Nursing Practice – Children’s Health (Exam 2 Study Guide) 2026 Galen
College
1. At what age should a nurse expect a healthy infant to double their birth
weight?
A. 4 months
B. 12 months
C. 9 months
D. 6 months
Answer: D
Rationale: Typically, an infant’s birth weight doubles by 6 months of age and triples by 12
months.
2. Which developmental milestone is expected of a 9-month-old infant?
A. Walking alone
B. Using a neat pincer grasp
C. Building a tower of two blocks
D. Speaking 10 words
Answer: B
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) usually develops around 8 to 10
months of age.
,3. A toddler is hospitalized. Which Erikson stage of development should the
nurse prioritize when planning care?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C
Rationale: Toddlers (ages 1-3) are in the Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage, focusing
on self-control and independence.
4. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A. CRIES scale
B. FLACC scale
C. Numerical Rating Scale (0-10)
D. Wong-Baker FACES scale
Answer: D
Rationale: The Wong-Baker FACES scale is appropriate for children as young as 3 years
old because it uses visual representations of pain.
5. A nurse is teaching parents about car seat safety. At what age can a child
typically transition to a booster seat?
A. When they reach 20 pounds
B. When they are 2 years old
C. At exactly 4 years old regardless of size
D. When they outgrow the forward-facing harness weight/height limits
Answer: D
Rationale: Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they
reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer before moving to a
booster seat.
, 6. Which clinical manifestation is a classic sign of Epiglottitis?
A. Barking cough
B. Wheezing on expiration
C. Drooling and agitation
D. Low-grade fever and runny nose
Answer: C
Rationale: Epiglottitis is a medical emergency characterized by the ‘4 Ds’: Drooling,
Dysphagia, Dysphonia, and Distressed inspiratory efforts.
7. When assessing a child with suspected Tetralogy of Fallot, the nurse notes the
child squatting. This position helps by:
A. Decreasing systemic vascular resistance
B. Increasing systemic vascular resistance to reduce right-to-left shunting
C. Increasing venous return from the legs
D. Promoting lung expansion
Answer: B
Rationale: Squatting (or knee-chest position) increases systemic vascular resistance,
which forces more blood from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery instead of
through the VSD.
8. A child is diagnosed with Laryngotracheobronchitis (Croup). Which treatment
is commonly used in the ED to reduce subglottic edema?
A. Nebulized racemic epinephrine
B. Albuterol nebulizer
C. Intravenous antibiotics
D. Chest physiotherapy
Answer: A
Rationale: Nebulized racemic epinephrine causes mucosal vasoconstriction, which helps
rapidly decrease the airway edema associated with Croup.
College
1. At what age should a nurse expect a healthy infant to double their birth
weight?
A. 4 months
B. 12 months
C. 9 months
D. 6 months
Answer: D
Rationale: Typically, an infant’s birth weight doubles by 6 months of age and triples by 12
months.
2. Which developmental milestone is expected of a 9-month-old infant?
A. Walking alone
B. Using a neat pincer grasp
C. Building a tower of two blocks
D. Speaking 10 words
Answer: B
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) usually develops around 8 to 10
months of age.
,3. A toddler is hospitalized. Which Erikson stage of development should the
nurse prioritize when planning care?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C
Rationale: Toddlers (ages 1-3) are in the Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage, focusing
on self-control and independence.
4. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A. CRIES scale
B. FLACC scale
C. Numerical Rating Scale (0-10)
D. Wong-Baker FACES scale
Answer: D
Rationale: The Wong-Baker FACES scale is appropriate for children as young as 3 years
old because it uses visual representations of pain.
5. A nurse is teaching parents about car seat safety. At what age can a child
typically transition to a booster seat?
A. When they reach 20 pounds
B. When they are 2 years old
C. At exactly 4 years old regardless of size
D. When they outgrow the forward-facing harness weight/height limits
Answer: D
Rationale: Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they
reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer before moving to a
booster seat.
, 6. Which clinical manifestation is a classic sign of Epiglottitis?
A. Barking cough
B. Wheezing on expiration
C. Drooling and agitation
D. Low-grade fever and runny nose
Answer: C
Rationale: Epiglottitis is a medical emergency characterized by the ‘4 Ds’: Drooling,
Dysphagia, Dysphonia, and Distressed inspiratory efforts.
7. When assessing a child with suspected Tetralogy of Fallot, the nurse notes the
child squatting. This position helps by:
A. Decreasing systemic vascular resistance
B. Increasing systemic vascular resistance to reduce right-to-left shunting
C. Increasing venous return from the legs
D. Promoting lung expansion
Answer: B
Rationale: Squatting (or knee-chest position) increases systemic vascular resistance,
which forces more blood from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery instead of
through the VSD.
8. A child is diagnosed with Laryngotracheobronchitis (Croup). Which treatment
is commonly used in the ED to reduce subglottic edema?
A. Nebulized racemic epinephrine
B. Albuterol nebulizer
C. Intravenous antibiotics
D. Chest physiotherapy
Answer: A
Rationale: Nebulized racemic epinephrine causes mucosal vasoconstriction, which helps
rapidly decrease the airway edema associated with Croup.
