ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Proctored Exam 2026/2027 (NGN)-
Complete Study Guide with Actual Exam Questions,Verified
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales | Latest Update- Rated A+!
Question 1
A nurse is planning care for a child who has severe diarrhea. Which of the following
actions is the nurse's priority?
A. Assess fluid balance
B. Administer antidiarrheal medication
C. Provide clear liquids
D. Obtain a stool culture
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse's priority is to assess fluid balance. Severe diarrhea can lead to
dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which are life-threatening in children. Assessment
of fluid status (input/output, weight, skin turgor, mucous membranes) guides further
interventions. Antidiarrheal medications are not recommended in children due to the risk of
toxicity and complications. Clear liquids may be given but assessment comes first. Stool
cultures are important but secondary to assessing fluid balance.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a toddler whose parent states that the child has a mass in his
abdominal area and his urine is a pink color. Which of the following actions is the nurse's
priority?
A. Palpate the abdominal mass
B. Obtain a urine specimen
C. Instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal area
D. Notify the provider immediately
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The priority action is to instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal
area. The presentation of an abdominal mass with pink-tinged urine is concerning for
Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma). Palpation of the abdomen can cause rupture of the tumor
and dissemination of cancer cells. The nurse should instruct the parent to avoid palpating or
pressing on the abdomen and should place a "Do Not Palpate Abdomen" sign. The provider
should be notified after ensuring the abdomen is not palpated.
1
,Question 3
A nurse is caring for a child who has acute glomerulonephritis. Which of the following
actions is the nurse's priority?
A. Monitor blood pressure
B. Check the child's weight daily
C. Restrict fluids
D. Administer antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority action is to check the child's weight daily. Acute
glomerulonephritis causes fluid retention and edema. Daily weights are the most accurate
indicator of fluid status. Monitoring blood pressure is important, but weight is the priority
to assess fluid balance. Antibiotics are not used to treat glomerulonephritis (it is immune-
mediated). Fluid restriction may be prescribed, but assessment of fluid status through daily
weights is the priority.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a child who has a suspected diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which
of the following is the nurse's priority?
A. Perform a lumbar puncture
B. Initiate droplet precautions
C. Administer antibiotics when available
D. Assess neurological status
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The priority is to administer antibiotics when available. Bacterial meningitis is a
medical emergency requiring prompt antibiotic therapy to prevent complications and
mortality. Antibiotics should be given as soon as possible, ideally within 60 minutes of
arrival. Lumbar puncture is performed to confirm the diagnosis but should not delay
antibiotic administration. Droplet precautions should be initiated, but antibiotics are the
priority. Neurological assessment is ongoing but secondary to antibiotic administration.
Question 5
A nurse is collecting data from an adolescent. Which of the following represents the
greatest risk for suicide?
A. Recent breakup with girlfriend
B. Active psychiatric disorder
C. Poor grades in school
D. Conflict with parents
2
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An active psychiatric disorder represents the greatest risk for suicide. Mental
health disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) are the strongest risk factors
for suicide in adolescents. While relationship issues, poor grades, and family conflict are
stressors, they do not pose the same level of risk as an active psychiatric condition. The
nurse should prioritize assessment of mental health status.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting data from an infant who has otitis media. The nurse should expect
which of the following findings?
A. Tugging on the affected ear lobe
B. Bulging fontanel
C. Increased appetite
D. Decreased temperature
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Tugging on the affected ear lobe is a common sign of otitis media in infants and
young children. The child may also exhibit irritability, fever, and difficulty sleeping.
Bulging fontanel is a sign of increased intracranial pressure. Appetite is typically decreased
due to pain with swallowing. Temperature is usually elevated, not decreased.
Question 7
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent of a 1-month-old infant who is to undergo the
initial surgery to treat Hirschsprung's disease. Which of the following statements should
indicate to the nurse that the parent understands the goal of surgery?
A. "I'm glad that the ostomy is only temporary."
B. "My baby will need to have this surgery again next year."
C. "The surgery will cure the disease completely."
D. "The ostomy will be permanent."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hirschsprung's disease is treated surgically with a pull-through procedure.
Initially, a temporary colostomy may be created to allow the bowel to heal. The ostomy is
temporary and will be closed after the pull-through procedure heals. The surgery does not
cure the disease completely; it removes the aganglionic segment of bowel. The ostomy is
not permanent.
