotid
- correct answer Apical
The pulse of the older child is taken just like that of an adult. Apical pulses are advised for children
younger than 5 years of age.REF: Page 491
Which of the following statements are appropriate when administering medications to children?
Select all that apply.
The nurse should plan additional time for administering medications to children.
The nurse may leave non-narcotic pain relievers at the bedside for an adolescent.
The nurse will find that resistive behavior to taking medications is at a peak with toddlers..
