NCLEX PEDIATRICS EXAM 2026 VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Antibiotics are prescribed for a child with otitis media who underwent a myringotomy with
insertion of tympanostomy tubes. The nurse provides discharge instructions to the parents
regarding the administration of the antibiotics. Which statement, if made by the parents,
indicates understanding of the instructions provided?
"Administer the antibiotics until they are gone."
"Administer the antibiotics if the child has a fever."
"Administer the antibiotics until the child feels better."
"Begin to taper the antibiotics after 3 days of a full course."
"Administer the antibiotics until they are gone."
The day care nurse is observing a 2-year-old child and suspects that the child may have
strabismus. Which observation made by the nurse indicates the presence of this condition?
The child has difficulty hearing.
The child consistently tilts the head to see.
The child does not respond when spoken to.
The child consistently turns the head to hear.
The child consistently tilts the head to see.
,A child has been diagnosed with acute otitis media of the right ear. Which interventions should
the nurse include in the plan of care? Select all that apply.
Provide a soft diet.
Position the child on the left side.
Administer an antihistamine twice daily.
Irrigate the right ear with normal saline every 8 hours.
Administer ibuprofen for fever every 4 hours as prescribed and as needed.
Instruct the parents about the need to administer the prescribed antibiotics for the full course
of therapy.
Provide a soft diet.
Administer ibuprofen for fever every 4 hours as prescribed and as needed.
Instruct the parents about the need to administer the prescribed antibiotics for the full course
of therapy.
Rationale: The child's fever should be treated with ibuprofen. The child is positioned on her or
his affected side to facilitate drainage. A soft diet is recommended during the acute stage to
avoid pain that can occur with chewing. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the bacterial
infection and should be administered for the full prescribed course. The ear should not be
irrigated with normal saline because it can exacerbate the inflammation further. Antihistamines
are not usually recommended as a part of therapy.
An adolescent client is diagnosed with conjunctivitis, and the nurse provides information to the
client about the use of contact lenses. Which client statement indicates the need for further
information?
"I should obtain new contact lenses."
"I should not wear my contact lenses."
,"My old contact lenses should be discarded."
"My contact lenses can be worn if they are cleaned as directed."
"My contact lenses can be worn if they are cleaned as directed."
Rationale: If the adolescent wears contact lenses, the adolescent should be instructed to
discontinue wearing them until the infection has cleared completely. Obtaining new contact
lenses would eliminate the chance of reinfection from contaminated contact lenses and would
lessen the risk of a corneal ulceration.
The nurse prepares a teaching plan for the mother of a child diagnosed with bacterial
conjunctivitis. Which, if stated by the mother, indicates a need for further teaching?
"I need to wash my hands frequently."
"I need to clean the eye as prescribed."
"It is okay to share towels and washcloths."
"I need to give the eye drops as prescribed."
"It is okay to share towels and washcloths."
The nurse in the health care clinic receives a telephone call from the mother of a child who
reports that an insect has somehow flown into the child's ear. The mother reports that the child
is complaining of a buzzing sound in the ear. Which priority instruction should the nurse provide
to the mother?
Report to the clinic immediately.
Irrigate the ear with diluted alcohol.
Use tweezers to try to remove the insect.
, Use a flashlight to coax the insect out of the ear.
Use a flashlight to coax the insect out of the ear.
Rationale: Insects that make their way into an ear often can be coaxed out using a flashlight or a
humming noise. If this is unsuccessful, then the insect must be killed before removal. Mineral oil
or diluted alcohol is instilled into the ear to suffocate the insect, which is then removed by
means of an ear forceps. The mother should be instructed not to irrigate the ear or attempt to
remove the insect by using tweezers because this could damage the ear. If the mother is
unsuccessful in coaxing the insect out of the ear, she should be instructed to report to the clinic
or the hospital emergency department.
A 10-year-old child complains of ear pain that is aggravated by palpation of the auricle. A foul-
smelling, tenacious yellow discharge is noted in the ear canal, and the child is diagnosed with
acute otitis externa. In providing information to the child and parent, the nurse emphasizes
which information?
Dizziness is common with this disorder.
Cotton-tipped applicators should be used to clean the ears.
Nothing smaller than the child's elbow should be placed in the ear.
Biannual ear testing must be done by a special primary health care provider.
Nothing smaller than the child's elbow should be placed in the ear.
Rationale: The nurse should provide information about ear care to children because it is not
uncommon for them to put sharp or small objects, such as cotton swabs, into their ears, and
these behaviors can cause injury. A facecloth on a fingertip is safe to use for ear cleaning. Acute
otitis externa may cause a low-pitched tinnitus but usually does not cause dizziness unless the
condition has progressed to an otitis media
ANSWERS
Antibiotics are prescribed for a child with otitis media who underwent a myringotomy with
insertion of tympanostomy tubes. The nurse provides discharge instructions to the parents
regarding the administration of the antibiotics. Which statement, if made by the parents,
indicates understanding of the instructions provided?
