PRN 330 – Pediatric Respiratory in
Nursing ACTUAL UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Explain the anatomy and physiology of the pediatric respiratory system and how it differs
from adults.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Children have smaller airways, higher airway resistance, and more compliant chest walls
compared to adults. The diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration, and infants have
fewer alveoli, leading to lower oxygen reserves. Pediatric lungs have faster respiratory rates
and increased metabolic demands. Nurses must understand these differences to monitor
respiratory distress early and provide age-appropriate interventions.
Discuss the assessment of respiratory rate, effort, and oxygen saturation in children.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Assessment includes observing for tachypnea, retractions, nasal flaring, grunting, and use of
accessory muscles. Oxygen saturation is monitored using pulse oximetry, and vital signs are
interpreted according to age-specific norms. Nurses document trends, recognize early signs of
deterioration, and intervene promptly with oxygen therapy or escalation of care.
Explain the recognition and nursing management of upper respiratory infections (URIs) in
children.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
URIs include the common cold, pharyngitis, and sinusitis. Symptoms include nasal
congestion, cough, mild fever, and irritability. Nursing care involves supportive management:
hydration, antipyretics, nasal saline irrigation, and monitoring for complications such as otitis
media. Educate caregivers on symptom monitoring, hand hygiene, and when to seek further
medical evaluation.
Describe the pathophysiology, assessment, and care for children with bronchiolitis.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Bronchiolitis, often caused by RSV, leads to inflammation and obstruction of small airways.
Assessment shows tachypnea, wheezing, retractions, cyanosis, and poor feeding. Nursing
management includes monitoring oxygenation, maintaining hydration, suctioning secretions,
providing supplemental oxygen, and educating caregivers on infection control. Severe cases
may require hospitalization for respiratory support.
, Discuss asthma in children: triggers, assessment, and nursing interventions.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease triggered by allergens, infections, exercise,
or irritants. Assessment includes wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, peak
flow monitoring, and use of accessory muscles. Nursing interventions involve administering
bronchodilators, corticosteroids, oxygen therapy, monitoring response, educating caregivers
on trigger avoidance, inhaler technique, and asthma action plans.
Explain the recognition and management of croup in pediatric patients.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Croup presents with a barky cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, and sometimes fever,
commonly caused by parainfluenza virus. Nursing management includes assessing airway
patency, administering humidified oxygen, corticosteroids, nebulized epinephrine if
indicated, and monitoring for respiratory distress. Educate caregivers on home care, warning
signs, and when to seek urgent attention.
Describe the nursing care for pediatric patients with epiglottitis.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Epiglottitis is a life-threatening bacterial infection causing sudden airway obstruction.
Children present with high fever, drooling, muffled voice, and tripod positioning. Nursing
care focuses on maintaining airway patency, minimizing agitation, providing oxygen,
preparing for emergency intubation, and administering IV antibiotics. Close monitoring and
rapid intervention are critical to prevent respiratory failure.
Discuss pneumonia in children: types, assessment, and nursing management.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Pneumonia can be bacterial, viral, or atypical. Symptoms include fever, cough, tachypnea,
retractions, decreased breath sounds, and crackles. Nursing management includes monitoring
oxygenation, administering antibiotics or antivirals as indicated, hydration, antipyretics, chest
physiotherapy if appropriate, and caregiver education. Early recognition of hypoxia and
respiratory compromise is crucial.
Explain the assessment and care for children with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in
neonates.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Nursing ACTUAL UPDATED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Explain the anatomy and physiology of the pediatric respiratory system and how it differs
from adults.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Children have smaller airways, higher airway resistance, and more compliant chest walls
compared to adults. The diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration, and infants have
fewer alveoli, leading to lower oxygen reserves. Pediatric lungs have faster respiratory rates
and increased metabolic demands. Nurses must understand these differences to monitor
respiratory distress early and provide age-appropriate interventions.
Discuss the assessment of respiratory rate, effort, and oxygen saturation in children.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Assessment includes observing for tachypnea, retractions, nasal flaring, grunting, and use of
accessory muscles. Oxygen saturation is monitored using pulse oximetry, and vital signs are
interpreted according to age-specific norms. Nurses document trends, recognize early signs of
deterioration, and intervene promptly with oxygen therapy or escalation of care.
Explain the recognition and nursing management of upper respiratory infections (URIs) in
children.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
URIs include the common cold, pharyngitis, and sinusitis. Symptoms include nasal
congestion, cough, mild fever, and irritability. Nursing care involves supportive management:
hydration, antipyretics, nasal saline irrigation, and monitoring for complications such as otitis
media. Educate caregivers on symptom monitoring, hand hygiene, and when to seek further
medical evaluation.
Describe the pathophysiology, assessment, and care for children with bronchiolitis.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Bronchiolitis, often caused by RSV, leads to inflammation and obstruction of small airways.
Assessment shows tachypnea, wheezing, retractions, cyanosis, and poor feeding. Nursing
management includes monitoring oxygenation, maintaining hydration, suctioning secretions,
providing supplemental oxygen, and educating caregivers on infection control. Severe cases
may require hospitalization for respiratory support.
, Discuss asthma in children: triggers, assessment, and nursing interventions.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease triggered by allergens, infections, exercise,
or irritants. Assessment includes wheezing, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, peak
flow monitoring, and use of accessory muscles. Nursing interventions involve administering
bronchodilators, corticosteroids, oxygen therapy, monitoring response, educating caregivers
on trigger avoidance, inhaler technique, and asthma action plans.
Explain the recognition and management of croup in pediatric patients.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Croup presents with a barky cough, inspiratory stridor, hoarseness, and sometimes fever,
commonly caused by parainfluenza virus. Nursing management includes assessing airway
patency, administering humidified oxygen, corticosteroids, nebulized epinephrine if
indicated, and monitoring for respiratory distress. Educate caregivers on home care, warning
signs, and when to seek urgent attention.
Describe the nursing care for pediatric patients with epiglottitis.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Epiglottitis is a life-threatening bacterial infection causing sudden airway obstruction.
Children present with high fever, drooling, muffled voice, and tripod positioning. Nursing
care focuses on maintaining airway patency, minimizing agitation, providing oxygen,
preparing for emergency intubation, and administering IV antibiotics. Close monitoring and
rapid intervention are critical to prevent respiratory failure.
Discuss pneumonia in children: types, assessment, and nursing management.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
Pneumonia can be bacterial, viral, or atypical. Symptoms include fever, cough, tachypnea,
retractions, decreased breath sounds, and crackles. Nursing management includes monitoring
oxygenation, administering antibiotics or antivirals as indicated, hydration, antipyretics, chest
physiotherapy if appropriate, and caregiver education. Early recognition of hypoxia and
respiratory compromise is crucial.
Explain the assessment and care for children with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in
neonates.
CORRECT ANSWERS ✅✅
