Comprehensive Pediatric &
Adolescent Nursing Exam Prep:
Vaccines, Growth, Development,
Disorders, and Emergency Care
Scenarios Verified Questions
Provided with A+ Graded
Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A nurse is preparing to administer a vaccine to a 4-year-old child. Which of the following
vaccines should the nurse administer?
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
Hepatitis B (HepB)
Varicella (VAR)
Meningococcal (MCV4)
Varicella (VAR)
The child should have received the first dose between 12 to 15 months of age. The child should
then receive a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.
A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who has scoliosis and requires surgical
intervention. Which of the following behaviors by the adolescent should the nurse anticipate
because it is most common reaction?
Identity crisis
Body image changes
Feelings of displacement
Loss of privacy
Body image changes
,Body image changes are the most common behaviors observed in adolescents who have
scoliosis and require surgery.
A nurse is caring for an 18-month-old toddler who has been hospitalized for 10 days. After the
toddler's mother leaves the room, the nurse observes the toddler sitting quietly in the corner
of the crib, sucking her thumb. When the nurse approaches the crib, the toddler turns away
from the nurse. The nurse should understand that these behaviors indicate which of the
following developmental reactions?
An anxiety reaction
Regression
Resentment toward the mother
Developing autonomy
An anxiety reaction
Hospitalization is stressful, regardless of the age of the client. However, for an 18-month-old
toddler, separation from parents adds to that stress. The toddler's behavior indicates an anxiety
reaction to the stress of hospitalization. Separation anxiety initially causes demonstrations of
protest. Remaining sad and quiet when a parent leaves indicates the second response to
separation anxiety, which is despair.
A nurse is caring for a 2-month-old in the emergency department.
Nurses Notes
Vital Signs
Nurses Notes
1000:
Infant is irritable and difficult for guardian to console..console. Rhinorrhea present with copious
clear secretions..secretions. Crackles and mild expiratory wheeze present in bilateral lower
lobes. Moderate substernal and subcostal retractions with nasal flaring noted., Guardian reports
poor feeding over the past 24 hours. Contact and droplet precautions initiated
1200:
Diminished breath sounds noted in right lower lobe. Cough present. Infant listless in guardian’s
arms. IV saline lock inserted in left forearm
Vital Signs
,1015:
Temperature: 101.8°F/38.8°C
Pulse: 172 beats/min
Respirations: 56 breaths/min (min
B/P: 85/50 mmHg
Oxygen Saturation: 93%
1200:
Temperature: 101.6°F/38.2°C
Pulse: 168 beats/min
Respirations: 48w breaths/min
B/P: 90/52 mmHg
Oxygen Saturation: 90%
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options.
The nurse recognizes that the client has manifestations of Select... as evidenced by Select... .
Dropdown 1
Respiratory syncytial virus is correct. The nurse should recognize that respiratory syncytial virus
is a viral infection of the respiratory system. As the illness progresses, the client may develop
infections of the lower airway, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Dropdown 2
Retractions are correct. The nurse should recognize that clients who have respiratory syncytial
virus can develop retractions when the lower airway becomes affected and the effort to breathe
becomes difficult.
A nurse is caring for a child who is admitted with suspected acute appendicitis. Which of the
following manifestations should indicate to the nurse that the child's appendix is perforated?
Sudden decrease in abdominal pain
Absent Rovsing's sign
Flaccid abdomen
Low-grade fever
, Sudden decrease in abdominal pain
A sudden decrease in abdominal pain should indicate to the nurse that the appendix might be
ruptured. If the appendix ruptures, the pain can disappear for a short period and the client
might feel suddenly better. However, once peritonitis sets in, the pain returns and can spread
into the whole abdomen.
A nurse in a PACU is admitting a client who is postoperative following a tonsillectomy. Which
of the following actions should the nurse plan to take to prevent aspiration?
Place a bedside humidifier at the head of the client's bed.
Suction the nasopharynx as needed.
Withhold fluids until the client demonstrates a gag reflex.
Perform chest physiotherapy.
Withhold fluids until the client demonstrates a gag reflex.
Following a tonsillectomy, the client's gag reflex can be suppressed by local anesthetics or
edema. To prevent aspiration, the gag reflex must be present before the client is allowed have
fluids.
A nurse is caring for a toddler whose parent states while bathing the child she noticed a mass
in his abdominal area and that his urine is a pink color. Which of the following actions is the
nurse's priority?
Schedule the child for an abdominal ultrasound.
Instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal area.
Determine if the child is having pain.
Obtain a urine specimen for a urinalysis.
Instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal area.
The priority action is to instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the child’s abdomen. These
symptoms are associated with Wilms' tumor, and trauma to the mass should be avoided to
prevent movement of cancer cells into other sites.
A nurse is caring for a 12-month-old toddler who is hospitalized and confined to a room with
contact precautions in place. Which of the following toys should the nurse recommend in
order to meet the developmental needs of the client?
