ATI Pediatrics Nursing Exam 2026–2027 |
Comprehensive Practice Questions with
Detailed Answer Rationales | Complete
Pediatric Nursing Study Guide
Which would be the priority intervention for a child suspected of having varicella (chickenpox)?
1. Contact Precautions
2. Contact and Droplet Respiratory Precautions?
3. Droplet respiratory precautions?
4. Universal Precautions and standard precautions. - Correct Answer - 2. Varicella (Chickenpox) is highly
contagious. Contact & Droplet respiratory precautions should be started immediately because the
primary source of transmission is secretions of the respiratory tract (droplet) and also by
contaminated objects.
Caladryl - Correct Answer - A lotion containing diphenhydramine. Should not be applied if child has
already been given benadryl (diphenhydramine) because it can cause toxicity.
Which s&s would the nurse expect with rheumatic fever?
1. Ankle and Knee Joint Pain.
2. Negative group A beta strep culture.
3. Large, red "bulls eye" - appearing rash.
pg. 1
,4. stiff neck with photophobia. - Correct Answer - Ankle and knee joint pain.
The parents of a 12-month old with HIV are concerned about him receiving routine immunizations. What
will the nurse tell them about immunizations? –
Correct Answer - "You are concerned about your child receiving immunizations. Let me explain why your
child will NOT receive routine immunizations today"
The nurse acknowledges a client's fears and then discusses the concerns to clarify any misconceptions.
Immunizations and influenza vaccine are recommended to prevent infection. Immunocompromised
HIVinfected children should not receive MMR and varicella live vaccines.
Nursing Assessment suspects the newborn has cystic fibrosis. Which interventions would the nurse
begin.
1. Observe frequency and nature of stools.
2. Provide Chest PT
3. Observe for weight gain.
4. Assess parent's compliance with fluid restrictions.
5. Assess respiratory system frequently. - Correct Answer - 1 & 3
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited autsomal trait, causing exocrien gland dysfunction. 7-10% present
meconium ileus, so assessing stool frequency and consistency is important.
Assessing weight is important in newborns because they lose up to 10% of their birth weight, and can
take 2 weeks for them to regain their birth weight.
Assessing the newborn's respiratory system frequently would be monitored as frequently as other
infants if the newborn has no respiratory symptoms. Chest PT would not be initiated in a newborn
without a definitive diagnosis.
Can a mother breastfeed their infant if they have PKU? - Correct Answer - Yes. Breast milk has low
amounts of phenylalanine, so the mother can breast as long as the infants phenylalanine level is
monitored.
Vaccines given routinely at 15 months. - Correct Answer - Hib & DTaP
Which priority intervention for the newborn of a mother positive for hepatitis antigen? - Correct Answer
- The newborn should receive both hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin within 12 hours
of birth to prevent hepatitis B infection.
pg. 2
,signs of intussusception - Correct Answer - bloody stools or "currant jelly stools", diarrhea, Large
palpable sausage shaped mass in the abdomen, abdominal distention, grunting, dehydration Fever, and
pain (legs pulled towards abdomen)!
Flat Ribbon Stools indicate - Correct Answer - Hirschsprung Disease
Treatment for Intussusception - Correct Answer - Barium or air enema
Nursing Care for Intussusception - Correct Answer - Document I & O
Monitor for peritonitis & perforation
Monitor and record stools
Biggest complications of Intussusception - Correct Answer - Peritonitis and Perforation
Risk factors for intussusception - Correct Answer - Cystic Fibrosis
Ages 3 months to 3 years old.
Complication of Mal-Rotation & Valvolus - Correct Answer - Pain related to rotation of intestines around
the mesenteric artery can cut off circulation, leading to potential septic intestinal necrosis.
Which pediatric GI disorder presents with green bilious vomiting? - Correct Answer - Mal-Rotation and
Valvolus
GI disorders that present with bloody stools? - Correct Answer - Mal-Rotation/Valvolus &
Intussusception.
