RN Pediatric Nursing Exam 8 Practice Questions 2026 |Answers
|Rationales
1. A 4-year-old child is admitted with a diagnosis of croup. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Silent chest upon auscultation
B. High-pitched expiratory wheeze
C. Productive cough with thick sputum
D. Barky, brassy cough
Answer: D
Rationale: Croup is characterized by edema of the larynx and trachea, resulting in a
characteristic barky, brassy cough and inspiratory stridor.
2. Which developmental task is most appropriate for a 10-year-old child
according to Erikson?
A. Industry vs. Inferiority
B. Trust vs. Mistrust
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Answer: A
Rationale: School-age children (6 to 12 years) are in the Industry vs. Inferiority stage,
focusing on masterly of skills and social competencies.
,3. A nurse is caring for an infant with pyloric stenosis. Which assessment finding
is most characteristic of this condition?
A. Projectile vomiting after feeding
B. Currant jelly stools
C. Abdominal distention and diarrhea
D. Steatorrhea
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis causes an obstruction at the gastric outlet,
leading to non-bilious projectile vomiting, usually after feeding.
4. When administering an intramuscular injection to a 6-month-old infant,
which site is preferred?
A. Deltoid
B. Dorsogluteal
C. Vastus lateralis
D. Ventrogluteal
Answer: C
Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred site for IM injections in infants because it is
the most developed muscle mass at that age.
5. A child is diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome. Which clinical finding should
the nurse anticipate?
A. Gross hematuria
B. Hypolipidemia
C. Severe proteinuria
D. High blood pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria,
hypoalbuminemia, and generalized edema.
, 6. In a child with Tetralogy of Fallot, a ‘tet spell’ occurs. What is the priority
nursing action?
A. Administer oxygen via face mask
B. Administer IV morphine
C. Prepare for immediate intubation
D. Place the child in a knee-chest position
Answer: D
Rationale: The knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance, which helps
reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves oxygenation during a hypercyanotic spell.
7. A child has a positive Gowers sign. Which condition is most likely?
A. Cerebral Palsy
B. Scoliosis
C. Spina Bifida
D. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Gowers sign, where a child uses their hands to ‘walk up’ their legs to stand, is a
classic indicator of pelvic girdle muscle weakness in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most common in a child with cystic fibrosis
due to excessive sweating?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis causes high concentrations of sodium and chloride in sweat,
putting the child at risk for hyponatremic dehydration, especially in hot weather.
|Rationales
1. A 4-year-old child is admitted with a diagnosis of croup. Which clinical
manifestation should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Silent chest upon auscultation
B. High-pitched expiratory wheeze
C. Productive cough with thick sputum
D. Barky, brassy cough
Answer: D
Rationale: Croup is characterized by edema of the larynx and trachea, resulting in a
characteristic barky, brassy cough and inspiratory stridor.
2. Which developmental task is most appropriate for a 10-year-old child
according to Erikson?
A. Industry vs. Inferiority
B. Trust vs. Mistrust
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Answer: A
Rationale: School-age children (6 to 12 years) are in the Industry vs. Inferiority stage,
focusing on masterly of skills and social competencies.
,3. A nurse is caring for an infant with pyloric stenosis. Which assessment finding
is most characteristic of this condition?
A. Projectile vomiting after feeding
B. Currant jelly stools
C. Abdominal distention and diarrhea
D. Steatorrhea
Answer: A
Rationale: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis causes an obstruction at the gastric outlet,
leading to non-bilious projectile vomiting, usually after feeding.
4. When administering an intramuscular injection to a 6-month-old infant,
which site is preferred?
A. Deltoid
B. Dorsogluteal
C. Vastus lateralis
D. Ventrogluteal
Answer: C
Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred site for IM injections in infants because it is
the most developed muscle mass at that age.
5. A child is diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome. Which clinical finding should
the nurse anticipate?
A. Gross hematuria
B. Hypolipidemia
C. Severe proteinuria
D. High blood pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria,
hypoalbuminemia, and generalized edema.
, 6. In a child with Tetralogy of Fallot, a ‘tet spell’ occurs. What is the priority
nursing action?
A. Administer oxygen via face mask
B. Administer IV morphine
C. Prepare for immediate intubation
D. Place the child in a knee-chest position
Answer: D
Rationale: The knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance, which helps
reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves oxygenation during a hypercyanotic spell.
7. A child has a positive Gowers sign. Which condition is most likely?
A. Cerebral Palsy
B. Scoliosis
C. Spina Bifida
D. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Gowers sign, where a child uses their hands to ‘walk up’ their legs to stand, is a
classic indicator of pelvic girdle muscle weakness in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
8. Which electrolyte imbalance is most common in a child with cystic fibrosis
due to excessive sweating?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis causes high concentrations of sodium and chloride in sweat,
putting the child at risk for hyponatremic dehydration, especially in hot weather.
