PEDIATRIC VITAL SIGNS PRACTICE EXAM WITH 100
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Question 1
The nurse is assessing the respiratory rate of a 6-month-old infant. Which finding
would be considered within normal limits?
A) 20 breaths per minute
B) 30 breaths per minute
C) 45 breaths per minute
D) 65 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C) 45 breaths per minute
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for an infant (0-12 months) is 30-60 breaths
per minute. 45 breaths per minute falls within this range. 20 breaths per minute
is too low and would indicate bradypnea. 65 breaths per minute is above the
normal range and indicates tachypnea.
Question 2
A 4-year-old child has a heart rate of 115 beats per minute. This finding is best
described as:
A) Tachycardia
B) Bradycardia
C) Normal for age
D) Arrhythmic
Correct Answer: C) Normal for age
Rationale: Normal heart rate for a 4-year-old is 80-120 beats per minute. A rate
of 115 bpm is within normal limits. Tachycardia would be above 120 bpm.
Bradycardia would be below 80 bpm. Arrhythmia refers to an irregular rhythm,
not a rate.
,Question 3
The nurse is assessing blood pressure in an 8-year-old child. Which cuff size
selection is most appropriate?
A) Bladder width covering 20% of upper arm circumference
B) Bladder width covering 40% of upper arm circumference
C) Bladder width covering 60% of upper arm circumference
D) Bladder width covering 80% of upper arm circumference
Correct Answer: B) Bladder width covering 40% of upper arm circumference
Rationale: The appropriate blood pressure cuff should have a bladder width that
covers approximately 40% of the upper arm circumference and a bladder length
that covers 80-100% of the arm circumference. Using an incorrect cuff size
results in inaccurate readings; a cuff that is too small produces falsely elevated
readings.
Question 4
The nurse is assessing the temperature of a 3-week-old infant. Which method
provides the most accurate measurement of core temperature?
A) Axillary
B) Tympanic
C) Rectal
D) Temporal artery
Correct Answer: C) Rectal
Rationale: Rectal temperature measurement is considered the gold standard for
infants under 3 months due to its accuracy in reflecting core body temperature.
Axillary measurements are less accurate. Tympanic thermometers are not
recommended for infants under 3 months due to small ear canals. Temporal
artery thermometers have variable accuracy in this age group.
Question 5
A 7-year-old child has a blood pressure reading of 110/70 mmHg. This finding is:
A) Hypotensive
,B) Hypertensive
C) Normal
D) Prehypertensive
Correct Answer: C) Normal
Rationale: Normal blood pressure for a 7-year-old child varies by height, sex,
and age, but 110/70 mmHg is generally within normal limits. The 50th
percentile for systolic BP is approximately 100-110 mmHg. Hypertension would
be above the 95th percentile for age, sex, and height.
Question 6
An adolescent has a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute. This finding is:
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Normal
D) Apnea
Correct Answer: C) Normal
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for adolescents (12-18 years) is 12-20 breaths
per minute. 16 breaths per minute is within normal limits. Tachypnea would be
greater than 20 breaths per minute. Bradypnea would be less than 12 breaths
per minute.
Question 7
The nurse is assessing the heart rate of a 2-year-old child. The rate is 95 beats per
minute. This finding is:
A) Normal
B) Tachycardia
C) Bradycardia
D) Arrhythmic
Correct Answer: A) Normal
Rationale: Normal heart rate for a 2-year-old is 80-130 beats per minute. A rate
of 95 bpm is within normal limits. Tachycardia would be above 130 bpm.
Bradycardia would be below 80 bpm.
, Question 8
A 10-year-old child has a blood pressure reading of 128/84 mmHg. According to
pediatric hypertension guidelines, this finding is classified as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated (prehypertension)
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Correct Answer: C) Stage 1 hypertension
Rationale: A blood pressure of 128/84 mmHg is elevated for a 10-year-old and
would likely be classified as Stage 1 hypertension depending on the child's
height percentile. Normal blood pressure is below the 90th percentile. Elevated
is between the 90th and 95th percentile. Stage 1 hypertension is between the
95th and 99th percentile plus 5 mmHg.
Question 9
The nurse is assessing the respiratory rate of a 3-year-old child. The rate is 25
breaths per minute. This finding is:
A) Normal
B) Tachypnea
C) Bradypnea
D) Apnea
Correct Answer: A) Normal
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for a 3-year-old is 20-30 breaths per minute.
25 breaths per minute is within normal limits. Tachypnea would be above 30
breaths per minute. Bradypnea would be below 20 breaths per minute.
Question 10
A 6-year-old child has a heart rate of 55 beats per minute while sleeping. This
finding is:
A) Normal
B) Bradycardia
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Question 1
The nurse is assessing the respiratory rate of a 6-month-old infant. Which finding
would be considered within normal limits?
