Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course
(ENPC) Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2027 Q&A | Instant
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1. A 2-year-old child presents to the emergency department with severe
respiratory distress, nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, and altered
mental status. Which finding requires the most immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 48/min
B. Mild expiratory wheezing
C. Altered level of consciousness
D. Oxygen saturation of 91%
Answer: C. Altered level of consciousness
Rationale: Altered mental status in a child with respiratory distress is a late
and ominous sign of inadequate oxygenation and ventilation. Immediate
airway and breathing interventions take priority.
,2. During the initial assessment of an injured child, which approach is most
appropriate?
A. Obtain a complete medical history before assessing the airway
B. Perform a rapid primary assessment to identify life threats
C. Obtain a detailed pain history before examining the child
D. Complete a full neurologic examination before checking circulation
Answer: B. Perform a rapid primary assessment to identify life threats
Rationale: The primary assessment rapidly identifies and treats immediate
threats to airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and
exposure/environmental concerns.
3. A 5-year-old child has a barking cough and inspiratory stridor at rest.
Which condition is most likely?
A. Bronchiolitis
B. Croup
C. Asthma
D. Pneumonia
Answer: B. Croup
Rationale: Croup commonly causes a barking cough, hoarseness, and
inspiratory stridor because of upper-airway inflammation and narrowing.
,4. Which intervention is most appropriate for a child with severe croup
and stridor at rest?
A. Force the child to lie supine
B. Agitate the child to obtain a complete examination
C. Keep the child calm and administer appropriate nebulized therapy
D. Insert an oral airway immediately
Answer: C. Keep the child calm and administer appropriate nebulized
therapy
Rationale: Agitation can worsen upper-airway obstruction. Keeping the
child calm and administering therapies such as nebulized epinephrine
when indicated can improve airway obstruction.
5. A 7-year-old child with asthma is increasingly fatigued and has very
diminished breath sounds bilaterally. What does this finding suggest?
A. Improvement in bronchospasm
B. Mild asthma
C. Impending respiratory failure
D. Anxiety-related hyperventilation
Answer: C. Impending respiratory failure
, Rationale: A child with severe asthma who becomes fatigued and develops
markedly diminished air movement may be experiencing impending
respiratory failure. A “quiet chest” can be a particularly concerning sign.
6. Which assessment finding is most concerning in a child with respiratory
distress?
A. Tachypnea
B. Nasal flaring
C. Intercostal retractions
D. Bradycardia
Answer: D. Bradycardia
Rationale: Bradycardia in a critically ill child is often a late sign of severe
hypoxia and impending cardiovascular collapse.
7. A child has a suspected foreign body airway obstruction and is coughing
forcefully. What should the nurse do?
A. Immediately perform abdominal thrusts
B. Encourage the child to continue coughing
C. Perform a blind finger sweep
D. Give the child water
Answer: B. Encourage the child to continue coughing
(ENPC) Exam Practice Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2027 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. A 2-year-old child presents to the emergency department with severe
respiratory distress, nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, and altered
mental status. Which finding requires the most immediate intervention?
A. Respiratory rate of 48/min
B. Mild expiratory wheezing
C. Altered level of consciousness
D. Oxygen saturation of 91%
Answer: C. Altered level of consciousness
Rationale: Altered mental status in a child with respiratory distress is a late
and ominous sign of inadequate oxygenation and ventilation. Immediate
airway and breathing interventions take priority.
,2. During the initial assessment of an injured child, which approach is most
appropriate?
A. Obtain a complete medical history before assessing the airway
B. Perform a rapid primary assessment to identify life threats
C. Obtain a detailed pain history before examining the child
D. Complete a full neurologic examination before checking circulation
Answer: B. Perform a rapid primary assessment to identify life threats
Rationale: The primary assessment rapidly identifies and treats immediate
threats to airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and
exposure/environmental concerns.
3. A 5-year-old child has a barking cough and inspiratory stridor at rest.
Which condition is most likely?
A. Bronchiolitis
B. Croup
C. Asthma
D. Pneumonia
Answer: B. Croup
Rationale: Croup commonly causes a barking cough, hoarseness, and
inspiratory stridor because of upper-airway inflammation and narrowing.
,4. Which intervention is most appropriate for a child with severe croup
and stridor at rest?
A. Force the child to lie supine
B. Agitate the child to obtain a complete examination
C. Keep the child calm and administer appropriate nebulized therapy
D. Insert an oral airway immediately
Answer: C. Keep the child calm and administer appropriate nebulized
therapy
Rationale: Agitation can worsen upper-airway obstruction. Keeping the
child calm and administering therapies such as nebulized epinephrine
when indicated can improve airway obstruction.
5. A 7-year-old child with asthma is increasingly fatigued and has very
diminished breath sounds bilaterally. What does this finding suggest?
A. Improvement in bronchospasm
B. Mild asthma
C. Impending respiratory failure
D. Anxiety-related hyperventilation
Answer: C. Impending respiratory failure
, Rationale: A child with severe asthma who becomes fatigued and develops
markedly diminished air movement may be experiencing impending
respiratory failure. A “quiet chest” can be a particularly concerning sign.
6. Which assessment finding is most concerning in a child with respiratory
distress?
A. Tachypnea
B. Nasal flaring
C. Intercostal retractions
D. Bradycardia
Answer: D. Bradycardia
Rationale: Bradycardia in a critically ill child is often a late sign of severe
hypoxia and impending cardiovascular collapse.
7. A child has a suspected foreign body airway obstruction and is coughing
forcefully. What should the nurse do?
A. Immediately perform abdominal thrusts
B. Encourage the child to continue coughing
C. Perform a blind finger sweep
D. Give the child water
Answer: B. Encourage the child to continue coughing
