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WEST COAST UNIVERSITY NURS 340 – PEDIATRIC
NURSING COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM 2
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
|100% PASS |GRADED A+ 2026/27
1. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child with suspected dehydration.
Which finding is the earliest indicator of dehydration?
a) Sunken fontanel
b) Decreased urine output
c) Tachycardia
d) Dry mucous membranes
Verified Answer: c
Rationale: Tachycardia is one of the earliest signs of dehydration in
children, as the body attempts to maintain cardiac output. Sunken
fontanel, decreased urine output, and dry mucous membranes are later
signs.
2. The nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant with bronchiolitis. Which
intervention is a priority?
a) Administer antibiotics
b) Suction the nares and provide humidified oxygen
c) Place the infant in a prone position
d) Restrict oral fluids
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Verified Answer: b
Rationale: Bronchiolitis is caused by RSV and causes airway obstruction
from inflammation and mucus. Suctioning the nares and providing
humidified oxygen are priority interventions to maintain airway patency
and oxygenation. Antibiotics are not effective (viral). Prone position
increases SIDS risk. Fluids should be encouraged, not restricted.
3. The nurse is providing education to the parents of a child with cystic
fibrosis. Which instruction is correct?
a) Perform chest physiotherapy after meals
b) Administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks
c) Restrict the child's fluid intake
d) Avoid high-calorie foods
Verified Answer: b
Rationale: Pancreatic enzymes (e.g., pancrelipase) should be given with
meals and snacks to aid digestion of fats and proteins in cystic fibrosis.
Chest physiotherapy should be performed before meals (not after) to
prevent vomiting. Fluids should be encouraged, not restricted. High-
calorie, high-protein diet is recommended.
4. A 4-year-old child is diagnosed with otitis media. Which symptom is
most common?
a) Ear pain and fever
b) Diarrhea
c) Rash
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d) Vomiting
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Acute otitis media presents with ear pain (otalgia), fever,
irritability, and tugging at the ear. Diarrhea, rash, and vomiting are less
common (though vomiting may occur in infants with fever).
5. The nurse is assessing a child with acute epiglottitis. Which finding is
a priority?
a) A high fever and drooling
b) A barking cough
c) Mild respiratory distress
d) A productive cough
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Acute epiglottitis (caused by H. influenzae type B) presents
with high fever, severe sore throat, drooling, dysphagia, and respiratory
distress. A barking cough is characteristic of croup
(laryngotracheobronchitis). Epiglottitis is a medical emergency requiring
immediate airway management.
6. The nurse is caring for a child with nephrotic syndrome. Which
finding is expected?
a) Generalized edema and proteinuria
b) Hypertension
c) Hematuria
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d) Decreased serum lipids
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria,
hypoalbuminemia, generalized edema, and hyperlipidemia.
Hypertension and hematuria are more common in acute
glomerulonephritis. Serum lipids are increased, not decreased.
7. A 6-year-old child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which
symptom is classic at diagnosis?
a) Polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia
b) Weight gain
c) Constipation
d) Bradycardia
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes presents with the classic triad of polyuria
(frequent urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyphagia
(excessive hunger), along with weight loss (not gain) and fatigue.
Constipation and bradycardia are not typical.
8. The nurse is assessing a child with suspected meningitis. Which
finding is indicative of meningeal irritation?
a) Positive Kernig's sign
b) Positive Babinski's sign
c) Positive Chvostek's sign
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY NURS 340 – PEDIATRIC
NURSING COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM 2
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
|100% PASS |GRADED A+ 2026/27
1. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child with suspected dehydration.
Which finding is the earliest indicator of dehydration?
a) Sunken fontanel
b) Decreased urine output
c) Tachycardia
d) Dry mucous membranes
Verified Answer: c
Rationale: Tachycardia is one of the earliest signs of dehydration in
children, as the body attempts to maintain cardiac output. Sunken
fontanel, decreased urine output, and dry mucous membranes are later
signs.
2. The nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant with bronchiolitis. Which
intervention is a priority?
a) Administer antibiotics
b) Suction the nares and provide humidified oxygen
c) Place the infant in a prone position
d) Restrict oral fluids
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Verified Answer: b
Rationale: Bronchiolitis is caused by RSV and causes airway obstruction
from inflammation and mucus. Suctioning the nares and providing
humidified oxygen are priority interventions to maintain airway patency
and oxygenation. Antibiotics are not effective (viral). Prone position
increases SIDS risk. Fluids should be encouraged, not restricted.
3. The nurse is providing education to the parents of a child with cystic
fibrosis. Which instruction is correct?
a) Perform chest physiotherapy after meals
b) Administer pancreatic enzymes with meals and snacks
c) Restrict the child's fluid intake
d) Avoid high-calorie foods
Verified Answer: b
Rationale: Pancreatic enzymes (e.g., pancrelipase) should be given with
meals and snacks to aid digestion of fats and proteins in cystic fibrosis.
Chest physiotherapy should be performed before meals (not after) to
prevent vomiting. Fluids should be encouraged, not restricted. High-
calorie, high-protein diet is recommended.
4. A 4-year-old child is diagnosed with otitis media. Which symptom is
most common?
a) Ear pain and fever
b) Diarrhea
c) Rash
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d) Vomiting
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Acute otitis media presents with ear pain (otalgia), fever,
irritability, and tugging at the ear. Diarrhea, rash, and vomiting are less
common (though vomiting may occur in infants with fever).
5. The nurse is assessing a child with acute epiglottitis. Which finding is
a priority?
a) A high fever and drooling
b) A barking cough
c) Mild respiratory distress
d) A productive cough
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Acute epiglottitis (caused by H. influenzae type B) presents
with high fever, severe sore throat, drooling, dysphagia, and respiratory
distress. A barking cough is characteristic of croup
(laryngotracheobronchitis). Epiglottitis is a medical emergency requiring
immediate airway management.
6. The nurse is caring for a child with nephrotic syndrome. Which
finding is expected?
a) Generalized edema and proteinuria
b) Hypertension
c) Hematuria
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d) Decreased serum lipids
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by massive proteinuria,
hypoalbuminemia, generalized edema, and hyperlipidemia.
Hypertension and hematuria are more common in acute
glomerulonephritis. Serum lipids are increased, not decreased.
7. A 6-year-old child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which
symptom is classic at diagnosis?
a) Polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia
b) Weight gain
c) Constipation
d) Bradycardia
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes presents with the classic triad of polyuria
(frequent urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and polyphagia
(excessive hunger), along with weight loss (not gain) and fatigue.
Constipation and bradycardia are not typical.
8. The nurse is assessing a child with suspected meningitis. Which
finding is indicative of meningeal irritation?
a) Positive Kernig's sign
b) Positive Babinski's sign
c) Positive Chvostek's sign
