FLORIDA BOARD OF NURSING PEDIATRIC
NURSING CERTIFICATION EXAM WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 4-year-old child is admitted with suspected bacterial meningitis.
Which nursing action should be performed first after the child
arrives on the unit?
A. Obtain a detailed developmental history
B. Initiate appropriate infection-control precautions
C. Offer oral fluids to prevent dehydration
D. Begin passive range-of-motion exercises
Answer: B. Initiate appropriate infection-control precautions
Rationale: Suspected bacterial meningitis requires prompt
implementation of appropriate transmission-based precautions,
typically droplet precautions in addition to standard precautions, while
diagnostic evaluation and antimicrobial therapy are initiated.
Preventing transmission to healthcare workers and other patients is an
immediate priority.
2. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding requires
the most immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 44/min
B. Heart rate of 132/min
C. Nasal flaring with intercostal retractions
D. Anterior fontanelle measuring 1.5 cm
1
,Answer: C. Nasal flaring with intercostal retractions
Rationale: Nasal flaring and intercostal retractions indicate increased
work of breathing and possible respiratory distress. Infants can
deteriorate rapidly because of their relatively small airways and limited
respiratory reserves. Airway and breathing take priority over routine
assessment findings.
3. A 2-year-old child with gastroenteritis has had repeated vomiting
and diarrhea. Which assessment finding most strongly suggests
significant dehydration?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Capillary refill of 1 second
C. No tears when crying and markedly decreased urine output
D. Heart rate of 96/min
Answer: C. No tears when crying and markedly decreased urine
output
Rationale: Absence of tears and markedly decreased urine output are
important indicators of dehydration in young children. Additional
findings may include dry mucous membranes, delayed capillary refill,
tachycardia, lethargy, and decreased skin turgor.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with acute epiglottitis. Which
intervention is contraindicated?
A. Keeping the child calm
B. Preparing for possible airway management
C. Administering prescribed IV antibiotics
D. Inspecting the throat with a tongue blade
Answer: D. Inspecting the throat with a tongue blade
2
,Rationale: Manipulation of the inflamed epiglottis can precipitate
sudden, complete airway obstruction. A child with suspected
epiglottitis should be kept calm, and emergency airway-management
equipment and appropriately trained personnel should be immediately
available.
5. A 7-year-old child with asthma develops severe respiratory
distress. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Expiratory wheezing
B. Productive cough
C. Diminished or absent breath sounds
D. Respiratory rate of 28/min
Answer: C. Diminished or absent breath sounds
Rationale: A "silent chest" or markedly diminished breath sounds in a
child with severe asthma can indicate critically reduced airflow and
impending respiratory failure. Wheezing may actually decrease as
airflow becomes severely restricted.
6. A nurse teaches the parents of an infant with gastroesophageal
reflux. Which instruction is most appropriate?
A. Place the infant prone during sleep
B. Feed very large meals less frequently
C. Keep the infant upright after feeding while awake and supervised
D. Add solid foods to every bottle without provider guidance
Answer: C. Keep the infant upright after feeding while awake and
supervised
Rationale: Keeping the infant upright after feeding can reduce reflux
episodes. Safe-sleep recommendations remain essential: infants
3
, should generally be placed supine for sleep on a firm, flat surface.
Prone positioning for sleep increases the risk of sleep-related infant
death.
7. A 3-year-old child is admitted with croup and develops increasing
stridor at rest. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Encourage the child to cry to clear secretions
B. Assess airway status and prepare for escalating respiratory support
C. Obtain a throat culture immediately
D. Place the child flat in bed
Answer: B. Assess airway status and prepare for escalating
respiratory support
Rationale: Stridor at rest suggests significant upper-airway
obstruction. The nurse should minimize agitation, maintain a position
that facilitates breathing, administer prescribed therapy such as
nebulized epinephrine when indicated, and prepare for advanced
airway management if respiratory status deteriorates.
8. A child is prescribed digoxin. Before administering the
medication, which assessment is most important?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Apical heart rate
C. Pupillary response
D. Skin temperature
Answer: B. Apical heart rate
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia and other dysrhythmias.
The nurse should assess the apical pulse before administration and
follow pediatric-specific medication parameters established by the
4
NURSING CERTIFICATION EXAM WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A 4-year-old child is admitted with suspected bacterial meningitis.