"Administer the antibiotics until they are gone."
"Administer the antibiotics if the child has a fever."
"Administer the antibiotics until the child feels better."
"Begin to taper the antibiotics after 3 days of a full course."
"Administer the antibiotics until they are gone."
The day care nurse is observing a 2-year-old child and suspects that the child may have
strabismus. Which observation made by the nurse indicates the presence of this condition?
The child has difficulty hearing.
The child consistently tilts the head to see.
The child does not respond when spoken to.
The child consistently turns the head to hear.
The child consistently tilts the head to see.
,A child has been diagnosed with acute otitis media of the right ear. Which interventions should
the nurse include in the plan of care? Select all that apply.
Provide a soft diet.
Position the child on the left side.
Administer an antihistamine twice daily.
Irrigate the right ear with normal saline every 8 hours.
Administer ibuprofen for fever every 4 hours as prescribed and as needed.
Instruct the parents about the need to administer the prescribed antibiotics for the full course
of therapy.
Provide a soft diet.
Administer ibuprofen for fever every 4 hours as prescribed and as needed.
Instruct the parents about the need to administer the prescribed antibiotics for the full course
of therapy.
Rationale: The child's fever should be treated with ibuprofen. The child is positioned on her or
his affected side to facilitate drainage. A soft diet is recommended during the acute stage to
avoid pain that can occur with chewing. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the bacterial
infection and should be administered for the full prescribed course. The ear should not be
irrigated with normal saline because it can exacerbate the inflammation further. Antihistamines
are not usually recommended as a part of therapy.
An adolescent client is diagnosed with conjunctivitis, and the nurse provides information to the
client about the use of contact lenses. Which client statement indicates the need for further
information?
"I should obtain new contact lenses."
"I should not wear my contact lenses."
,"My old contact lenses should be discarded."
"My contact lenses can be worn if they are cleaned as directed."
"My contact lenses can be worn if they are cleaned as directed."
Rationale: If the adolescent wears contact lenses, the adolescent should be instructed to
discontinue wearing them until the infection has cleared completely. Obtaining new contact
lenses would eliminate the chance of reinfection from contaminated contact lenses and would
lessen the risk of a corneal ulceration.
The nurse prepares a teaching plan for the mother of a child diagnosed with bacterial
conjunctivitis. Which, if stated by the mother, indicates a need for further teaching?
"I need to wash my hands frequently."
"I need to clean the eye as prescribed."
"It is okay to share towels and washcloths."
"I need to give the eye drops as prescribed."
"It is okay to share towels and washcloths."
The nurse in the health care clinic receives a telephone call from the mother of a child who
reports that an insect has somehow flown into the child's ear. The mother reports that the child
is complaining of a buzzing sound in the ear. Which priority instruction should the nurse provide
to the mother?
Report to the clinic immediately.
Irrigate the ear with diluted alcohol.
Use tweezers to try to remove the insect.
, Use a flashlight to coax the insect out of the ear.
Use a flashlight to coax the insect out of the ear.
Rationale: Insects that make their way into an ear often can be coaxed out using a flashlight or a
humming noise. If this is unsuccessful, then the insect must be killed before removal. Mineral oil
or diluted alcohol is instilled into the ear to suffocate the insect, which is then removed by
means of an ear forceps. The mother should be instructed not to irrigate the ear or attempt to
remove the insect by using tweezers because this could damage the ear. If the mother is
unsuccessful in coaxing the insect out of the ear, she should be instructed to report to the clinic
or the hospital emergency department.
A 10-year-old child complains of ear pain that is aggravated by palpation of the auricle. A foul-
smelling, tenacious yellow discharge is noted in the ear canal, and the child is diagnosed with
acute otitis externa. In providing information to the child and parent, the nurse emphasizes
which information?
Dizziness is common with this disorder.
Cotton-tipped applicators should be used to clean the ears.
Nothing smaller than the child's elbow should be placed in the ear.
Biannual ear testing must be done by a special primary health care provider.
Nothing smaller than the child's elbow should be placed in the ear.
Rationale: The nurse should provide information about ear care to children because it is not
uncommon for them to put sharp or small objects, such as cotton swabs, into their ears, and
these behaviors can cause injury. A facecloth on a fingertip is safe to use for ear cleaning. Acute
otitis externa may cause a low-pitched tinnitus but usually does not cause dizziness unless the
condition has progressed to an otitis media