Question 8
3
Complete Study Guide with Actual Exam Questions,Verified
Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales | Latest Update- Rated A+!
Question 1
A nurse is planning care for a child who has severe diarrhea. Which of the following
actions is the nurse's priority?
A. Assess fluid balance
B. Administer antidiarrheal medication
C. Provide clear liquids
D. Obtain a stool culture
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse's priority is to assess fluid balance. Severe diarrhea can lead to
dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which are life-threatening in children. Assessment
of fluid status (input/output, weight, skin turgor, mucous membranes) guides further
interventions. Antidiarrheal medications are not recommended in children due to the risk of
toxicity and complications. Clear liquids may be given but assessment comes first. Stool
cultures are important but secondary to assessing fluid balance.
Question 2
A nurse is caring for a toddler whose parent states that the child has a mass in his
abdominal area and his urine is a pink color. Which of the following actions is the nurse's
priority?
A. Palpate the abdominal mass
B. Obtain a urine specimen
C. Instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal area
D. Notify the provider immediately
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The priority action is to instruct the parent to avoid pressing on the abdominal
area. The presentation of an abdominal mass with pink-tinged urine is concerning for
Wilms tumor (nephroblastoma). Palpation of the abdomen can cause rupture of the tumor
and dissemination of cancer cells. The nurse should instruct the parent to avoid palpating or
pressing on the abdomen and should place a "Do Not Palpate Abdomen" sign. The provider
should be notified after ensuring the abdomen is not palpated.
1
,Question 3
A nurse is caring for a child who has acute glomerulonephritis. Which of the following
actions is the nurse's priority?
A. Monitor blood pressure
B. Check the child's weight daily
C. Restrict fluids
D. Administer antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority action is to check the child's weight daily. Acute
glomerulonephritis causes fluid retention and edema. Daily weights are the most accurate
indicator of fluid status. Monitoring blood pressure is important, but weight is the priority
to assess fluid balance. Antibiotics are not used to treat glomerulonephritis (it is immune-
mediated). Fluid restriction may be prescribed, but assessment of fluid status through daily
weights is the priority.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a child who has a suspected diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which
of the following is the nurse's priority?
A. Perform a lumbar puncture
B. Initiate droplet precautions
C. Administer antibiotics when available
D. Assess neurological status
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The priority is to administer antibiotics when available. Bacterial meningitis is a
medical emergency requiring prompt antibiotic therapy to prevent complications and
mortality. Antibiotics should be given as soon as possible, ideally within 60 minutes of
arrival. Lumbar puncture is performed to confirm the diagnosis but should not delay
antibiotic administration. Droplet precautions should be initiated, but antibiotics are the
priority. Neurological assessment is ongoing but secondary to antibiotic administration.
Question 5
A nurse is collecting data from an adolescent. Which of the following represents the
greatest risk for suicide?
A. Recent breakup with girlfriend
B. Active psychiatric disorder
C. Poor grades in school
D. Conflict with parents
2
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An active psychiatric disorder represents the greatest risk for suicide. Mental
health disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) are the strongest risk factors
for suicide in adolescents. While relationship issues, poor grades, and family conflict are
stressors, they do not pose the same level of risk as an active psychiatric condition. The
nurse should prioritize assessment of mental health status.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting data from an infant who has otitis media. The nurse should expect
which of the following findings?
A. Tugging on the affected ear lobe
B. Bulging fontanel
C. Increased appetite
D. Decreased temperature
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Tugging on the affected ear lobe is a common sign of otitis media in infants and
young children. The child may also exhibit irritability, fever, and difficulty sleeping.
Bulging fontanel is a sign of increased intracranial pressure. Appetite is typically decreased
due to pain with swallowing. Temperature is usually elevated, not decreased.
Question 7
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a parent of a 1-month-old infant who is to undergo the
initial surgery to treat Hirschsprung's disease. Which of the following statements should
indicate to the nurse that the parent understands the goal of surgery?
A. "I'm glad that the ostomy is only temporary."
B. "My baby will need to have this surgery again next year."
C. "The surgery will cure the disease completely."
D. "The ostomy will be permanent."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hirschsprung's disease is treated surgically with a pull-through procedure.
Initially, a temporary colostomy may be created to allow the bowel to heal. The ostomy is
temporary and will be closed after the pull-through procedure heals. The surgery does not
cure the disease completely; it removes the aganglionic segment of bowel. The ostomy is
not permanent.
Question 8
3