Large building blocks
Adolescent Nursing Exam Prep:
Vaccines, Growth, Development,
Disorders, and Emergency Care
Scenarios Verified Questions
Provided with A+ Graded
Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A nurse is preparing to administer a vaccine to a 4-year-old child. Which of the following
vaccines should the nurse administer?
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
Hepatitis B (HepB)
Varicella (VAR)
Meningococcal (MCV4)
Varicella (VAR)
The child should have received the first dose between 12 to 15 months of age. The child should
then receive a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.
A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who has scoliosis and requires surgical
intervention. Which of the following behaviors by the adolescent should the nurse anticipate
because it is most common reaction?
Identity crisis
Body image changes
Feelings of displacement
Loss of privacy
Body image changes
,Body image changes are the most common behaviors observed in adolescents who have
scoliosis and require surgery.
A nurse is caring for an 18-month-old toddler who has been hospitalized for 10 days. After the
toddler's mother leaves the room, the nurse observes the toddler sitting quietly in the corner
of the crib, sucking her thumb. When the nurse approaches the crib, the toddler turns away
from the nurse. The nurse should understand that these behaviors indicate which of the
following developmental reactions?
An anxiety reaction
Regression
Resentment toward the mother
Developing autonomy
An anxiety reaction
Hospitalization is stressful, regardless of the age of the client. However, for an 18-month-old
toddler, separation from parents adds to that stress. The toddler's behavior indicates an anxiety
reaction to the stress of hospitalization. Separation anxiety initially causes demonstrations of
protest. Remaining sad and quiet when a parent leaves indicates the second response to
separation anxiety, which is despair.
A nurse is caring for a 2-month-old in the emergency department.
Nurses Notes
Vital Signs
Nurses Notes
1000:
Infant is irritable and difficult for guardian to console..console. Rhinorrhea present with copious
clear secretions..secretions. Crackles and mild expiratory wheeze present in bilateral lower
lobes. Moderate substernal and subcostal retractions with nasal flaring noted., Guardian reports
poor feeding over the past 24 hours. Contact and droplet precautions initiated
1200:
Diminished breath sounds noted in right lower lobe. Cough present. Infant listless in guardian’s
arms. IV saline lock inserted in left forearm
Vital Signs
,1015:
Temperature: 101.8°F/38.8°C
Pulse: 172 beats/min
Respirations: 56 breaths/min (min
B/P: 85/50 mmHg
Oxygen Saturation: 93%
1200:
Temperature: 101.6°F/38.2°C
Pulse: 168 beats/min
Respirations: 48w breaths/min
B/P: 90/52 mmHg
Oxygen Saturation: 90%
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options.
The nurse recognizes that the client has manifestations of Select... as evidenced by Select... .
Dropdown 1
Respiratory syncytial virus is correct. The nurse should recognize that respiratory syncytial virus
is a viral infection of the respiratory system. As the illness progresses, the client may develop
infections of the lower airway, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Dropdown 2
Retractions are correct. The nurse should recognize that clients who have respiratory syncytial
virus can develop retractions when the lower airway becomes affected and the effort to breathe
becomes difficult.
A nurse is caring for a child who is admitted with suspected acute appendicitis. Which of the
following manifestations should indicate to the nurse that the child's appendix is perforated?
Sudden decrease in abdominal pain
Absent Rovsing's sign
Flaccid abdomen
Low-grade fever
, Sudden decrease in abdominal pain
A sudden decrease in abdominal pain should indicate to the nurse that the appendix might be
ruptured. If the appendix ruptures, the pain can disappear for a short period and the client
might feel suddenly better. However, once peritonitis sets in, the pain returns and can spread
into the whole abdomen.
A nurse in a PACU is admitting a client who is postoperative following a tonsillectomy. Which
of the following actions should the nurse plan to take to prevent aspiration?
Place a bedside humidifier at the head of the client's bed.
Suction the nasopharynx as needed.
Withhold fluids until the client demonstrates a gag reflex.
Perform chest physiotherapy.
Withhold fluids until the client demonstrates a gag reflex.
Following a tonsillectomy, the client's gag reflex can be suppressed by local anesthetics or
edema. To prevent aspiration, the gag reflex must be present before the client is allowed have
fluids.
A nurse is caring for a toddler whose parent states while bathing the child she noticed a mass
in his abdominal area and that his urine is a pink color. Which of the following actions is the
nurse's priority?
Schedule the child for an abdominal ultrasound.
Instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal area.
Determine if the child is having pain.
Obtain a urine specimen for a urinalysis.
Instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal area.
The priority action is to instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the child’s abdomen. These
symptoms are associated with Wilms' tumor, and trauma to the mass should be avoided to
prevent movement of cancer cells into other sites.
A nurse is caring for a 12-month-old toddler who is hospitalized and confined to a room with
contact precautions in place. Which of the following toys should the nurse recommend in
order to meet the developmental needs of the client?
Large building blocks