Which nursing action should be performed first after the child
arrives on the unit?
A. Obtain a detailed developmental history
B. Initiate appropriate infection-control precautions
C. Offer oral fluids to prevent dehydration
D. Begin passive range-of-motion exercises
Answer: B. Initiate appropriate infection-control precautions
Rationale: Suspected bacterial meningitis requires prompt
implementation of appropriate transmission-based precautions,
typically droplet precautions in addition to standard precautions, while
diagnostic evaluation and antimicrobial therapy are initiated.
Preventing transmission to healthcare workers and other patients is an
immediate priority.
2. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding requires
the most immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 44/min
B. Heart rate of 132/min
C. Nasal flaring with intercostal retractions
D. Anterior fontanelle measuring 1.5 cm
1
,Answer: C. Nasal flaring with intercostal retractions
Rationale: Nasal flaring and intercostal retractions indicate increased
work of breathing and possible respiratory distress. Infants can
deteriorate rapidly because of their relatively small airways and limited
respiratory reserves. Airway and breathing take priority over routine
assessment findings.
3. A 2-year-old child with gastroenteritis has had repeated vomiting
and diarrhea. Which assessment finding most strongly suggests
significant dehydration?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Capillary refill of 1 second
C. No tears when crying and markedly decreased urine output
D. Heart rate of 96/min
Answer: C. No tears when crying and markedly decreased urine
output
Rationale: Absence of tears and markedly decreased urine output are
important indicators of dehydration in young children. Additional
findings may include dry mucous membranes, delayed capillary refill,
tachycardia, lethargy, and decreased skin turgor.
4. A nurse is caring for a child with acute epiglottitis. Which
intervention is contraindicated?
A. Keeping the child calm
B. Preparing for possible airway management
C. Administering prescribed IV antibiotics
D. Inspecting the throat with a tongue blade
Answer: D. Inspecting the throat with a tongue blade
2
,Rationale: Manipulation of the inflamed epiglottis can precipitate
sudden, complete airway obstruction. A child with suspected
epiglottitis should be kept calm, and emergency airway-management
equipment and appropriately trained personnel should be immediately
available.
5. A 7-year-old child with asthma develops severe respiratory
distress. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Expiratory wheezing
B. Productive cough
C. Diminished or absent breath sounds
D. Respiratory rate of 28/min
Answer: C. Diminished or absent breath sounds
Rationale: A "silent chest" or markedly diminished breath sounds in a
child with severe asthma can indicate critically reduced airflow and
impending respiratory failure. Wheezing may actually decrease as
airflow becomes severely restricted.
6. A nurse teaches the parents of an infant with gastroesophageal
reflux. Which instruction is most appropriate?
A. Place the infant prone during sleep
B. Feed very large meals less frequently
C. Keep the infant upright after feeding while awake and supervised
D. Add solid foods to every bottle without provider guidance
Answer: C. Keep the infant upright after feeding while awake and
supervised
Rationale: Keeping the infant upright after feeding can reduce reflux
episodes. Safe-sleep recommendations remain essential: infants
3
, should generally be placed supine for sleep on a firm, flat surface.
Prone positioning for sleep increases the risk of sleep-related infant
death.
7. A 3-year-old child is admitted with croup and develops increasing
stridor at rest. What is the nurse's priority?
A. Encourage the child to cry to clear secretions
B. Assess airway status and prepare for escalating respiratory support
C. Obtain a throat culture immediately
D. Place the child flat in bed
Answer: B. Assess airway status and prepare for escalating
respiratory support
Rationale: Stridor at rest suggests significant upper-airway
obstruction. The nurse should minimize agitation, maintain a position
that facilitates breathing, administer prescribed therapy such as
nebulized epinephrine when indicated, and prepare for advanced
airway management if respiratory status deteriorates.
8. A child is prescribed digoxin. Before administering the
medication, which assessment is most important?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Apical heart rate
C. Pupillary response
D. Skin temperature
Answer: B. Apical heart rate
Rationale: Digoxin can cause bradycardia and other dysrhythmias.
The nurse should assess the apical pulse before administration and
follow pediatric-specific medication parameters established by the
4