Obstructive GI disorders where a palpated sausage shaped mass is felt on the abdomen. - Correct
Answer - Mal-Rotation and Valvolus. Symptoms for these disorders are similar but Mal-Rotation requires
surgical intervention.
pg. 3
, Preoperative care for Mal-Rotation/Valvolus - Correct Answer - Hydration, IV antibiotics, NG tube.
Post-Operative Care for Intussusception - Correct Answer - Bowel sounds should return in four hours,
progressive diet, hydration.
Priority nursing diagnosis for intussusception - Correct Answer - Acute Pain!
Which response about safety measures is the most appropriate advice for the 2 year old's mother who
had her older home remodeled to reduce the lead level? Select all that apply.
1. Wash & dry the child's hands and face before he eats.
2. it is best to use cold water to prepate the child's food to decrease lead level.
3. diet does not matter in reduce lead levels in the child.
4. Drinking two cups of milk per day helps decrease lead levels. - Correct Answer - 1 & 3. Washing and
drying hands and face especially before eating, decreases lead ingestion. Hot water absorbs more
lead readily than hot water. Diet does matter; regular meals, adequate iron and calcium, and less fat
help the child absorb less lead. Drinking 2 cups of milk per day is important for children but does not
help decrease lead level.
Which would the nurse explain to parents about the inheritance of cystic fibrosis?
1. The child of parents who are both carriers of the gene for CF has a 50% chance of acquiring CF.
2. The child of a mother who has CF and a father who is a carrier of the gene for CF has a 50% chance of
acquiring CF. - Correct Answer - 2. If the child is born to a parent with CF and the other is a carrier, the
child has a 50% chance of acquiring the disease and 50% chance of being a carrier of the disease.
Number 1. is wrong. If a child is born to a parents who are both carriers of the CF gene, the child has a
25% chance of acquiring the disease and a 50% chance of being a carrier of the disease.
A 2 year old has just been diagnosed with CF. The parents ask the nurse what early respiratory
symptoms they should expect to see in their child. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. Barrel shaped chest
2. Chronic productive cough
3. bronchiectasis
pg. 4
Comprehensive Practice Questions with
Detailed Answer Rationales | Complete
Pediatric Nursing Study Guide
Which would be the priority intervention for a child suspected of having varicella (chickenpox)?
1. Contact Precautions
2. Contact and Droplet Respiratory Precautions?
3. Droplet respiratory precautions?
4. Universal Precautions and standard precautions. - Correct Answer - 2. Varicella (Chickenpox) is highly
contagious. Contact & Droplet respiratory precautions should be started immediately because the
primary source of transmission is secretions of the respiratory tract (droplet) and also by
contaminated objects.
Caladryl - Correct Answer - A lotion containing diphenhydramine. Should not be applied if child has
already been given benadryl (diphenhydramine) because it can cause toxicity.
Which s&s would the nurse expect with rheumatic fever?
1. Ankle and Knee Joint Pain.
2. Negative group A beta strep culture.
3. Large, red "bulls eye" - appearing rash.
pg. 1
,4. stiff neck with photophobia. - Correct Answer - Ankle and knee joint pain.
The parents of a 12-month old with HIV are concerned about him receiving routine immunizations. What
will the nurse tell them about immunizations? –
Correct Answer - "You are concerned about your child receiving immunizations. Let me explain why your
child will NOT receive routine immunizations today"
The nurse acknowledges a client's fears and then discusses the concerns to clarify any misconceptions.
Immunizations and influenza vaccine are recommended to prevent infection. Immunocompromised
HIVinfected children should not receive MMR and varicella live vaccines.
Nursing Assessment suspects the newborn has cystic fibrosis. Which interventions would the nurse
begin.
1. Observe frequency and nature of stools.
2. Provide Chest PT
3. Observe for weight gain.
4. Assess parent's compliance with fluid restrictions.
5. Assess respiratory system frequently. - Correct Answer - 1 & 3
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited autsomal trait, causing exocrien gland dysfunction. 7-10% present
meconium ileus, so assessing stool frequency and consistency is important.
