Pediatric Nursing Exam Practice 100
Comprehensive Questions with Detailed Answers
and Rationales Covering Growth, Development,
Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal,
Genitourinary, Neurological, Endocrine,
Musculoskeletal, Hematology,
1.
Which statement best describes growth in a child?
A. Development of social skills
B. Increase in physical size
C. Development of reasoning ability
D. Acquisition of language
Answer: B
Rationale: Growth refers to measurable physical changes such as increases in height, weight,
and head circumference. Development refers to maturation and acquisition of skills.
2.
Which developmental domain includes walking, running, and jumping?
A. Fine motor
B. Cognitive
C. Gross motor
D. Language
Answer: C
Rationale: Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups and include activities such as walking
and running.
3.
Which skill is primarily a fine-motor skill?
,A. Running
B. Jumping
C. Sitting
D. Picking up a small object with the fingers
Answer: D
Rationale: Fine-motor skills involve smaller muscle groups, particularly hand and finger
coordination.
4.
Which finding would be most concerning during growth monitoring?
A. Consistent growth along the child's percentile curve
B. Minor variation in weight
C. Crossing several major percentile lines downward
D. Growth appropriate for family pattern
Answer: C
Rationale: Significant downward crossing of percentile lines can indicate an underlying
nutritional, medical, or developmental problem and warrants evaluation.
5.
Which approach is most appropriate when assessing a toddler?
A. Use only medical terminology
B. Explain everything in abstract terms
C. Use simple language and allow the child to participate
D. Speak only to the parents
Answer: C
Rationale: Pediatric care should be adapted to the child's developmental level and ability to
understand.
6.
Which behavior is typical of a toddler?
A. Complete independence
B. Increasing autonomy
C. Abstract reasoning
D. Mature impulse control
,Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers develop autonomy and commonly want to perform tasks independently.
7.
Which developmental stage is associated with Erikson's concept of initiative versus guilt?
A. Infant
B. Toddler
C. Preschooler
D. Adolescent
Answer: C
Rationale: Preschool children develop initiative by exploring, imagining, and taking purposeful
actions.
8.
Which behavior is most characteristic of a school-age child?
A. Magical thinking as the dominant form of reasoning
B. Development of concrete logical thinking
C. Complete dependence on parents
D. Lack of interest in peer relationships
Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children increasingly develop concrete operational thinking and become
more interested in rules, achievement, and peers.
9.
Which developmental task is especially important during adolescence?
A. Developing object permanence
B. Developing personal identity
C. Learning to crawl
D. Developing stranger anxiety
Answer: B
Rationale: Adolescence is characterized by identity development and increasing independence.
10.
, Which nursing action best supports developmental care?
A. Use identical approaches for every child
B. Adapt communication and interventions to developmental level
C. Ignore developmental differences
D. Focus only on physical symptoms
Answer: B
Rationale: Pediatric interventions should be developmentally appropriate and individualized.
Respiratory Disorders
11.
Why are infants particularly vulnerable to respiratory distress?
A. They have larger airways than adults
B. Their airways are relatively narrow
C. They have stronger respiratory muscles
D. They have greater pulmonary reserve
Answer: B
Rationale: Infants and young children have smaller, narrower airways, so relatively small
amounts of swelling or secretions can significantly increase airway resistance.
12.
Which finding is a sign of increased work of breathing?
A. Retractions
B. Warm hands
C. Increased appetite
D. Normal respiratory effort
Answer: A
Rationale: Retractions indicate increased respiratory effort and are an important sign of
respiratory distress.
13.
A child has nasal flaring, tachypnea, and intercostal retractions. What is the priority concern?
Comprehensive Questions with Detailed Answers
and Rationales Covering Growth, Development,
Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal,
Genitourinary, Neurological, Endocrine,
Musculoskeletal, Hematology,
1.
Which statement best describes growth in a child?
A. Development of social skills
B. Increase in physical size
C. Development of reasoning ability
D. Acquisition of language
Answer: B
Rationale: Growth refers to measurable physical changes such as increases in height, weight,
and head circumference. Development refers to maturation and acquisition of skills.
2.
Which developmental domain includes walking, running, and jumping?
A. Fine motor
B. Cognitive
C. Gross motor
D. Language
Answer: C
Rationale: Gross motor skills involve large muscle groups and include activities such as walking
and running.
3.
Which skill is primarily a fine-motor skill?
,A. Running
B. Jumping
C. Sitting
D. Picking up a small object with the fingers
Answer: D
Rationale: Fine-motor skills involve smaller muscle groups, particularly hand and finger
coordination.
4.
Which finding would be most concerning during growth monitoring?
A. Consistent growth along the child's percentile curve
B. Minor variation in weight
C. Crossing several major percentile lines downward
D. Growth appropriate for family pattern
Answer: C
Rationale: Significant downward crossing of percentile lines can indicate an underlying
nutritional, medical, or developmental problem and warrants evaluation.
5.
Which approach is most appropriate when assessing a toddler?
A. Use only medical terminology
B. Explain everything in abstract terms
C. Use simple language and allow the child to participate
D. Speak only to the parents
Answer: C
Rationale: Pediatric care should be adapted to the child's developmental level and ability to
understand.
6.
Which behavior is typical of a toddler?
A. Complete independence
B. Increasing autonomy
C. Abstract reasoning
D. Mature impulse control
,Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers develop autonomy and commonly want to perform tasks independently.
7.
Which developmental stage is associated with Erikson's concept of initiative versus guilt?
A. Infant
B. Toddler
C. Preschooler
D. Adolescent
Answer: C
Rationale: Preschool children develop initiative by exploring, imagining, and taking purposeful
actions.
8.
Which behavior is most characteristic of a school-age child?
A. Magical thinking as the dominant form of reasoning
B. Development of concrete logical thinking
C. Complete dependence on parents
D. Lack of interest in peer relationships
Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children increasingly develop concrete operational thinking and become
more interested in rules, achievement, and peers.
9.
Which developmental task is especially important during adolescence?
A. Developing object permanence
B. Developing personal identity
C. Learning to crawl
D. Developing stranger anxiety
Answer: B
Rationale: Adolescence is characterized by identity development and increasing independence.
10.
, Which nursing action best supports developmental care?
A. Use identical approaches for every child
B. Adapt communication and interventions to developmental level
C. Ignore developmental differences
D. Focus only on physical symptoms
Answer: B
Rationale: Pediatric interventions should be developmentally appropriate and individualized.
Respiratory Disorders
11.
Why are infants particularly vulnerable to respiratory distress?
A. They have larger airways than adults
B. Their airways are relatively narrow
C. They have stronger respiratory muscles
D. They have greater pulmonary reserve
Answer: B
Rationale: Infants and young children have smaller, narrower airways, so relatively small
amounts of swelling or secretions can significantly increase airway resistance.
12.
Which finding is a sign of increased work of breathing?
A. Retractions
B. Warm hands
C. Increased appetite
D. Normal respiratory effort
Answer: A
Rationale: Retractions indicate increased respiratory effort and are an important sign of
respiratory distress.
13.
A child has nasal flaring, tachypnea, and intercostal retractions. What is the priority concern?
