PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (NGN
CLINICAL SCENARIOS 2026) VERIFIED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
UPDATED
Pediatric Nursing Exam Questions & Answers (NGN Clinical Scenarios 2025A nurse in
a pediatric clinic is assessing a toddler at a well-child visit. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
a. Perform the assessment in a head to toe sequence.
b. Minimize physical contact with the child initially.
c. Explain procedures using medical terminology.
d. Stop the assessment if the child becomes uncooperative. - ANSWER B
Rationale: The nurse should initially minimize physical contact with the toddler, and then
progress from the least traumatic to the most traumatic procedures.
A nurse is caring for an 18-year-old adolescent who is up-to-date on immunizations and
is
planning to attend college. The nurse should inform the client that he should receive
which of the following immunizations prior to moving into a campus dormitory? a.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide
,b. Meningococcal polysaccharide
c. Rotavirus
d. Herpes zoster - ANSWER B
Rationale: The meningococcal polysaccharide immunization is used to prevent infection
by certain groups of meningococcal bacteria. Meningococcal infection can cause life-
threatening illnesses, such as meningococcal meningitis, which affects the brain, and
meningococcemia, which affects the blood. Both of these conditions can be fatal.
College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, are at an increased risk for
meningococcal disease relative to other persons their age. Therefore, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has issued a
recommendation that all incoming college students receive the meningococcal
immunization.
A nurse is teaching the parent of an infant about food allergens. Which of the following
foods should the nurse include as being the most common food allergy in children? a.
Cow's milk
b. Wheat bread
c. Corn syrup
d. Egg - ANSWER A
Rationale: According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should instruct the parent
that cow's milk is the most common food allergy in children. Some children are
sensitive to the protein, called casein, found in cow's milk. They have difficulty
metabolizing the casein and are, therefore, allergic to cow's milk.
A nurse is teaching the parent of a toddler about home safety. Which of the
following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching? a. "I
lock my medications in the medicine cabinet."
b. "I keep my child's crib mattress at the highest level."
c. "I turn pot handles to the side of my stove while cooking."
d. "I will give my child syrup of ipecac if she swallows something poisonous." -
ANSWER A
,Rationale: Locking up medications and other potential poisons prevents access.
Toddlers have improved gross and fine motor skills that allow for further exploration of
the environment and possible access to hazardous substances.
A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a 6-month-old infant. Which of the
following reflexes should the nurse expect to find? a. Stepping
b. Babinski
c. Extrusion
d. Moro - ANSWER B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex, which is elicited by stroking the bottom of the foot and
causing the toes to fan and the big toe to dorsiflex, should be present until the age of
1 year. Persistence of neonatal reflexes might indicate neurological deficits.
A nurse is preparing to administer recommended immunizations to a 2-month-old infant.
Which of the following immunizations should the nurse plan to administer? a.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis A
b. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis
(TDaP)
c. Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and inactivated polio virus (IPV)
d. Varicella (VAR) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) - ANSWER C
Rationale: The recommended immunizations for a 2-month-old infant include Hib and
IPV. The
Hib immunization series consists of 3 to 4 doses, depending on the immunization used,
and at a
minimum is administered at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, and 12 to 15 months. The
IPV immunization series consists of 4 doses and is administered at the ages of 2
months, 4 months, 6
to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a school-age child who underwent a surgical
procedure that resulted in temporary loss of vision. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Assign an assistive personnel to feed the child.
b. Explain sounds the child is hearing.
c. Have the child use a cane when ambulating.
d. Rotate nurses caring for the child. - ANSWER B
Rationale: The noises in a facility can be frightening to a child who is experiencing a
sensory loss. It is important to explain these noises to allay the child's fears.
, A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child who is 1 day postoperative following a
tonsillectomy.
Which of the following methods should the nurse use to determine if the child is
experiencing pain? a. Ask the parents.
b. Use the FACES scale.
c. Use the numeric rating scale.
d. Check the child's temperature. - ANSWER B
Rationale: Pain is a subjective experience even for a 3-year-old child. The FACES scale
can be
used to accurately determine the presence of pain in children as young as 3 years of
age.
12. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings indicates the need for further assessment? a. Grabs feet and pulls them to her
mouth
b. Posterior fontanel is closed
c. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine
d. Birth weight has doubled - ANSWER C
Rationale: Legs crossed and extended when supine is an unexpected finding and
requires further assessment. At 6 months of age, the legs flex at the knees when the
infant is supine. Crossed and extended legs when supine is a finding associated with
cerebral palsy.
A nurse is observing a mother who is playing peek-a-boo with her 8-month-old child.
The mother asks if this game has any developmental significance. The nurse should
inform the mother that peek-a-boo helps develop which of the following concepts in
the child? a. Hand-eye coordination
b. Sense of trust
c. Object permanence
d. Egocentrism - ANSWER C
Rationale: Object permanence refers to the cognitive skill of knowing an object still
exists even when it is out of sight. In discovering a hidden object while playing
peek-a-boo, the infant experiences validation of this concept.
A nurse is caring for a 15-month-old toddler who requires droplet precautions. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Have the toddler wear a disposable gown when in the unit's playroom.
b. Wear sterile gloves when changing the toddler's diapers.
c. Wear a mask when assisting the toddler with meals.
