NSG 3600 Peds Exam 1 Questions and Answers Latest 2026 |
100% Correct – Galen College of Nursing
1. A 2-year-old child is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. The nurse expects the child to have
which gross motor skill?
A) Jumping with both feet
B) Riding a tricycle
C) Walking up stairs with alternating feet
D) Kicking a ball forward
Answer: D – Explanation: A 2-year-old can kick a ball forward, run, and walk up stairs with one hand
held. Jumping with both feet occurs around 2.5–3 years. Tricycle riding is a 3-year skill. Alternating feet
on stairs is a 3-year skill.
2. The mother of a 4-month-old infant asks when to introduce solid foods. What is the nurse’s best
response?
A) “You can start rice cereal at 2 months if the infant is formula-fed.”
B) “Solids should be introduced around 6 months of age when the infant can sit with support and has
lost the extrusion reflex.”
C) “Start fruits and vegetables at 3 months to prevent allergies.”
D) “Solid foods are not needed until 12 months.”
Answer: B – Explanation: The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding or formula until 6 months. Signs
of readiness include head control, sitting with support, loss of extrusion reflex, and interest in food.
3. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding would be a concern for developmental delay?
A) The infant rolls from back to front.
B) The infant transfers a rattle from one hand to the other.
C) The infant does not sit without support.
D) The infant babbles “mama” and “dada” nonspecifically.
Answer: C – Explanation: By 6 months, infants can sit with support and may sit briefly without support.
Sitting without support is typically achieved by 8 months. Rolling, transferring objects, and babbling are
expected at 6 months.
,4. A 10-year-old child is admitted with a diagnosis of asthma. The nurse understands that which
developmental characteristic of this age group may affect medication adherence?
A) Magical thinking
B) Desire for peer acceptance and fear of being different
C) Inability to understand cause and effect
D) Stranger anxiety
Answer: B – Explanation: School-age children (6–12 years) are concerned with peer acceptance and may
avoid using inhalers at school to avoid looking different. Magical thinking is preschool age. Cause and
effect is understood by school age.
5. The parents of a toddler ask the nurse how to handle temper tantrums. Which recommendation is
most appropriate?
A) “Give the child a time-out of 15 minutes for each tantrum.”
B) “Ignore the tantrum if it is not dangerous, and do not give in to demands.”
C) “Spank the child gently to stop the behavior.”
D) “Offer a reward immediately to stop the tantrum.”
Answer: B – Explanation: Tantrums are normal in toddlers. Ignoring the behavior (as long as safe) and
not reinforcing it with attention or rewards is effective. Time-out should be 1 minute per year of age.
6. A nurse is educating parents about injury prevention for a 9-month-old. Which statement indicates a
need for further teaching?
A) “We will use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat until age 2.”
B) “We will put gates at the top and bottom of stairs.”
C) “It’s okay to leave the baby on the changing table while we answer the phone.”
D) “We will keep small objects out of reach.”
Answer: C – Explanation: Infants can roll and fall from elevated surfaces. Never leave an infant
unattended on a changing table. All other statements are correct safety measures.
7. Which immunization is given subcutaneously rather than intramuscularly?
A) DTaP
,B) MMR
C) Hepatitis B
D) PCV13
Answer: B – Explanation: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella are given subcutaneously. DTaP,
HepB, PCV13, IPV, and Hib are intramuscular.
8. A 5-year-old child is hospitalized. The child is afraid of being in the hospital and cries when the nurse
enters. Which intervention is best to reduce fear?
A) Tell the child to stop crying because it is not scary.
B) Allow the child to play with medical equipment to become familiar.
C) Restrain the child for procedures.
D) Ignore the child’s fears.
Answer: B – Explanation: Therapeutic play with medical equipment (syringes without needles,
stethoscope) helps reduce fear and anxiety in preschoolers. Preschoolers have magical thinking and
benefit from hands-on familiarization.
9. A nurse is assessing pain in a 3-year-old child after surgery. Which pain scale is most appropriate?
A) Numeric rating scale (0-10)
B) FACES pain scale (Wong-Baker)
C) Visual analog scale
D) CRIES scale
Answer: B – Explanation: FACES pain scale (Wong-Baker) is appropriate for children 3 years and older.
Numeric rating is for school-age and older. CRIES is for neonates. Visual analog is for older
children/adults.
