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CRITICAL CARE PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
CRITICAL CARE PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
Which of the following is a normal heart rate for this age group?
A. 60-100 beats per minute
B. 80-120 beats per minute
C. 100-150 beats per minute
D. 120-160 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal heart rate for a 3-year-old child is 80-120 beats per minute. Infants (0-12
months) have a normal heart rate of 100-160 bpm. Preschoolers (3-5 years) have 80-120 bpm.
School-age children (6-12 years) have 70-110 bpm. Adolescents (13+ years) have 60-100
bpm.
2. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant in the PICU. Which of the following is a
normal respiratory rate for this age group?
A. 20-30 breaths per minute
B. 24-38 breaths per minute
C. 30-60 breaths per minute
D. 40-60 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C
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Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for a 6-month-old infant is 30-60 breaths per minute.
Neonates (0-1 month) have 30-60 breaths per minute. Infants (1-12 months) have 30-60
breaths per minute. Toddlers (1-3 years) have 24-40 breaths per minute. Preschoolers (3-5
years) have 22-34 breaths per minute.
3. A nurse is calculating a medication dosage for a pediatric patient. Which of the
following is the most accurate method for calculating pediatric medication dosages?
A. Based on the child's age
B. Based on the child's weight in kilograms
C. Based on the child's body surface area (BSA)
D. Based on the child's height
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Body surface area (BSA) is the most accurate method for calculating pediatric
medication dosages, especially for chemotherapy and critical care medications. Weight-based
dosing (B) is also commonly used. Age-based dosing (A) is less accurate. Height alone (D) is
not sufficient.
4. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's pain. Which of the following pain scales is
appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A. Numeric rating scale (0-10)
B. FLACC scale
C. Wong-Baker FACES scale
D. Visual analog scale
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Wong-Baker FACES scale is appropriate for children aged 3-7 years. The
FLACC scale (B) is used for non-verbal children or those unable to self-report pain. The
numeric rating scale (A) is appropriate for children 8 years and older. The visual analog scale
(D) is appropriate for children 7 years and older.
5. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's level of consciousness. Which of the
following is the correct pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for a 2-year-old child?
A. Eye opening, verbal response, motor response
B. Eye opening, motor response, behavioral response
C. Eye opening, verbal response, physical response
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D. Eye opening, motor response, social response
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale assesses eye opening, verbal response, and
motor response. The verbal response is modified for children under 5 years of age. The
maximum score is 15, with scores ≤8 indicating severe brain injury.
6. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's vital signs. Which of the following is a
normal blood pressure for a 6-year-old child?
A. 80/45 mmHg
B. 90/55 mmHg
C. 100/65 mmHg
D. 110/70 mmHg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal blood pressure for a 6-year-old child is approximately 100/65 mmHg.
Blood pressure increases with age. Neonates have 65/40 mmHg, infants 85/55 mmHg,
toddlers 95/60 mmHg, school-age 100/65 mmHg, and adolescents 110/70 mmHg.
7. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's capillary refill time. Which of the following
is a normal capillary refill time?
A. Less than 1 second
B. Less than 2 seconds
C. Less than 3 seconds
D. Less than 4 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. A capillary refill time greater
than 2 seconds may indicate poor perfusion or dehydration. The test is performed by pressing
on the nail bed or sternum for 5 seconds and counting the time for color to return.
8. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's nutritional status. Which of the following is
the most accurate measure of nutritional status in a child?
A. Height and weight
B. Body mass index (BMI)
C. Weight-for-length percentile
D. All of the above
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Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Height and weight, BMI, and weight-for-length percentile are all important
measures of nutritional status in children. Growth charts are used to track growth over time.
A combination of these measures provides the most accurate assessment.
9. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's developmental milestones. Which of the
following is a normal developmental milestone for a 12-month-old infant?
A. Walking independently
B. Saying 2-3 words
C. Pincer grasp
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: At 12 months, infants typically walk independently (A), say 2-3 words (B), and
have a pincer grasp (C). All of these are normal developmental milestones for a 12-month-
old.
10. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's developmental milestones. Which of the
following is a normal developmental milestone for a 4-year-old child?
A. Hopping on one foot
B. Riding a tricycle
C. Tying shoelaces
D. Drawing a circle
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 4 years, children can hop on one foot. Riding a tricycle (B) is a milestone for
3-year-olds. Tying shoelaces (C) is a milestone for 5-6-year-olds. Drawing a circle (D) is a
milestone for 3-year-olds.
11. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's developmental milestones. Which of the
following is a normal developmental milestone for a 2-year-old child?
A. Building a tower of four cubes
B. Using a spoon without spilling
C. Saying 50 words
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
CRITICAL CARE PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
CRITICAL CARE PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
SECTION 1: PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT & DEVELOPMENTAL
CONSIDERATIONS (Questions 1-25)
1. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
Which of the following is a normal heart rate for this age group?