A) 20 breaths per minute
B) 30 breaths per minute
C) 45 breaths per minute
D) 65 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C) 45 breaths per minute
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for an infant (0-12 months) is 30-60 breaths
per minute. 45 breaths per minute falls within this range. 20 breaths per minute
is too low and would indicate bradypnea. 65 breaths per minute is above the
normal range and indicates tachypnea.
Question 2
A 4-year-old child has a heart rate of 115 beats per minute. This finding is best
described as:
A) Tachycardia
B) Bradycardia
C) Normal for age
D) Arrhythmic
Correct Answer: C) Normal for age
Rationale: Normal heart rate for a 4-year-old is 80-120 beats per minute. A rate
of 115 bpm is within normal limits. Tachycardia would be above 120 bpm.
Bradycardia would be below 80 bpm. Arrhythmia refers to an irregular rhythm,
not a rate.
,Question 3
The nurse is assessing blood pressure in an 8-year-old child. Which cuff size
selection is most appropriate?
A) Bladder width covering 20% of upper arm circumference
B) Bladder width covering 40% of upper arm circumference
C) Bladder width covering 60% of upper arm circumference
D) Bladder width covering 80% of upper arm circumference
Correct Answer: B) Bladder width covering 40% of upper arm circumference
Rationale: The appropriate blood pressure cuff should have a bladder width that
covers approximately 40% of the upper arm circumference and a bladder length
that covers 80-100% of the arm circumference. Using an incorrect cuff size
results in inaccurate readings; a cuff that is too small produces falsely elevated
readings.
Question 4
The nurse is assessing the temperature of a 3-week-old infant. Which method
provides the most accurate measurement of core temperature?
A) Axillary
B) Tympanic
C) Rectal
D) Temporal artery
Correct Answer: C) Rectal
Rationale: Rectal temperature measurement is considered the gold standard for
infants under 3 months due to its accuracy in reflecting core body temperature.
Axillary measurements are less accurate. Tympanic thermometers are not
recommended for infants under 3 months due to small ear canals. Temporal
artery thermometers have variable accuracy in this age group.
Question 5
A 7-year-old child has a blood pressure reading of 110/70 mmHg. This finding is:
A) Hypotensive
,B) Hypertensive
C) Normal
D) Prehypertensive
Correct Answer: C) Normal
Rationale: Normal blood pressure for a 7-year-old child varies by height, sex,
and age, but 110/70 mmHg is generally within normal limits. The 50th
percentile for systolic BP is approximately 100-110 mmHg. Hypertension would
be above the 95th percentile for age, sex, and height.
Question 6
An adolescent has a respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute. This finding is:
A) Tachypnea
B) Bradypnea
C) Normal
D) Apnea
Correct Answer: C) Normal
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for adolescents (12-18 years) is 12-20 breaths
per minute. 16 breaths per minute is within normal limits. Tachypnea would be
greater than 20 breaths per minute. Bradypnea would be less than 12 breaths
per minute.
Question 7
The nurse is assessing the heart rate of a 2-year-old child. The rate is 95 beats per
minute. This finding is:
A) Normal
B) Tachycardia
C) Bradycardia
D) Arrhythmic
Correct Answer: A) Normal
Rationale: Normal heart rate for a 2-year-old is 80-130 beats per minute. A rate
of 95 bpm is within normal limits. Tachycardia would be above 130 bpm.
Bradycardia would be below 80 bpm.
, Question 8
A 10-year-old child has a blood pressure reading of 128/84 mmHg. According to
pediatric hypertension guidelines, this finding is classified as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated (prehypertension)
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Correct Answer: C) Stage 1 hypertension
Rationale: A blood pressure of 128/84 mmHg is elevated for a 10-year-old and
would likely be classified as Stage 1 hypertension depending on the child's
height percentile. Normal blood pressure is below the 90th percentile. Elevated
is between the 90th and 95th percentile. Stage 1 hypertension is between the
95th and 99th percentile plus 5 mmHg.
Question 9
The nurse is assessing the respiratory rate of a 3-year-old child. The rate is 25
breaths per minute. This finding is:
A) Normal
B) Tachypnea
C) Bradypnea
D) Apnea
Correct Answer: A) Normal
Rationale: Normal respiratory rate for a 3-year-old is 20-30 breaths per minute.
25 breaths per minute is within normal limits. Tachypnea would be above 30
breaths per minute. Bradypnea would be below 20 breaths per minute.
Question 10
A 6-year-old child has a heart rate of 55 beats per minute while sleeping. This
finding is:
A) Normal
B) Bradycardia