CLINICAL SCENARIOS 2026) VERIFIED COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
UPDATED
Pediatric Nursing Exam Questions & Answers (NGN Clinical Scenarios 2025A nurse in
a pediatric clinic is assessing a toddler at a well-child visit. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
a. Perform the assessment in a head to toe sequence.
b. Minimize physical contact with the child initially.
c. Explain procedures using medical terminology.
d. Stop the assessment if the child becomes uncooperative. - ANSWER B
Rationale: The nurse should initially minimize physical contact with the toddler, and then
progress from the least traumatic to the most traumatic procedures.
A nurse is caring for an 18-year-old adolescent who is up-to-date on immunizations and
is
planning to attend college. The nurse should inform the client that he should receive
which of the following immunizations prior to moving into a campus dormitory? a.
Pneumococcal polysaccharide
,b. Meningococcal polysaccharide
c. Rotavirus
d. Herpes zoster - ANSWER B
Rationale: The meningococcal polysaccharide immunization is used to prevent infection
by certain groups of meningococcal bacteria. Meningococcal infection can cause life-
threatening illnesses, such as meningococcal meningitis, which affects the brain, and
meningococcemia, which affects the blood. Both of these conditions can be fatal.
College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, are at an increased risk for
meningococcal disease relative to other persons their age. Therefore, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has issued a
recommendation that all incoming college students receive the meningococcal
immunization.
A nurse is teaching the parent of an infant about food allergens. Which of the following
foods should the nurse include as being the most common food allergy in children? a.
Cow's milk
b. Wheat bread
c. Corn syrup
d. Egg - ANSWER A
Rationale: According to evidence-based practice, the nurse should instruct the parent
that cow's milk is the most common food allergy in children. Some children are
sensitive to the protein, called casein, found in cow's milk. They have difficulty
metabolizing the casein and are, therefore, allergic to cow's milk.
A nurse is teaching the parent of a toddler about home safety. Which of the
following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the teaching? a. "I
lock my medications in the medicine cabinet."
b. "I keep my child's crib mattress at the highest level."
c. "I turn pot handles to the side of my stove while cooking."
d. "I will give my child syrup of ipecac if she swallows something poisonous." -
ANSWER A
,Rationale: Locking up medications and other potential poisons prevents access.
Toddlers have improved gross and fine motor skills that allow for further exploration of
the environment and possible access to hazardous substances.
A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a 6-month-old infant. Which of the
following reflexes should the nurse expect to find? a. Stepping
b. Babinski
c. Extrusion
d. Moro - ANSWER B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex, which is elicited by stroking the bottom of the foot and
causing the toes to fan and the big toe to dorsiflex, should be present until the age of
1 year. Persistence of neonatal reflexes might indicate neurological deficits.
A nurse is preparing to administer recommended immunizations to a 2-month-old infant.
Which of the following immunizations should the nurse plan to administer? a.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis A
b. Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis
(TDaP)
c. Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) and inactivated polio virus (IPV)
d. Varicella (VAR) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) - ANSWER C
Rationale: The recommended immunizations for a 2-month-old infant include Hib and
IPV. The
Hib immunization series consists of 3 to 4 doses, depending on the immunization used,
and at a
minimum is administered at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, and 12 to 15 months. The
IPV immunization series consists of 4 doses and is administered at the ages of 2
months, 4 months, 6
to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a school-age child who underwent a surgical
procedure that resulted in temporary loss of vision. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse include in the plan of care?
a. Assign an assistive personnel to feed the child.
b. Explain sounds the child is hearing.
c. Have the child use a cane when ambulating.
d. Rotate nurses caring for the child. - ANSWER B
Rationale: The noises in a facility can be frightening to a child who is experiencing a
sensory loss. It is important to explain these noises to allay the child's fears.
, A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child who is 1 day postoperative following a
tonsillectomy.
Which of the following methods should the nurse use to determine if the child is
experiencing pain? a. Ask the parents.
b. Use the FACES scale.
c. Use the numeric rating scale.
d. Check the child's temperature. - ANSWER B
Rationale: Pain is a subjective experience even for a 3-year-old child. The FACES scale
can be
used to accurately determine the presence of pain in children as young as 3 years of
age.
12. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings indicates the need for further assessment? a. Grabs feet and pulls them to her
mouth
b. Posterior fontanel is closed
c. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine
d. Birth weight has doubled - ANSWER C
Rationale: Legs crossed and extended when supine is an unexpected finding and
requires further assessment. At 6 months of age, the legs flex at the knees when the
infant is supine. Crossed and extended legs when supine is a finding associated with
cerebral palsy.
A nurse is observing a mother who is playing peek-a-boo with her 8-month-old child.
The mother asks if this game has any developmental significance. The nurse should
inform the mother that peek-a-boo helps develop which of the following concepts in
the child? a. Hand-eye coordination
b. Sense of trust
c. Object permanence
d. Egocentrism - ANSWER C
Rationale: Object permanence refers to the cognitive skill of knowing an object still
exists even when it is out of sight. In discovering a hidden object while playing
peek-a-boo, the infant experiences validation of this concept.
A nurse is caring for a 15-month-old toddler who requires droplet precautions. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Have the toddler wear a disposable gown when in the unit's playroom.
b. Wear sterile gloves when changing the toddler's diapers.
c. Wear a mask when assisting the toddler with meals.
