CPN STUDY 2026 EXAM GUIDED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A 6-year-old female with dehydration due to vomiting is evaluated with a complete
blood count
(CBC). What lab finding is expected?
A. Decreased mean corpuscular (cell) volume (MCV).
B. Increased MCV.
C. Increased hematocrit.
D. Normal red cell distribution width (RDW). - ✔✔C: Due to volume loss, the hematocrit
will be elevated as red blood cells become more
concentrated in the blood. The MCV test shows the average size of the red blood cells
and helps to
determine the type of anemia while RDW shows the variations in cell size, important for
some types
of anemia (such as pernicious anemia).
✔✔What is the leading cause of death in children in developing countries?
A. Accidental trauma.
B. TB.
C. AIDS.
D. Infectious diarrhea. - ✔✔D: Infectious diarrhea remains the leading cause of death in
developing countries.
,Outbreaks of diarrhea are common in areas with poor sanitation that allows food and
water to
become contaminated with bacteria, such as E. coli or Shigella.
✔✔What is the most common cause of viral (non-bacterial) diarrhea in pediatric
patients?
A. Rotavirus.
B. Parainfluenza.
C. Influenza.
D. Parvovirus B19. - ✔✔A: Rotavirus is the most common cause for viral diarrhea in
children and may be
accompanied by nausea and vomiting that lead to severe dehydration. Parainfluenza,
influenza, and
parvovirus B19 cause mainly upper respiratory illnesses.
✔✔After a camping trip a 14-year-old male develops diarrhea, flatulence, steatorrhea,
and
abdominal cramping. The other campers who drank water from a stream also have
similar
symptoms. What is the most likely causative organism?
A. Coli.
B. Giardia Lamblia.
C. Rotavirus.
D. Shigella. - ✔✔B: Giardia Lamblia is a parasite that is commonly spread via the
drinking of contaminated
water, especially streams that are contaminated with animal feces. A broad spectrum of
gastrointestinal symptoms can occur.
✔✔A 2-year-old female is undergoing an evaluation for celiac disease (sprue). Which of
the
following is NOT a risk factor for this disease?
A. First degree relative with the disease.
B. Recent travel to Mexico.
C. Congenital trisomy 21.
D. History of type 1 diabetes mellitus - ✔✔B: Celiac disease is not infectious and not
related to travel. Celiac disease (sprue) is
sensitivity to gluten products and is more commonly seen in children with relatives with
the
disease, those with trisomy 21, or those with type 1 diabetes.
✔✔A 6-year-old male grabbed a pot of boiling water off of a stove and has a burn on the
dorsum of
the forearm. The burn area is red with edema and thin-walled blisters. What
classification of
burn is this?
, A. First-degree burn.
B. Second-degree burn.
C. Third-degree burn. - ✔✔B: A burn area that is red with blistering is consistent with a
seconD:degree burn. A firstdegree
burn would have erythema but no blistering, and a thirD:degree burn would be dry and
leathery. Burns are not classified as fourth-degree.
✔✔Antibodies exist in the body to respond to allergens and protect the body against
disease. Which
antibodies act primarily against parasitic infections? - ✔✔A: IgE is the primary antibody
used in the defense of parasitic infections and is involved in
allergic responses. IgM increases in response to infection, and IgG provides a
secondary response to
infection. IgA provides immune response in mucous membranes and decreases with
immunosuppression and some infections (gonorrhea).
✔✔A child presents with history of fever for 2 days at 102 degrees F. At what age would
the child
likely need a spinal tap and full work up for sepsis based on the fever only? - ✔✔A:
Children less than 6 months of age have immature immune systems, so a fever in a 3-
month-old child would necessitate a full work up for sepsis.
✔✔In caring for a child with a history of HIV infection, which of the following
immunizations
should NOT be given to the child? - ✔✔D: As the varicella vaccine is live, it should not
be given to anyone with a potentially
suppressed immune system, such as a child with HIV, as it may cause infection even in
such a small
dose. MMR, influenza and tetanus are not live vaccines and may be administered.
✔✔Due to sickle cell disease, a 7-year-old female is considered to be asplenic from
repeated splenic
sequestration crises. What vaccine should she get to protect her from encapsulated
bacteria? - ✔✔C: Patients with no spleen function (either from removal after trauma or
autoinfarction due
to sickle cell disease) should have the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent infection with
encapsulated
bacteria
✔✔Which of the following children over the age of 6 months should NOT be given the
influenza
vaccine? - ✔✔D: A patient with streptococcal pharyngitis does not have a chronic
medical condition for
which influenza administration is recommended. Children with chronic diseases, such
as renal
ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔A 6-year-old female with dehydration due to vomiting is evaluated with a complete
blood count
(CBC). What lab finding is expected?
