ATI Pediatrics Final Exam Practice
Questions 2026 |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child for pain. Which of the following pain
scales should the nurse use?
A. CRIES scale
B. FACES scale
C. NIPS scale
D. Visual Analog Scale
Answer: B
Rationale: The FACES pain scale is recommended for children 3 years and older as it uses
drawings of faces to help the child communicate their level of pain.
2. A nurse is caring for an infant who has pyloric stenosis. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Currant jelly stools
B. Projectile vomiting
C. Steatorrhea
D. Abdominal distension
Answer: B
Rationale: Projectile vomiting is a classic sign of pyloric stenosis due to the thickening of
the pyloric sphincter blocking gastric emptying.
,3. A nurse is planning care for a child who has cystic fibrosis. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Administer pancreatic enzymes 2 hours after meals
B. Restrict fluid intake to 1 liter per day
C. Perform chest physiotherapy twice daily
D. Provide a low-protein, low-calorie diet
Answer: C
Rationale: Chest physiotherapy is essential for children with cystic fibrosis to help clear
thick mucus from the airways.
4. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child who has a new diagnosis of Celiac
disease. Which of the following foods should the nurse instruct the parents to
avoid?
A. Rice
B. Corn
C. Wheat
D. Potatoes
Answer: C
Rationale: Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat,
barley, and rye.
5. A nurse is assessing a child with suspected epiglottitis. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Examine the throat with a tongue depressor
B. Monitor oxygen saturation
C. Obtain a throat culture
D. Prepare for immediate intubation
Answer: B
, Rationale: In suspected epiglottitis, the nurse should monitor oxygen saturation but never
examine the throat with a tongue depressor as it can cause complete airway obstruction.
6. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of Hirschsprung disease in a
neonate?
A. Increased appetite
B. Frequent bouts of diarrhea
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
D. Failure to pass meconium within 24 to 48 hours
Answer: D
Rationale: The failure to pass meconium within the first 24 to 48 hours is a primary
clinical manifestation of Hirschsprung disease.
7. A nurse is assessing a toddler who has a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Loud, harsh systolic murmur
B. Diastolic murmur
C. Weak femoral pulses
D. Clubbing of the fingers
Answer: A
Rationale: A loud, harsh systolic murmur heard at the left sternal border is characteristic
of a VSD.
Questions 2026 |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child for pain. Which of the following pain
scales should the nurse use?
A. CRIES scale
B. FACES scale
C. NIPS scale
D. Visual Analog Scale
Answer: B
Rationale: The FACES pain scale is recommended for children 3 years and older as it uses
drawings of faces to help the child communicate their level of pain.
2. A nurse is caring for an infant who has pyloric stenosis. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Currant jelly stools
B. Projectile vomiting
C. Steatorrhea
D. Abdominal distension
Answer: B
Rationale: Projectile vomiting is a classic sign of pyloric stenosis due to the thickening of
the pyloric sphincter blocking gastric emptying.
,3. A nurse is planning care for a child who has cystic fibrosis. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Administer pancreatic enzymes 2 hours after meals
B. Restrict fluid intake to 1 liter per day
C. Perform chest physiotherapy twice daily
D. Provide a low-protein, low-calorie diet
Answer: C
Rationale: Chest physiotherapy is essential for children with cystic fibrosis to help clear
thick mucus from the airways.
4. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child who has a new diagnosis of Celiac
disease. Which of the following foods should the nurse instruct the parents to
avoid?
A. Rice
B. Corn
C. Wheat
D. Potatoes
Answer: C
Rationale: Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat,
barley, and rye.
5. A nurse is assessing a child with suspected epiglottitis. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Examine the throat with a tongue depressor
B. Monitor oxygen saturation
C. Obtain a throat culture
D. Prepare for immediate intubation
Answer: B
, Rationale: In suspected epiglottitis, the nurse should monitor oxygen saturation but never
examine the throat with a tongue depressor as it can cause complete airway obstruction.
6. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of Hirschsprung disease in a
neonate?
A. Increased appetite
B. Frequent bouts of diarrhea
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
D. Failure to pass meconium within 24 to 48 hours
Answer: D
Rationale: The failure to pass meconium within the first 24 to 48 hours is a primary
clinical manifestation of Hirschsprung disease.
7. A nurse is assessing a toddler who has a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Loud, harsh systolic murmur
B. Diastolic murmur
C. Weak femoral pulses
D. Clubbing of the fingers
Answer: A
Rationale: A loud, harsh systolic murmur heard at the left sternal border is characteristic
of a VSD.
