BSN Pediatric Nursing Exam 7 Practice Questions (2026/2027 Update)
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child’s growth and development. According
to Erikson, which developmental stage is this child currently in?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C
Rationale: Children aged 3 to 6 years are in Erikson’s stage of Initiative vs. Guilt, where
they begin to assert power and control over the world through directing play and other
social interaction.
2. An infant is diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. Which position should the
nurse place the infant in during a ‘tet’ spell?
A. Knee-chest position
B. High Fowler’s position
C. Prone position
D. Side-lying position
Answer: A
Rationale: The knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance, which helps
reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves oxygenation during a cyanotic spell.
,3. Which clinical manifestation is a hallmark sign of pyloric stenosis in an infant?
A. Projectile vomiting
B. Currant jelly stools
C. Abdominal distention
D. Biliary-stained emesis
Answer: A
Rationale: Projectile vomiting that occurs shortly after feeding is the classic sign of
hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, often accompanied by an olive-shaped mass in the
epigastrium.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with suspected epiglottitis. Which action should
the nurse avoid?
A. Providing humidified oxygen
B. Visualizing the throat with a tongue depressor
C. Encouraging the child to sit upright
D. Preparing for emergency intubation
Answer: B
Rationale: Attempting to visualize the throat with a tongue depressor can trigger
laryngospasm, which can completely obstruct the airway in a child with epiglottitis.
5. A 2-year-old child is admitted with Kawasaki disease. What is the primary
nursing goal for this patient?
A. Preventing coronary artery aneurysms
B. Managing high-grade fever
C. Reducing joint pain
D. Increasing fluid intake
Answer: A
, Rationale: The most serious complication of Kawasaki disease is the development of
coronary artery aneurysms; management focuses on reducing inflammation with IVIG and
aspirin.
6. What is the most appropriate food to introduce first into an infant’s diet,
usually around 6 months?
A. Mashed bananas
B. Iron-fortified rice cereal
C. Pureed meats
D. Whole cow’s milk
Answer: B
Rationale: Iron-fortified rice cereal is recommended as the first solid food because of its
high iron content and low allergenic potential.
7. When administering Digoxin to an infant, the nurse should withhold the
medication if the apical pulse is less than:
A. 60 bpm
B. 90 bpm
C. 80 bpm
D. 110 bpm
Answer: B
Rationale: In infants, Digoxin is generally withheld if the apical pulse is below 90-110
beats per minute to prevent bradycardia and toxicity.
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child’s growth and development. According
to Erikson, which developmental stage is this child currently in?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: C
Rationale: Children aged 3 to 6 years are in Erikson’s stage of Initiative vs. Guilt, where
they begin to assert power and control over the world through directing play and other
social interaction.
2. An infant is diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. Which position should the
nurse place the infant in during a ‘tet’ spell?
A. Knee-chest position
B. High Fowler’s position
C. Prone position
D. Side-lying position
Answer: A
Rationale: The knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance, which helps
reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves oxygenation during a cyanotic spell.
,3. Which clinical manifestation is a hallmark sign of pyloric stenosis in an infant?
A. Projectile vomiting
B. Currant jelly stools
C. Abdominal distention
D. Biliary-stained emesis
Answer: A
Rationale: Projectile vomiting that occurs shortly after feeding is the classic sign of
hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, often accompanied by an olive-shaped mass in the
epigastrium.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with suspected epiglottitis. Which action should
the nurse avoid?
A. Providing humidified oxygen
B. Visualizing the throat with a tongue depressor
C. Encouraging the child to sit upright
D. Preparing for emergency intubation
Answer: B
Rationale: Attempting to visualize the throat with a tongue depressor can trigger
laryngospasm, which can completely obstruct the airway in a child with epiglottitis.
5. A 2-year-old child is admitted with Kawasaki disease. What is the primary
nursing goal for this patient?
A. Preventing coronary artery aneurysms
B. Managing high-grade fever
C. Reducing joint pain
D. Increasing fluid intake
Answer: A
, Rationale: The most serious complication of Kawasaki disease is the development of
coronary artery aneurysms; management focuses on reducing inflammation with IVIG and
aspirin.
6. What is the most appropriate food to introduce first into an infant’s diet,
usually around 6 months?
A. Mashed bananas
B. Iron-fortified rice cereal
C. Pureed meats
D. Whole cow’s milk
Answer: B
Rationale: Iron-fortified rice cereal is recommended as the first solid food because of its
high iron content and low allergenic potential.
7. When administering Digoxin to an infant, the nurse should withhold the
medication if the apical pulse is less than:
A. 60 bpm
B. 90 bpm
C. 80 bpm
D. 110 bpm
Answer: B
Rationale: In infants, Digoxin is generally withheld if the apical pulse is below 90-110
beats per minute to prevent bradycardia and toxicity.
