PEDIATRIC CERTIFICATION EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
▶ What does the nurse state is the cause of frequent upper respiratory
tract infections in toddlers? Answer: Immature immune system
▶ A toddler on the pediatric unit is required to have temporary dietary
restrictions after colorectal surgery. What is the best way for the nurse to
promote adherence to the restrictions? Answer: Toddlers are ritualistic and
do not tolerate change well; *any change in diet should be done matter of
factly.*
▶ age range for toddler years Answer: 12-36mos
▶ While in the playroom of a pediatric unit the nurse sees several toddlers
seated at a table trying to copy the same picture from a book. They are not
talking to each other or sharing their crayons. What does the nurse
conclude about this behavioral interaction? Answer: It is a typical
expression of toddlers' social development. As part of the socialization
process, toddlers enjoy playing beside other children (parallel play).
▶ A nurse is obtaining a health history from the mother of a 15-month-old
toddler with celiac disease. The nurse expects the mother to indicate what
about her toddler? Answer: *Steatorrhea (fatty, foul-smelling, frothy, bulky
stools)* occurs with celiac disease because of an intolerance to gluten;
toxic substances, which can damage the intestinal mucosal cells,
accumulate and cause diarrhea.
,▶ What is the priority nursing care in the immediate postoperative period
for a toddler with a newly applied hip spica cast? Answer: *Checking the
toddler's peripheral circulation*. Priority nursing care for any cast
application includes checking the color and temperature of the area
surrounding the cast to ensure that the cast is not too tight. A tight cast
compresses arteries and veins, thereby impairing circulation.
▶ The parent of a 2-year-old calls a nurse who is a neighbor and reports
that the child just ate several multivitamins with iron. What should the nurse
say to the parent? Answer: "Call the Poison Control Center."
The Poison Control Center will provide the best guidance for treatment of
excess ingestion of a substance; enemas, lavage, or chelation therapy with
deferoxamine (Desferal), a heavy metal antagonist, may be recommended,
depending on the amount ingested and the child's age and response.
▶ A nurse in the daycare center is teaching several aides about the play
behavior of 2-year-old toddlers. What is this type of play called? Answer:
*Parallel*: Toddlers play independently but beside other children; they are
aware of the other children, often grabbing toys from them, but do not
socially interact with them.
▶ Elbow restraints are prescribed for an 18-month-old toddler who just had
surgery for a cleft palate. The nurse explains to the parents that the
restraints are used to keep the child from doing what? Answer: The suture
lines in the mouth must be protected. Because the toddler uses the mouth
to explore the environment, elbow restraints are needed to keep the child
from placing fingers or objects in the mouth.
, ▶ During which health maintenance visit for a toddler-age client should the
nurse assess the ability to throw a ball overhand without losing balance?
Answer: 18mos
▶ While obtaining the health history of a 15-month-old toddler, the child of
a migrant worker, a nurse learns that the infant recently had a fever, runny
nose, cough, and white spots in the mouth lasting 3 days. A rash started on
the face and spread to the whole body. What communicable disease does
the nurse suspect the infant suffered from? Answer: White spots in the
mouth (Koplik spots) and the rash, combined with increased mucus
secretions (coryza), are indicative of measles *(rubeola)*.
▶ The nurse discusses discipline with parents of a 4-year-old child. Which
parental statement regarding time-out reflects an appropriate application of
this method of discipline? Answer: Explaining the reason for the time-out
before and after reinforces the child's association of the time-out with the
undesirable behavior, allowing the child to work to control those behaviors.
▶ The nurse is caring for a young child diagnosed with lead poisoning.
Which finding indicates that the client has suffered from high-dose
exposure to lead? Answer: Blindness indicates that the client is suffering
from encephalopathy as a result of high-dose exposure to lead.
▶ The nurse is providing education to the parents of a preschool-age client
who is experiencing a severe fear of the dark. Which treatment option
should the nurse share with the parents during the teaching session?