10. A 15-month-old child has a fever and is pulling at the ear. The nurse suspects acute otitis media.
Which finding is most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Bulging, red tympanic membrane with decreased mobility
B) Clear otorrhea from the ear canal
C) Normal tympanic membrane with light reflex
D) Retracted, amber tympanic membrane
, Answer: A – Explanation: Acute otitis media presents with bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane
with decreased mobility on pneumatic otoscopy. Clear fluid may indicate serous otitis. Retracted amber
membrane indicates eustachian tube dysfunction.
11. The mother of an 8-month-old infant asks which foods should be avoided to prevent choking. Which
response by the nurse is correct?
A) “Hot dogs cut into small round pieces are safe.”
B) “Grapes should be cut into quarters lengthwise.”
C) “Whole nuts and popcorn are safe for an 8-month-old.”
D) “Hard candy is acceptable if the child is supervised.”
Answer: B – Explanation: Grapes are a choking hazard and must be cut lengthwise into quarters. Hot
dogs should be cut lengthwise, not round. Nuts, popcorn, and hard candy are choking hazards and
should not be given to children under 4 years.
12. A 4-year-old child is admitted with dehydration. The nurse notes that the child cries but produces no
tears, has a dry mouth, and skin turgor is poor. What is the priority intervention?
A) Offer clear fluids orally.
B) Administer IV fluids as ordered.
C) Apply moisturizing lotion to the skin.
D) Give antipyretics.
Answer: B – Explanation: Signs of severe dehydration (no tears, dry mucous membranes, poor skin
turgor) require IV fluid replacement. Oral rehydration may not be sufficient.
13. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 12-month-old. Which statement about
feeding is correct?
A) “Whole milk can be introduced at 12 months.”
B) “Honey is safe to give now to help with cough.”
C) “Juice should be offered in a bottle at bedtime.”
D) “Low-fat milk (1%) is recommended at 12 months.”
Answer: A – Explanation: Whole cow’s milk (vitamin D fortified) can be introduced at 12 months. Honey
is avoided until 12 months due to botulism risk (but after 12 months it’s safe, though not for cough).
Juice should be limited and never in a bottle at bedtime. Low-fat milk is not recommended until after 2
years.
100% Correct – Galen College of Nursing
1. A 2-year-old child is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. The nurse expects the child to have
which gross motor skill?
A) Jumping with both feet
B) Riding a tricycle
C) Walking up stairs with alternating feet
D) Kicking a ball forward
Answer: D – Explanation: A 2-year-old can kick a ball forward, run, and walk up stairs with one hand
held. Jumping with both feet occurs around 2.5–3 years. Tricycle riding is a 3-year skill. Alternating feet
on stairs is a 3-year skill.
2. The mother of a 4-month-old infant asks when to introduce solid foods. What is the nurse’s best
response?
A) “You can start rice cereal at 2 months if the infant is formula-fed.”
B) “Solids should be introduced around 6 months of age when the infant can sit with support and has
lost the extrusion reflex.”
C) “Start fruits and vegetables at 3 months to prevent allergies.”
D) “Solid foods are not needed until 12 months.”
Answer: B – Explanation: The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding or formula until 6 months. Signs
of readiness include head control, sitting with support, loss of extrusion reflex, and interest in food.
3. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding would be a concern for developmental delay?
A) The infant rolls from back to front.
B) The infant transfers a rattle from one hand to the other.
C) The infant does not sit without support.
D) The infant babbles “mama” and “dada” nonspecifically.
Answer: C – Explanation: By 6 months, infants can sit with support and may sit briefly without support.
Sitting without support is typically achieved by 8 months. Rolling, transferring objects, and babbling are
expected at 6 months.
,4. A 10-year-old child is admitted with a diagnosis of asthma. The nurse understands that which
developmental characteristic of this age group may affect medication adherence?
A) Magical thinking
B) Desire for peer acceptance and fear of being different
C) Inability to understand cause and effect
D) Stranger anxiety
Answer: B – Explanation: School-age children (6–12 years) are concerned with peer acceptance and may
avoid using inhalers at school to avoid looking different. Magical thinking is preschool age. Cause and
effect is understood by school age.
5. The parents of a toddler ask the nurse how to handle temper tantrums. Which recommendation is
most appropriate?
A) “Give the child a time-out of 15 minutes for each tantrum.”