A. Decreased mean corpuscular (cell) volume (MCV).
B. Increased MCV.
C. Increased hematocrit.
D. Normal red cell distribution width (RDW). - ✔✔C: Due to volume loss, the hematocrit
will be elevated as red blood cells become more
concentrated in the blood. The MCV test shows the average size of the red blood cells
and helps to
determine the type of anemia while RDW shows the variations in cell size, important for
some types
of anemia (such as pernicious anemia).
✔✔What is the leading cause of death in children in developing countries?
A. Accidental trauma.
B. TB.
C. AIDS.
D. Infectious diarrhea. - ✔✔D: Infectious diarrhea remains the leading cause of death in
developing countries.
,Outbreaks of diarrhea are common in areas with poor sanitation that allows food and
water to
become contaminated with bacteria, such as E. coli or Shigella.
✔✔What is the most common cause of viral (non-bacterial) diarrhea in pediatric
patients?
A. Rotavirus.
B. Parainfluenza.
C. Influenza.
D. Parvovirus B19. - ✔✔A: Rotavirus is the most common cause for viral diarrhea in
children and may be
accompanied by nausea and vomiting that lead to severe dehydration. Parainfluenza,
influenza, and
parvovirus B19 cause mainly upper respiratory illnesses.
✔✔After a camping trip a 14-year-old male develops diarrhea, flatulence, steatorrhea,
and
abdominal cramping. The other campers who drank water from a stream also have
similar
symptoms. What is the most likely causative organism?
A. Coli.
B. Giardia Lamblia.
C. Rotavirus.
D. Shigella. - ✔✔B: Giardia Lamblia is a parasite that is commonly spread via the
drinking of contaminated
water, especially streams that are contaminated with animal feces. A broad spectrum of
gastrointestinal symptoms can occur.
✔✔A 2-year-old female is undergoing an evaluation for celiac disease (sprue). Which of
the
following is NOT a risk factor for this disease?
A. First degree relative with the disease.
B. Recent travel to Mexico.
C. Congenital trisomy 21.
D. History of type 1 diabetes mellitus - ✔✔B: Celiac disease is not infectious and not
related to travel. Celiac disease (sprue) is
sensitivity to gluten products and is more commonly seen in children with relatives with
the
disease, those with trisomy 21, or those with type 1 diabetes.
✔✔A 6-year-old male grabbed a pot of boiling water off of a stove and has a burn on the
dorsum of
the forearm. The burn area is red with edema and thin-walled blisters. What
classification of
burn is this?
, A. First-degree burn.
B. Second-degree burn.
C. Third-degree burn. - ✔✔B: A burn area that is red with blistering is consistent with a
seconD:degree burn. A firstdegree
burn would have erythema but no blistering, and a thirD:degree burn would be dry and
leathery. Burns are not classified as fourth-degree.
✔✔Antibodies exist in the body to respond to allergens and protect the body against
disease. Which
antibodies act primarily against parasitic infections? - ✔✔A: IgE is the primary antibody
used in the defense of parasitic infections and is involved in
allergic responses. IgM increases in response to infection, and IgG provides a
secondary response to
infection. IgA provides immune response in mucous membranes and decreases with
immunosuppression and some infections (gonorrhea).
✔✔A child presents with history of fever for 2 days at 102 degrees F. At what age would
the child
likely need a spinal tap and full work up for sepsis based on the fever only? - ✔✔A:
Children less than 6 months of age have immature immune systems, so a fever in a 3-
month-old child would necessitate a full work up for sepsis.
✔✔In caring for a child with a history of HIV infection, which of the following
immunizations
should NOT be given to the child? - ✔✔D: As the varicella vaccine is live, it should not
be given to anyone with a potentially
suppressed immune system, such as a child with HIV, as it may cause infection even in
such a small
dose. MMR, influenza and tetanus are not live vaccines and may be administered.
✔✔Due to sickle cell disease, a 7-year-old female is considered to be asplenic from
repeated splenic
sequestration crises. What vaccine should she get to protect her from encapsulated
bacteria? - ✔✔C: Patients with no spleen function (either from removal after trauma or
autoinfarction due
to sickle cell disease) should have the pneumococcal vaccine to prevent infection with
encapsulated
bacteria
✔✔Which of the following children over the age of 6 months should NOT be given the
influenza
vaccine? - ✔✔D: A patient with streptococcal pharyngitis does not have a chronic
medical condition for
which influenza administration is recommended. Children with chronic diseases, such
as renal