Answer: Repetition of brave statements
▶ A 3-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a tentative
diagnosis of Wilms tumor. The nurse obtains the child's health history from
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
▶ What does the nurse state is the cause of frequent upper respiratory
tract infections in toddlers? Answer: Immature immune system
▶ A toddler on the pediatric unit is required to have temporary dietary
restrictions after colorectal surgery. What is the best way for the nurse to
promote adherence to the restrictions? Answer: Toddlers are ritualistic and
do not tolerate change well; *any change in diet should be done matter of
factly.*
▶ age range for toddler years Answer: 12-36mos
▶ While in the playroom of a pediatric unit the nurse sees several toddlers
seated at a table trying to copy the same picture from a book. They are not
talking to each other or sharing their crayons. What does the nurse
conclude about this behavioral interaction? Answer: It is a typical
expression of toddlers' social development. As part of the socialization
process, toddlers enjoy playing beside other children (parallel play).
▶ A nurse is obtaining a health history from the mother of a 15-month-old
toddler with celiac disease. The nurse expects the mother to indicate what
about her toddler? Answer: *Steatorrhea (fatty, foul-smelling, frothy, bulky
stools)* occurs with celiac disease because of an intolerance to gluten;
toxic substances, which can damage the intestinal mucosal cells,
accumulate and cause diarrhea.
,▶ What is the priority nursing care in the immediate postoperative period
for a toddler with a newly applied hip spica cast? Answer: *Checking the
toddler's peripheral circulation*. Priority nursing care for any cast
application includes checking the color and temperature of the area
surrounding the cast to ensure that the cast is not too tight. A tight cast
compresses arteries and veins, thereby impairing circulation.
▶ The parent of a 2-year-old calls a nurse who is a neighbor and reports
that the child just ate several multivitamins with iron. What should the nurse
say to the parent? Answer: "Call the Poison Control Center."
The Poison Control Center will provide the best guidance for treatment of
excess ingestion of a substance; enemas, lavage, or chelation therapy with
deferoxamine (Desferal), a heavy metal antagonist, may be recommended,
depending on the amount ingested and the child's age and response.
▶ A nurse in the daycare center is teaching several aides about the play
behavior of 2-year-old toddlers. What is this type of play called? Answer:
*Parallel*: Toddlers play independently but beside other children; they are
aware of the other children, often grabbing toys from them, but do not
socially interact with them.
▶ Elbow restraints are prescribed for an 18-month-old toddler who just had
surgery for a cleft palate. The nurse explains to the parents that the
restraints are used to keep the child from doing what? Answer: The suture
lines in the mouth must be protected. Because the toddler uses the mouth
to explore the environment, elbow restraints are needed to keep the child
from placing fingers or objects in the mouth.
, ▶ During which health maintenance visit for a toddler-age client should the
nurse assess the ability to throw a ball overhand without losing balance?
Answer: 18mos
▶ While obtaining the health history of a 15-month-old toddler, the child of
a migrant worker, a nurse learns that the infant recently had a fever, runny
nose, cough, and white spots in the mouth lasting 3 days. A rash started on
the face and spread to the whole body. What communicable disease does
the nurse suspect the infant suffered from? Answer: White spots in the
mouth (Koplik spots) and the rash, combined with increased mucus
secretions (coryza), are indicative of measles *(rubeola)*.
▶ The nurse discusses discipline with parents of a 4-year-old child. Which
parental statement regarding time-out reflects an appropriate application of
this method of discipline? Answer: Explaining the reason for the time-out
before and after reinforces the child's association of the time-out with the
undesirable behavior, allowing the child to work to control those behaviors.
▶ The nurse is caring for a young child diagnosed with lead poisoning.
Which finding indicates that the client has suffered from high-dose
exposure to lead? Answer: Blindness indicates that the client is suffering
from encephalopathy as a result of high-dose exposure to lead.
▶ The nurse is providing education to the parents of a preschool-age client
who is experiencing a severe fear of the dark. Which treatment option
should the nurse share with the parents during the teaching session?
Answer: Repetition of brave statements
▶ A 3-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit with a tentative
diagnosis of Wilms tumor. The nurse obtains the child's health history from