A. 60-100 beats per minute
B. 80-120 beats per minute
C. 100-150 beats per minute
D. 120-160 beats per minute
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal heart rate for a 3-year-old child is 80-120 beats per minute. Infants (0-12
months) have a normal heart rate of 100-160 bpm. Preschoolers (3-5 years) have 80-120 bpm.
School-age children (6-12 years) have 70-110 bpm. Adolescents (13+ years) have 60-100
bpm.
2. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant in the PICU. Which of the following is a
normal respiratory rate for this age group?
A. 20-30 breaths per minute
B. 24-38 breaths per minute
C. 30-60 breaths per minute
D. 40-60 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C
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Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for a 6-month-old infant is 30-60 breaths per minute.
Neonates (0-1 month) have 30-60 breaths per minute. Infants (1-12 months) have 30-60
breaths per minute. Toddlers (1-3 years) have 24-40 breaths per minute. Preschoolers (3-5
years) have 22-34 breaths per minute.
3. A nurse is calculating a medication dosage for a pediatric patient. Which of the
following is the most accurate method for calculating pediatric medication dosages?
A. Based on the child's age
B. Based on the child's weight in kilograms
C. Based on the child's body surface area (BSA)
D. Based on the child's height
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Body surface area (BSA) is the most accurate method for calculating pediatric
medication dosages, especially for chemotherapy and critical care medications. Weight-based
dosing (B) is also commonly used. Age-based dosing (A) is less accurate. Height alone (D) is
not sufficient.
4. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's pain. Which of the following pain scales is
appropriate for a 4-year-old child?
A. Numeric rating scale (0-10)
B. FLACC scale
C. Wong-Baker FACES scale
D. Visual analog scale
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The Wong-Baker FACES scale is appropriate for children aged 3-7 years. The
FLACC scale (B) is used for non-verbal children or those unable to self-report pain. The
numeric rating scale (A) is appropriate for children 8 years and older. The visual analog scale
(D) is appropriate for children 7 years and older.
5. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's level of consciousness. Which of the
following is the correct pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) for a 2-year-old child?
A. Eye opening, verbal response, motor response
B. Eye opening, motor response, behavioral response
C. Eye opening, verbal response, physical response
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D. Eye opening, motor response, social response
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale assesses eye opening, verbal response, and
motor response. The verbal response is modified for children under 5 years of age. The
maximum score is 15, with scores ≤8 indicating severe brain injury.
6. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's vital signs. Which of the following is a
normal blood pressure for a 6-year-old child?
A. 80/45 mmHg
B. 90/55 mmHg
C. 100/65 mmHg
D. 110/70 mmHg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Normal blood pressure for a 6-year-old child is approximately 100/65 mmHg.
Blood pressure increases with age. Neonates have 65/40 mmHg, infants 85/55 mmHg,
toddlers 95/60 mmHg, school-age 100/65 mmHg, and adolescents 110/70 mmHg.
7. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's capillary refill time. Which of the following
is a normal capillary refill time?
A. Less than 1 second
B. Less than 2 seconds
C. Less than 3 seconds
D. Less than 4 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. A capillary refill time greater
than 2 seconds may indicate poor perfusion or dehydration. The test is performed by pressing
on the nail bed or sternum for 5 seconds and counting the time for color to return.
8. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's nutritional status. Which of the following is
the most accurate measure of nutritional status in a child?
A. Height and weight
B. Body mass index (BMI)
C. Weight-for-length percentile
D. All of the above
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Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Height and weight, BMI, and weight-for-length percentile are all important
measures of nutritional status in children. Growth charts are used to track growth over time.
A combination of these measures provides the most accurate assessment.
9. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's developmental milestones. Which of the
following is a normal developmental milestone for a 12-month-old infant?
A. Walking independently
B. Saying 2-3 words
C. Pincer grasp
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: At 12 months, infants typically walk independently (A), say 2-3 words (B), and
have a pincer grasp (C). All of these are normal developmental milestones for a 12-month-
old.
10. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's developmental milestones. Which of the
following is a normal developmental milestone for a 4-year-old child?
A. Hopping on one foot
B. Riding a tricycle
C. Tying shoelaces
D. Drawing a circle
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: At 4 years, children can hop on one foot. Riding a tricycle (B) is a milestone for
3-year-olds. Tying shoelaces (C) is a milestone for 5-6-year-olds. Drawing a circle (D) is a
milestone for 3-year-olds.
11. A nurse is assessing a pediatric patient's developmental milestones. Which of the
following is a normal developmental milestone for a 2-year-old child?
A. Building a tower of four cubes
B. Using a spoon without spilling
C. Saying 50 words
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