Assessing weight is important in newborns because they lose up to 10% of their birth weight, and can
take 2 weeks for them to regain their birth weight.
Assessing the newborn's respiratory system frequently would be monitored as frequently as other
infants if the newborn has no respiratory symptoms. Chest PT would not be initiated in a newborn
without a definitive diagnosis.
Can a mother breastfeed their infant if they have PKU? - Correct Answer - Yes. Breast milk has low
amounts of phenylalanine, so the mother can breast as long as the infants phenylalanine level is
monitored.
Vaccines given routinely at 15 months. - Correct Answer - Hib & DTaP
Which priority intervention for the newborn of a mother positive for hepatitis antigen? - Correct Answer
- The newborn should receive both hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin within 12 hours
of birth to prevent hepatitis B infection.
pg. 2
,signs of intussusception - Correct Answer - bloody stools or "currant jelly stools", diarrhea, Large
palpable sausage shaped mass in the abdomen, abdominal distention, grunting, dehydration Fever, and
pain (legs pulled towards abdomen)!
Flat Ribbon Stools indicate - Correct Answer - Hirschsprung Disease
Treatment for Intussusception - Correct Answer - Barium or air enema
Nursing Care for Intussusception - Correct Answer - Document I & O
Monitor for peritonitis & perforation
Monitor and record stools
Biggest complications of Intussusception - Correct Answer - Peritonitis and Perforation
Risk factors for intussusception - Correct Answer - Cystic Fibrosis
Ages 3 months to 3 years old.
Complication of Mal-Rotation & Valvolus - Correct Answer - Pain related to rotation of intestines around
the mesenteric artery can cut off circulation, leading to potential septic intestinal necrosis.
Which pediatric GI disorder presents with green bilious vomiting? - Correct Answer - Mal-Rotation and
Valvolus
GI disorders that present with bloody stools? - Correct Answer - Mal-Rotation/Valvolus &
Intussusception.
Obstructive GI disorders where a palpated sausage shaped mass is felt on the abdomen. - Correct
Answer - Mal-Rotation and Valvolus. Symptoms for these disorders are similar but Mal-Rotation requires
surgical intervention.
pg. 3
, Preoperative care for Mal-Rotation/Valvolus - Correct Answer - Hydration, IV antibiotics, NG tube.
Post-Operative Care for Intussusception - Correct Answer - Bowel sounds should return in four hours,
progressive diet, hydration.
Priority nursing diagnosis for intussusception - Correct Answer - Acute Pain!
Which response about safety measures is the most appropriate advice for the 2 year old's mother who
had her older home remodeled to reduce the lead level? Select all that apply.
1. Wash & dry the child's hands and face before he eats.
2. it is best to use cold water to prepate the child's food to decrease lead level.
3. diet does not matter in reduce lead levels in the child.
4. Drinking two cups of milk per day helps decrease lead levels. - Correct Answer - 1 & 3. Washing and
drying hands and face especially before eating, decreases lead ingestion. Hot water absorbs more
lead readily than hot water. Diet does matter; regular meals, adequate iron and calcium, and less fat
help the child absorb less lead. Drinking 2 cups of milk per day is important for children but does not
help decrease lead level.
Which would the nurse explain to parents about the inheritance of cystic fibrosis?
1. The child of parents who are both carriers of the gene for CF has a 50% chance of acquiring CF.
2. The child of a mother who has CF and a father who is a carrier of the gene for CF has a 50% chance of
acquiring CF. - Correct Answer - 2. If the child is born to a parent with CF and the other is a carrier, the
child has a 50% chance of acquiring the disease and 50% chance of being a carrier of the disease.
Number 1. is wrong. If a child is born to a parents who are both carriers of the CF gene, the child has a
25% chance of acquiring the disease and a 50% chance of being a carrier of the disease.
A 2 year old has just been diagnosed with CF. The parents ask the nurse what early respiratory
symptoms they should expect to see in their child. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. Barrel shaped chest
2. Chronic productive cough
3. bronchiectasis
pg. 4
