BSN | Pediatric Nursing | Final Exam Practice Questions 2026/2027
|Rationales
1. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, which task is
primary for an infant (birth to 1 year)?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Industry vs. Inferiority
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Trust vs. Mistrust
Answer: D
Rationale: The infant stage focuses on establishing a sense of trust when caregivers
provide reliability, care, and affection. Lack of this will lead to mistrust.
2. A 4-year-old child is scheduled for a procedure. According to Piaget, what is
the best way to prepare this child?
A. Allow the child to play with the medical equipment used
B. Provide a detailed pamphlet for the child to read
C. Explain the procedure using logical reasoning
D. Show the child a video of an adult undergoing the same procedure
Answer: A
Rationale: Children in the preoperational stage (2-7 years) are concrete thinkers and learn
best through play and manipulation of objects to reduce anxiety.
,3. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 2-month-old infant?
A. Wong-Baker FACES Scale
B. Numerical Rating Scale (0-10)
C. FLACC Scale
D. Visual Analog Scale
Answer: C
Rationale: The FLACC scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) is a behavioral scale
used for infants and children who cannot communicate pain verbally.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with Tetralogy of Fallot who suddenly becomes
cyanotic and dyspneic. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer 100% oxygen via mask
B. Place the child in a knee-chest position
C. Prepare morphine sulfate for administration
D. Start an intravenous line for fluid bolus
Answer: B
Rationale: The knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance, which helps
reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves pulmonary blood flow during a ‘tet spell’.
5. A child is diagnosed with Celiac disease. Which of the following foods should
the nurse instruct the parents to avoid?
A. Rice crackers
B. Corn bread
C. Wheat bread
D. Fresh fruit
Answer: C
Rationale: Celiac disease is a permanent intolerance to gluten, which is found in wheat,
barley, rye, and oats. Wheat bread must be strictly avoided.
, 6. Which clinical manifestation is a hallmark sign of Pyloric Stenosis in an infant?
A. Currant jelly-like stools
B. Bile-stained emesis
C. Projectile vomiting
D. Abdominal distension and constipation
Answer: C
Rationale: Pyloric stenosis involves hypertrophy of the pyloric sphincter, leading to non-
bilious projectile vomiting usually occurring shortly after feeding.
7. When administering oral iron supplements to a child with anemia, the nurse
should suggest giving it with:
A. Milk
B. Orange juice
C. Antacids
D. Tea
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) found in orange juice enhances the absorption of iron.
Milk and antacids interfere with iron absorption.
8. A nurse is assessing a child for suspected Intussusception. Which finding is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Steatorrhea
B. Ribbon-like stools
C. Stools that look like red currant jelly
D. Hard, marble-like stools
Answer: C
Rationale: Intussusception causes intestinal obstruction and ischemia, leading to the
passage of blood and mucus with stool, often described as ‘currant jelly’.
|Rationales
1. According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, which task is
primary for an infant (birth to 1 year)?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Industry vs. Inferiority
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Trust vs. Mistrust
Answer: D
Rationale: The infant stage focuses on establishing a sense of trust when caregivers
provide reliability, care, and affection. Lack of this will lead to mistrust.
2. A 4-year-old child is scheduled for a procedure. According to Piaget, what is
the best way to prepare this child?
A. Allow the child to play with the medical equipment used
B. Provide a detailed pamphlet for the child to read
C. Explain the procedure using logical reasoning
D. Show the child a video of an adult undergoing the same procedure
Answer: A
Rationale: Children in the preoperational stage (2-7 years) are concrete thinkers and learn
best through play and manipulation of objects to reduce anxiety.
,3. Which pain scale is most appropriate for a 2-month-old infant?
A. Wong-Baker FACES Scale
B. Numerical Rating Scale (0-10)
C. FLACC Scale
D. Visual Analog Scale
Answer: C
Rationale: The FLACC scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) is a behavioral scale
used for infants and children who cannot communicate pain verbally.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with Tetralogy of Fallot who suddenly becomes
cyanotic and dyspneic. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Administer 100% oxygen via mask
B. Place the child in a knee-chest position
C. Prepare morphine sulfate for administration
D. Start an intravenous line for fluid bolus
Answer: B
Rationale: The knee-chest position increases systemic vascular resistance, which helps
reduce the right-to-left shunt and improves pulmonary blood flow during a ‘tet spell’.
5. A child is diagnosed with Celiac disease. Which of the following foods should
the nurse instruct the parents to avoid?
A. Rice crackers
B. Corn bread
C. Wheat bread
D. Fresh fruit
Answer: C
Rationale: Celiac disease is a permanent intolerance to gluten, which is found in wheat,
barley, rye, and oats. Wheat bread must be strictly avoided.
, 6. Which clinical manifestation is a hallmark sign of Pyloric Stenosis in an infant?
A. Currant jelly-like stools
B. Bile-stained emesis
C. Projectile vomiting
D. Abdominal distension and constipation
Answer: C
Rationale: Pyloric stenosis involves hypertrophy of the pyloric sphincter, leading to non-
bilious projectile vomiting usually occurring shortly after feeding.
7. When administering oral iron supplements to a child with anemia, the nurse
should suggest giving it with:
A. Milk
B. Orange juice
C. Antacids
D. Tea
Answer: B
Rationale: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) found in orange juice enhances the absorption of iron.
Milk and antacids interfere with iron absorption.
8. A nurse is assessing a child for suspected Intussusception. Which finding is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Steatorrhea
B. Ribbon-like stools
C. Stools that look like red currant jelly
D. Hard, marble-like stools
Answer: C
Rationale: Intussusception causes intestinal obstruction and ischemia, leading to the
passage of blood and mucus with stool, often described as ‘currant jelly’.
