PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
PN PEDIATRIC NURSING PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026
WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!|
A nurse is performing a newborn assessment and notices a small dimple on the
sacral area. The infant has a normal neurological assessment and moves all
extremities well. What does the nurse suspect that the dimple indicates? -
ANSWER-Spina bifida occulta
Spina bifida occulta is a bony defect that occurs without soft-tissue involvement. A
dimple in the skin or a tuft of hair over the site may arous suspicion of its
presence, or it may be overlooked entirely
A nurse is caring for a child with complex esophageal atresia who will be
undergoing surgery for repair. What comment by the parents indicates further
teaching is required? - ANSWER-"After this surgery is done tomorrow, my baby
will be able to eat and drink"
The newborn will need IV fluids to maintain optimal hydration. The first stage of
surgery may involve a gastrostomy and a method of draining the proximal
esophageal pouch. A chest tube is inserted to drain chest fluids. If the repair is
complex, surgery may need to be done in stages.
While the nurse is weighing and measuring a toddler during his annual checkup,
the toddler's mother mentions that she is thinking of having another child. The
toddler is small in stature and seems mildly developmentally delayed. His eyelid
folds are short and his nose is flat. What do the toddler's characteristics suggest is
1|Page
, PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
the best advice the nurse can give this mother about pregnancy? - ANSWER-Stop
drinking alcohol 3 months before trying to get pregnant
Alcohol is one of the many teratogenic substances that cross the placenta to the
fetus. Fetal alcohol syndrome is often apparent in newborns of mothers with
chronic alcoholism and sometimes appears in newborns whose mothers are low-
to-moderate consumers of alcohol. No amount of alcohol is believed to be safe,
and women should stop drinking at least 3 months before they plan to become
pregnant. The ability of the mother's liver to detoxify the alcohol is apparently of
greater importance than the actual amount consumed. Fetal alcohol syndrome is
characterized by low birth weight, smaller height and head circumference, short
palpebral fissures (eyelid folds), reduced ocular growth, and a flattened nasal
bridge. These newborns are prone to respiratory difficulties, hypoglycemia,
hypocalcemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Their growth continues to be slow and
their mental development is retarded despite expert care and nutrition.
In the infant with congenital hip dysplasia, which of the following signs would
likely be noted in this child? - ANSWER-Limited abduction of the affected hip
The infant with congenital hip dysplasia usually has limited abduction of the
affected hip. They have asymmetry of the gluteal skin folds and shortening of the
femur. Adduction is not a concern.
An infant was born with a severely deformed hand. He is now 6 months old. The
nurse informs the parents that the orthopedic surgeon has recommended
amputation of the hand and fitting of a prosthesis. The mother objects and tells
the nurse that they would like to wait and see how the hand develops. Which of
the following should the nurse say in response? - ANSWER-"With a deformity such
as this, the hand is highly unlikely to improve."
2|Page
, PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
Depending on the condition, in many children, there is a potential for better
function if the malformed portion of an extremity is amputated before a
prosthesis is fitted. This creates a difficult decision for parents because it is one
they cannot undo later. They need assurance hands with malformed fingers, for
example, will not later grow to become normal and a well-fitted prosthesis will
allow their child a more usual childhood and adult life than if the original disorder
was left unchanged. It is not the nurse's place to insert her opinion about the
matter.
The nurse is caring for 22-hour-old neonate Antonio, who had a good Apgar score,
nursed without difficulty, and seemed healthy when the nursing shift began. As
the nurse's shift goes on, the nurse notices that the whites of his eyes and his skin
have begun to take on a yellow hue. The nurse would report this as a possible
indication of what condition? - ANSWER-hemolytic disease
Any infant admitted to the newborn nursery should be examined for jaundice
during the first 36 hours or more. Early development of jaundice (within the first
24-48 hours) is a probable indication of hemolytic disease. Heroin withdrawal
symptoms commonly include tremors, restlessness, hyperactivity, disorganized or
hyperactive reflexes, increased muscle tone, sneezing, tachypnea, vomiting,
diarrhea, disturbed sleep patterns, and a shrill high-pitched cry. The hypoglycemic
newborn's blood glucose would be low and a newborn with hypoxia would show
signs of respiratory distress.
The nurse is caring for a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus,
which the woman is having great difficulty keeping under control. What effect is
3|Page
, PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
the woman's condition most likely to have on the fetus? The fetus might -
ANSWER-Grow to an unsusually large size
Maternal diabetes is the most widely known contributing factor to large-for-
gestational-age newborns. LGA babies are frequently born to diabetic mothers
with poor glucose control. Continued high blood glucose levels in the mother lead
to an increase in insulin production in the fetus. Increased insulin levels act as a
fetal growth hormone causing macrosomia, an unusually large newborn with a
birth weight of greater than 4,500 grams (9 pounds, 14 ounces). The incidence of
birth defects in the gestational diabetic is not greatly increased. IUGR is not a
typical outcome of uncontrolled gestational diabetes. It is more likely that the
baby will be large-for-gestational-age
A nurse is caring for a newborn with a repaired cleft lip. What intervention can the
nurse provide to facilitate drainage of mucus and secretions to prevent aspiration?
- ANSWER-Position the child on the side
To facilitate drainage of mucus and secretions, the nurse should position the
infant on the side, never on the abdomen, after a cleft lip repair.
A baby is born with spina bifida with meningocele. The parents are visibly upset.
