BSN Pediatric Nursing Final Exam Version 3 Practice Questions
|Answers |Rationales
1. According to Erikson, which developmental task should a nurse expect a 6-
month-old infant to be working on?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Trust vs. Mistrust
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C
Rationale: The task for infancy (birth to 1 year) is trust vs. mistrust, where the infant
learns to trust that their needs will be met by caregivers.
2. Which clinical manifestation is most characteristic of pyloric stenosis in an
infant?
A. Severe biliary vomiting
B. Currant jelly-like stools
C. Abdominal distention and constipation
D. Projectile vomiting after feeding
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis typically presents with non-biliary, projectile
vomiting shortly after feeding in infants aged 2 to 8 weeks.
,3. A child with Tetralogy of Fallot becomes acutely cyanotic and agitated. Which
nursing action is the priority?
A. Administer 100% oxygen via mask
B. Place the child in the knee-chest position
C. Obtain an arterial blood gas
D. Prepare for morphine administration
Answer: B
Rationale: Placing the child in the knee-chest position increases systemic vascular
resistance, which helps reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves oxygenation.
4. What is the most common cause of acute glomerulonephritis in children?
A. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection
B. Congenital renal anomaly
C. Urinary tract infection
D. Viral hepatitis
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis usually follows a respiratory or
skin infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.
5. In a child with cystic fibrosis, why are pancreatic enzymes administered with
every meal and snack?
A. To prevent the formation of gallstones
B. To facilitate the absorption of fats and proteins
C. To reduce the viscosity of respiratory secretions
D. To maintain normal blood glucose levels
Answer: B
Rationale: In cystic fibrosis, thick mucus blocks pancreatic ducts, preventing enzymes
from reaching the duodenum; exogenous enzymes are necessary for digestion.
, 6. Which sign is considered a late indicator of respiratory distress in an infant?
A. Nasal flaring
B. Tachypnea
C. Bradycardia
D. Intercostal retractions
Answer: C
Rationale: Bradycardia is often a pre-arrest sign in infants experiencing respiratory
failure, whereas tachypnea and flaring are early signs.
7. A 4-year-old child is admitted with suspected epiglottitis. Which action should
the nurse avoid?
A. Placing the child in a tripod position
B. Keeping the child as calm as possible
C. Administering humidified oxygen
D. Using a tongue blade to examine the throat
Answer: D
Rationale: Examining the throat with a tongue blade can cause a laryngospasm, leading to
immediate and complete airway obstruction in a child with epiglottitis.
8. When teaching a parent about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
prevention, which statement is correct?
A. The infant should sleep in a side-lying position
B. Soft bedding and pillows should be used for comfort
C. The baby should sleep in the same bed as the parents
D. The infant should be placed on their back to sleep
Answer: D
Rationale: The ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign recommends the supine position to reduce the
risk of SIDS.
|Answers |Rationales
1. According to Erikson, which developmental task should a nurse expect a 6-
month-old infant to be working on?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Trust vs. Mistrust
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C
Rationale: The task for infancy (birth to 1 year) is trust vs. mistrust, where the infant
learns to trust that their needs will be met by caregivers.
2. Which clinical manifestation is most characteristic of pyloric stenosis in an
infant?
A. Severe biliary vomiting
B. Currant jelly-like stools
C. Abdominal distention and constipation
D. Projectile vomiting after feeding
Answer: D
Rationale: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis typically presents with non-biliary, projectile
vomiting shortly after feeding in infants aged 2 to 8 weeks.
,3. A child with Tetralogy of Fallot becomes acutely cyanotic and agitated. Which
nursing action is the priority?
A. Administer 100% oxygen via mask
B. Place the child in the knee-chest position
C. Obtain an arterial blood gas
D. Prepare for morphine administration
Answer: B
Rationale: Placing the child in the knee-chest position increases systemic vascular
resistance, which helps reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves oxygenation.
4. What is the most common cause of acute glomerulonephritis in children?
A. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection
B. Congenital renal anomaly
C. Urinary tract infection
D. Viral hepatitis
Answer: A
Rationale: Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis usually follows a respiratory or
skin infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus.
5. In a child with cystic fibrosis, why are pancreatic enzymes administered with
every meal and snack?
A. To prevent the formation of gallstones
B. To facilitate the absorption of fats and proteins
C. To reduce the viscosity of respiratory secretions
D. To maintain normal blood glucose levels
Answer: B
Rationale: In cystic fibrosis, thick mucus blocks pancreatic ducts, preventing enzymes
from reaching the duodenum; exogenous enzymes are necessary for digestion.
, 6. Which sign is considered a late indicator of respiratory distress in an infant?
A. Nasal flaring
B. Tachypnea
C. Bradycardia
D. Intercostal retractions
Answer: C
Rationale: Bradycardia is often a pre-arrest sign in infants experiencing respiratory
failure, whereas tachypnea and flaring are early signs.
7. A 4-year-old child is admitted with suspected epiglottitis. Which action should
the nurse avoid?
A. Placing the child in a tripod position
B. Keeping the child as calm as possible
C. Administering humidified oxygen
D. Using a tongue blade to examine the throat
Answer: D
Rationale: Examining the throat with a tongue blade can cause a laryngospasm, leading to
immediate and complete airway obstruction in a child with epiglottitis.
8. When teaching a parent about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
prevention, which statement is correct?
A. The infant should sleep in a side-lying position
B. Soft bedding and pillows should be used for comfort
C. The baby should sleep in the same bed as the parents
D. The infant should be placed on their back to sleep
Answer: D
Rationale: The ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign recommends the supine position to reduce the
risk of SIDS.