B) “Ignore the tantrum if it is not dangerous, and do not give in to demands.”
C) “Spank the child gently to stop the behavior.”
D) “Offer a reward immediately to stop the tantrum.”
Answer: B – Explanation: Tantrums are normal in toddlers. Ignoring the behavior (as long as safe) and
not reinforcing it with attention or rewards is effective. Time-out should be 1 minute per year of age.
6. A nurse is educating parents about injury prevention for a 9-month-old. Which statement indicates a
need for further teaching?
A) “We will use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat until age 2.”
B) “We will put gates at the top and bottom of stairs.”
C) “It’s okay to leave the baby on the changing table while we answer the phone.”
D) “We will keep small objects out of reach.”
Answer: C – Explanation: Infants can roll and fall from elevated surfaces. Never leave an infant
unattended on a changing table. All other statements are correct safety measures.
7. Which immunization is given subcutaneously rather than intramuscularly?
A) DTaP
,B) MMR
C) Hepatitis B
D) PCV13
Answer: B – Explanation: MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella are given subcutaneously. DTaP,
HepB, PCV13, IPV, and Hib are intramuscular.
8. A 5-year-old child is hospitalized. The child is afraid of being in the hospital and cries when the nurse
enters. Which intervention is best to reduce fear?
A) Tell the child to stop crying because it is not scary.
B) Allow the child to play with medical equipment to become familiar.
C) Restrain the child for procedures.
D) Ignore the child’s fears.
Answer: B – Explanation: Therapeutic play with medical equipment (syringes without needles,
stethoscope) helps reduce fear and anxiety in preschoolers. Preschoolers have magical thinking and
benefit from hands-on familiarization.
9. A nurse is assessing pain in a 3-year-old child after surgery. Which pain scale is most appropriate?
A) Numeric rating scale (0-10)
B) FACES pain scale (Wong-Baker)
C) Visual analog scale
D) CRIES scale
Answer: B – Explanation: FACES pain scale (Wong-Baker) is appropriate for children 3 years and older.
Numeric rating is for school-age and older. CRIES is for neonates. Visual analog is for older
children/adults.
10. A 15-month-old child has a fever and is pulling at the ear. The nurse suspects acute otitis media.
Which finding is most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Bulging, red tympanic membrane with decreased mobility
B) Clear otorrhea from the ear canal
C) Normal tympanic membrane with light reflex
D) Retracted, amber tympanic membrane
, Answer: A – Explanation: Acute otitis media presents with bulging, erythematous tympanic membrane
with decreased mobility on pneumatic otoscopy. Clear fluid may indicate serous otitis. Retracted amber
membrane indicates eustachian tube dysfunction.
11. The mother of an 8-month-old infant asks which foods should be avoided to prevent choking. Which
response by the nurse is correct?
A) “Hot dogs cut into small round pieces are safe.”
B) “Grapes should be cut into quarters lengthwise.”
C) “Whole nuts and popcorn are safe for an 8-month-old.”
D) “Hard candy is acceptable if the child is supervised.”
Answer: B – Explanation: Grapes are a choking hazard and must be cut lengthwise into quarters. Hot
dogs should be cut lengthwise, not round. Nuts, popcorn, and hard candy are choking hazards and
should not be given to children under 4 years.
12. A 4-year-old child is admitted with dehydration. The nurse notes that the child cries but produces no
tears, has a dry mouth, and skin turgor is poor. What is the priority intervention?
A) Offer clear fluids orally.
B) Administer IV fluids as ordered.
C) Apply moisturizing lotion to the skin.
D) Give antipyretics.
Answer: B – Explanation: Signs of severe dehydration (no tears, dry mucous membranes, poor skin
turgor) require IV fluid replacement. Oral rehydration may not be sufficient.
13. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 12-month-old. Which statement about
feeding is correct?
A) “Whole milk can be introduced at 12 months.”
B) “Honey is safe to give now to help with cough.”
C) “Juice should be offered in a bottle at bedtime.”
D) “Low-fat milk (1%) is recommended at 12 months.”
Answer: A – Explanation: Whole cow’s milk (vitamin D fortified) can be introduced at 12 months. Honey
is avoided until 12 months due to botulism risk (but after 12 months it’s safe, though not for cough).
Juice should be limited and never in a bottle at bedtime. Low-fat milk is not recommended until after 2
years.