The father states, "What did we do wrong? How will I ever love this child?" What
is the priority action by the nurse? - ANSWER-Encourage the parents to express
their feelings and emotions openly
The family of a newborn with such a major anomaly is in a state of shock on first
learning of the problems. The nurse should be especially sensitive to their needs
4|Page
PN PEDIATRIC NURSING PRACTICE EXAM NEWEST 2025/2026
WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW VERSION!|
A nurse is performing a newborn assessment and notices a small dimple on the
sacral area. The infant has a normal neurological assessment and moves all
extremities well. What does the nurse suspect that the dimple indicates? -
ANSWER-Spina bifida occulta
Spina bifida occulta is a bony defect that occurs without soft-tissue involvement. A
dimple in the skin or a tuft of hair over the site may arous suspicion of its
presence, or it may be overlooked entirely
A nurse is caring for a child with complex esophageal atresia who will be
undergoing surgery for repair. What comment by the parents indicates further
teaching is required? - ANSWER-"After this surgery is done tomorrow, my baby
will be able to eat and drink"
The newborn will need IV fluids to maintain optimal hydration. The first stage of
surgery may involve a gastrostomy and a method of draining the proximal
esophageal pouch. A chest tube is inserted to drain chest fluids. If the repair is
complex, surgery may need to be done in stages.
While the nurse is weighing and measuring a toddler during his annual checkup,
the toddler's mother mentions that she is thinking of having another child. The
toddler is small in stature and seems mildly developmentally delayed. His eyelid
folds are short and his nose is flat. What do the toddler's characteristics suggest is
1|Page
, PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
the best advice the nurse can give this mother about pregnancy? - ANSWER-Stop
drinking alcohol 3 months before trying to get pregnant
Alcohol is one of the many teratogenic substances that cross the placenta to the
fetus. Fetal alcohol syndrome is often apparent in newborns of mothers with
chronic alcoholism and sometimes appears in newborns whose mothers are low-
to-moderate consumers of alcohol. No amount of alcohol is believed to be safe,
and women should stop drinking at least 3 months before they plan to become
pregnant. The ability of the mother's liver to detoxify the alcohol is apparently of
greater importance than the actual amount consumed. Fetal alcohol syndrome is
characterized by low birth weight, smaller height and head circumference, short
palpebral fissures (eyelid folds), reduced ocular growth, and a flattened nasal
bridge. These newborns are prone to respiratory difficulties, hypoglycemia,
hypocalcemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Their growth continues to be slow and
their mental development is retarded despite expert care and nutrition.
In the infant with congenital hip dysplasia, which of the following signs would
likely be noted in this child? - ANSWER-Limited abduction of the affected hip
The infant with congenital hip dysplasia usually has limited abduction of the
affected hip. They have asymmetry of the gluteal skin folds and shortening of the
femur. Adduction is not a concern.
An infant was born with a severely deformed hand. He is now 6 months old. The
nurse informs the parents that the orthopedic surgeon has recommended
amputation of the hand and fitting of a prosthesis. The mother objects and tells
the nurse that they would like to wait and see how the hand develops. Which of
the following should the nurse say in response? - ANSWER-"With a deformity such
as this, the hand is highly unlikely to improve."
2|Page
, PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
Depending on the condition, in many children, there is a potential for better
function if the malformed portion of an extremity is amputated before a
prosthesis is fitted. This creates a difficult decision for parents because it is one
they cannot undo later. They need assurance hands with malformed fingers, for
example, will not later grow to become normal and a well-fitted prosthesis will
allow their child a more usual childhood and adult life than if the original disorder
was left unchanged. It is not the nurse's place to insert her opinion about the
matter.
The nurse is caring for 22-hour-old neonate Antonio, who had a good Apgar score,
nursed without difficulty, and seemed healthy when the nursing shift began. As
the nurse's shift goes on, the nurse notices that the whites of his eyes and his skin
have begun to take on a yellow hue. The nurse would report this as a possible
indication of what condition? - ANSWER-hemolytic disease
Any infant admitted to the newborn nursery should be examined for jaundice
during the first 36 hours or more. Early development of jaundice (within the first
24-48 hours) is a probable indication of hemolytic disease. Heroin withdrawal
symptoms commonly include tremors, restlessness, hyperactivity, disorganized or
hyperactive reflexes, increased muscle tone, sneezing, tachypnea, vomiting,
diarrhea, disturbed sleep patterns, and a shrill high-pitched cry. The hypoglycemic
newborn's blood glucose would be low and a newborn with hypoxia would show
signs of respiratory distress.
The nurse is caring for a pregnant woman with gestational diabetes mellitus,
which the woman is having great difficulty keeping under control. What effect is
3|Page
, PN Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam
the woman's condition most likely to have on the fetus? The fetus might -
ANSWER-Grow to an unsusually large size
Maternal diabetes is the most widely known contributing factor to large-for-
gestational-age newborns. LGA babies are frequently born to diabetic mothers
with poor glucose control. Continued high blood glucose levels in the mother lead
to an increase in insulin production in the fetus. Increased insulin levels act as a
fetal growth hormone causing macrosomia, an unusually large newborn with a
birth weight of greater than 4,500 grams (9 pounds, 14 ounces). The incidence of
birth defects in the gestational diabetic is not greatly increased. IUGR is not a
typical outcome of uncontrolled gestational diabetes. It is more likely that the
baby will be large-for-gestational-age
A nurse is caring for a newborn with a repaired cleft lip. What intervention can the
nurse provide to facilitate drainage of mucus and secretions to prevent aspiration?
- ANSWER-Position the child on the side
To facilitate drainage of mucus and secretions, the nurse should position the
infant on the side, never on the abdomen, after a cleft lip repair.
A baby is born with spina bifida with meningocele. The parents are visibly upset.
The father states, "What did we do wrong? How will I ever love this child?" What
is the priority action by the nurse? - ANSWER-Encourage the parents to express
their feelings and emotions openly
The family of a newborn with such a major anomaly is in a state of shock on first
learning of the problems. The nurse should be especially sensitive to their needs
4|Page
