ATI RN Pediatric Nursing (Peds) Practice Exam verified with correct answers
2026/2027 version with rationales instant pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a 2-month-old infant. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from abdomen to back
C. Walking independently
D. Using a pincer grasp
Correct answer: B. Rolling from abdomen to back
Rationale: Rolling from the abdomen to the back is an expected early infant milestone. Sitting
independently and walking occur later.
2. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding is expected?
A. Uses a pincer grasp
B. Sits with support
C. Walks with assistance
D. Speaks in three-word sentences
Correct answer: B. Sits with support
Rationale: A 6-month-old commonly sits with support and may begin sitting briefly without
support.
3. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A. Numeric rating scale only
B. FACES pain scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Apgar score
Correct answer: B. FACES pain scale
Rationale: The FACES scale is useful for children who can identify facial expressions
corresponding to pain intensity.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with suspected epiglottitis. Which action is appropriate?
A. Inspect the throat with a tongue blade
B. Obtain a throat culture immediately
C. Keep the child calm and prepare for airway management
D. Place the child in a supine position
Correct answer: C. Keep the child calm and prepare for airway management
Rationale: Throat examination can trigger complete airway obstruction. The child should be
kept calm and airway support prepared.
,5. Which finding is most characteristic of croup?
A. Drooling and tripod positioning
B. Barking cough and inspiratory stridor
C. Sudden hemoptysis
D. Severe chest pain
Correct answer: B. Barking cough and inspiratory stridor
Rationale: Croup causes upper-airway inflammation, producing a characteristic barking cough
and stridor.
6. A child with asthma is experiencing wheezing and respiratory distress. Which
medication should the nurse expect to administer first?
A. Albuterol
B. Montelukast
C. Fluticasone
D. Prednisone only
Correct answer: A. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator used for rapid relief of acute
bronchospasm.
7. A nurse is assessing a child with dehydration. Which finding is expected?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Increased urine output
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Hypertension
Correct answer: C. Dry mucous membranes
Rationale: Dehydration commonly causes dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output,
tachycardia, and poor skin turgor.
8. A nurse is caring for a child with gastroenteritis. Which fluid is best for oral
rehydration?
A. Carbonated soda
B. Oral rehydration solution
C. Plain water only
D. Energy drink
Correct answer: B. Oral rehydration solution
Rationale: Oral rehydration solutions contain appropriate amounts of glucose and electrolytes
for fluid replacement.
9. Which finding is associated with intussusception?
A. Currant jelly stools
B. Clay-colored stools
, C. Black tarry stools only
D. Watery diarrhea without pain
Correct answer: A. Currant jelly stools
Rationale: Intussusception can cause intestinal obstruction and stools containing blood and
mucus, often described as currant jelly.
10. A child with suspected appendicitis reports increasing abdominal pain. Which action
should the nurse avoid?
A. Monitoring vital signs
B. Keeping the child NPO
C. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen
D. Assessing pain location
Correct answer: C. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen
Rationale: Heat can increase blood flow and may increase the risk of rupture if the appendix is
inflamed.
11. A nurse is caring for a child with bacterial meningitis. Which precaution is appropriate
initially?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions only
D. Protective isolation
Correct answer: B. Droplet precautions
Rationale: Bacterial meningitis requires droplet precautions initially, in addition to standard
precautions.
12. Which finding in a child with meningitis requires immediate attention?
A. Mild headache
B. Neck stiffness
C. Decreased level of consciousness
D. Photophobia
Correct answer: C. Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A declining level of consciousness may indicate increased intracranial pressure or
worsening neurological status.
13. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with a seizure disorder. Which instruction is
correct?
A. Place an object in the child's mouth during a seizure
B. Restrain the child’s extremities
C. Turn the child to the side
D. Give oral medication during the seizure
2026/2027 version with rationales instant pdf
1. A nurse is assessing a 2-month-old infant. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from abdomen to back
C. Walking independently
D. Using a pincer grasp
Correct answer: B. Rolling from abdomen to back
Rationale: Rolling from the abdomen to the back is an expected early infant milestone. Sitting
independently and walking occur later.
2. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding is expected?
A. Uses a pincer grasp
B. Sits with support
C. Walks with assistance
D. Speaks in three-word sentences
Correct answer: B. Sits with support
Rationale: A 6-month-old commonly sits with support and may begin sitting briefly without
support.
3. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A. Numeric rating scale only
B. FACES pain scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Apgar score
Correct answer: B. FACES pain scale
Rationale: The FACES scale is useful for children who can identify facial expressions
corresponding to pain intensity.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with suspected epiglottitis. Which action is appropriate?
A. Inspect the throat with a tongue blade
B. Obtain a throat culture immediately
C. Keep the child calm and prepare for airway management
D. Place the child in a supine position
Correct answer: C. Keep the child calm and prepare for airway management
Rationale: Throat examination can trigger complete airway obstruction. The child should be
kept calm and airway support prepared.
,5. Which finding is most characteristic of croup?
A. Drooling and tripod positioning
B. Barking cough and inspiratory stridor
C. Sudden hemoptysis
D. Severe chest pain
Correct answer: B. Barking cough and inspiratory stridor
Rationale: Croup causes upper-airway inflammation, producing a characteristic barking cough
and stridor.
6. A child with asthma is experiencing wheezing and respiratory distress. Which
medication should the nurse expect to administer first?
A. Albuterol
B. Montelukast
C. Fluticasone
D. Prednisone only
Correct answer: A. Albuterol
Rationale: Albuterol is a short-acting bronchodilator used for rapid relief of acute
bronchospasm.
7. A nurse is assessing a child with dehydration. Which finding is expected?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Increased urine output
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Hypertension
Correct answer: C. Dry mucous membranes
Rationale: Dehydration commonly causes dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output,
tachycardia, and poor skin turgor.
8. A nurse is caring for a child with gastroenteritis. Which fluid is best for oral
rehydration?
A. Carbonated soda
B. Oral rehydration solution
C. Plain water only
D. Energy drink
Correct answer: B. Oral rehydration solution
Rationale: Oral rehydration solutions contain appropriate amounts of glucose and electrolytes
for fluid replacement.
9. Which finding is associated with intussusception?
A. Currant jelly stools
B. Clay-colored stools
, C. Black tarry stools only
D. Watery diarrhea without pain
Correct answer: A. Currant jelly stools
Rationale: Intussusception can cause intestinal obstruction and stools containing blood and
mucus, often described as currant jelly.
10. A child with suspected appendicitis reports increasing abdominal pain. Which action
should the nurse avoid?
A. Monitoring vital signs
B. Keeping the child NPO
C. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen
D. Assessing pain location
Correct answer: C. Applying a heating pad to the abdomen
Rationale: Heat can increase blood flow and may increase the risk of rupture if the appendix is
inflamed.
11. A nurse is caring for a child with bacterial meningitis. Which precaution is appropriate
initially?
A. Airborne precautions
B. Droplet precautions
C. Contact precautions only
D. Protective isolation
Correct answer: B. Droplet precautions
Rationale: Bacterial meningitis requires droplet precautions initially, in addition to standard
precautions.
12. Which finding in a child with meningitis requires immediate attention?
A. Mild headache
B. Neck stiffness
C. Decreased level of consciousness
D. Photophobia
Correct answer: C. Decreased level of consciousness
Rationale: A declining level of consciousness may indicate increased intracranial pressure or
worsening neurological status.
13. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with a seizure disorder. Which instruction is
correct?
A. Place an object in the child's mouth during a seizure
B. Restrain the child’s extremities
C. Turn the child to the side
D. Give oral medication during the seizure
