ATI PEDIATRICS PROCTORED EXAM
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has a high fever and is drooling. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a throat culture
B. Maintain the child in an upright position
C. Prepare the child for a chest X-ray
D. Examine the throat with a tongue depressor
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Drooling and high fever are signs of epiglottitis. The nurse
should maintain the airway, which is best achieved in an upright position. Examining the
throat or obtaining a culture can trigger a complete airway obstruction.
2. A nurse is assessing an infant who has Tetralogy of Fallot. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Increased pulmonary blood flow
B. Left-to-right shunting
,C. Polycythemia
D. Hypertension in the upper extremities
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In Tetralogy of Fallot, chronic hypoxemia stimulates the body to
produce more red blood cells (polycythemia) to increase oxygen-carrying capacity.
3. Which developmental stage according to Erikson should a nurse expect for a 9-year-old
child?
A. Industry vs. Inferiority
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: School-age children (6 to 12 years) are in the Industry
vs. Inferiority stage, focusing on mastering skills and competing with peers.
4. A nurse is caring for a child who has pyloric stenosis. Which of the following clinical
manifestations is a hallmark sign of this condition?
A. Bile-stained emesis
B. Currant jelly-like stools
C. Steatorrhea
, D. Projectile vomiting
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis causes projectile vomiting due to
the obstruction at the pylorus. Stools are usually normal or decreased, not jelly-like.
5. A nurse is teaching a parent of a child with Celiac disease about dietary management.
Which food should be excluded?
A. Rice cakes
B. Wheat crackers
C. Corn bread
D. Potato chips
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet. Wheat, rye, and barley
contain gluten and must be avoided.
6. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a parent of a child with Sickle Cell Anemia.
Which instruction is most important to prevent a crisis?
A. Limit physical activity to bed rest
B. Ensure the child stays well hydrated
C. Restrict fluid intake at night
D. Administer aspirin for pain
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has a high fever and is drooling. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a throat culture
B. Maintain the child in an upright position
C. Prepare the child for a chest X-ray
D. Examine the throat with a tongue depressor
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Drooling and high fever are signs of epiglottitis. The nurse
should maintain the airway, which is best achieved in an upright position. Examining the
throat or obtaining a culture can trigger a complete airway obstruction.
2. A nurse is assessing an infant who has Tetralogy of Fallot. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Increased pulmonary blood flow
B. Left-to-right shunting
,C. Polycythemia
D. Hypertension in the upper extremities
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: In Tetralogy of Fallot, chronic hypoxemia stimulates the body to
produce more red blood cells (polycythemia) to increase oxygen-carrying capacity.
3. Which developmental stage according to Erikson should a nurse expect for a 9-year-old
child?
A. Industry vs. Inferiority
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: School-age children (6 to 12 years) are in the Industry
vs. Inferiority stage, focusing on mastering skills and competing with peers.
4. A nurse is caring for a child who has pyloric stenosis. Which of the following clinical
manifestations is a hallmark sign of this condition?
A. Bile-stained emesis
B. Currant jelly-like stools
C. Steatorrhea
, D. Projectile vomiting
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis causes projectile vomiting due to
the obstruction at the pylorus. Stools are usually normal or decreased, not jelly-like.
5. A nurse is teaching a parent of a child with Celiac disease about dietary management.
Which food should be excluded?
A. Rice cakes
B. Wheat crackers
C. Corn bread
D. Potato chips
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet. Wheat, rye, and barley
contain gluten and must be avoided.
6. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a parent of a child with Sickle Cell Anemia.
Which instruction is most important to prevent a crisis?
A. Limit physical activity to bed rest
B. Ensure the child stays well hydrated
C. Restrict fluid intake at night
D. Administer aspirin for pain