PEDS EXAM 3
2026 | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Pediatric Nursing Exam Study Guide
Resource Features
➢ Practice questions and answers
➢ Detailed rationales
➢ Pediatric clinical scenarios
➢ NCLEX-style questions
➢ Clinical judgment practice
➢ Pediatric assessment review
➢ Exam-focused preparation
, Peds Exam 3 2026 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Pediatric
Nursing Exam Study Guide
Question 1:
A nurse is taking care of four different pediatric clients. Which client poses
the greatest risk for dehydration?
1. A 15-year-old working out in a weight room for an hour before football
practice
2. A 10-year-old playing baseball outdoors in 85-degree heat
3. A 5-year-old refusing to eat because of a virus
4. A newborn under a radiant warmer for an hour after the first bath
Answer: 4
Rationale: Newborns are at the highest risk for dehydration due to their
larger body surface area relative to weight, higher metabolic rate, and
immature kidney function. Additionally, radiant warmers increase insensible
water loss. The 10-year-old in 85-degree heat is at risk but not as high as a
newborn. The 15-year-old and 5-year-old have relatively lower risks
compared to the newborn.
Question 2:
The nurse is assessing an infant brought to the clinic with diarrhea. The
,infant is alert but has dry mucous membranes. Which other sign indicates
the infant is still in the early or mild stage of dehydration?
1. Tachycardia
2. Bradycardia
3. Increased blood pressure
4. Decreased blood pressure
Answer: 1
Rationale: In mild to moderate dehydration, tachycardia is an early
compensatory response to decreased circulating volume. The heart rate
increases to maintain cardiac output. Bradycardia, decreased blood
pressure, and increased blood pressure are not characteristic early signs of
dehydration. Decreased blood pressure is a late sign indicating severe
dehydration and impending shock.
Question 3:
A 1-month-old client is admitted to the emergency room with severe
diarrhea. Which assessment suggests the client is severely dehydrated?
1. Skin moist and flushed; mucous membranes dry
2. Low specific gravity of urine; skin color pale
3. Fontanels depressed; capillary refill greater than three seconds
4. High specific gravity of urine; moist mucous membranes
Answer: 3
, Rationale: Depressed fontanels and capillary refill greater than three
seconds are signs of severe dehydration in an infant. Other signs of severe
dehydration include sunken eyes, lack of tears, oliguria, tachycardia,
hypotension, and lethargy. Low specific gravity is not consistent with
dehydration; high specific gravity would be expected. Moist skin and
mucous membranes would not be seen in dehydration.
Question 4:
The nurse is expecting the admission of a child with severe isotonic
dehydration. Which intravenous fluid should the nurse anticipate the
practitioner to order initially to replace fluids?
1. D5W
2. 0.9 percent Normal Saline (NS)
3. Albumin
4. D5 0.2 percent (1/4) Normal Saline
Answer: 2
Rationale: In isotonic dehydration, 0.9% Normal Saline is the initial fluid of
choice for resuscitation because it is isotonic and helps restore
intravascular volume. D5W is hypotonic and can cause fluid shifts. Albumin
is a colloid and not typically first-line for simple dehydration. D5 0.2% NS is
hypotonic and not appropriate for initial resuscitation.
Question 5:
Parents of an infant with slow weight gain ask the nurse if they can feed
2026 | Practice Questions, Answers & Detailed
Rationales | Pediatric Nursing Exam Study Guide
Resource Features
➢ Practice questions and answers
➢ Detailed rationales
➢ Pediatric clinical scenarios
➢ NCLEX-style questions
➢ Clinical judgment practice
➢ Pediatric assessment review
➢ Exam-focused preparation
, Peds Exam 3 2026 | Practice Questions,
Answers & Detailed Rationales | Pediatric
Nursing Exam Study Guide
Question 1:
A nurse is taking care of four different pediatric clients. Which client poses
the greatest risk for dehydration?
1. A 15-year-old working out in a weight room for an hour before football
practice
2. A 10-year-old playing baseball outdoors in 85-degree heat
3. A 5-year-old refusing to eat because of a virus
4. A newborn under a radiant warmer for an hour after the first bath
Answer: 4
Rationale: Newborns are at the highest risk for dehydration due to their
larger body surface area relative to weight, higher metabolic rate, and
immature kidney function. Additionally, radiant warmers increase insensible
water loss. The 10-year-old in 85-degree heat is at risk but not as high as a
newborn. The 15-year-old and 5-year-old have relatively lower risks
compared to the newborn.
Question 2:
The nurse is assessing an infant brought to the clinic with diarrhea. The
,infant is alert but has dry mucous membranes. Which other sign indicates
the infant is still in the early or mild stage of dehydration?
1. Tachycardia
2. Bradycardia
3. Increased blood pressure
4. Decreased blood pressure
Answer: 1
Rationale: In mild to moderate dehydration, tachycardia is an early
compensatory response to decreased circulating volume. The heart rate
increases to maintain cardiac output. Bradycardia, decreased blood
pressure, and increased blood pressure are not characteristic early signs of
dehydration. Decreased blood pressure is a late sign indicating severe
dehydration and impending shock.
Question 3:
A 1-month-old client is admitted to the emergency room with severe
diarrhea. Which assessment suggests the client is severely dehydrated?
1. Skin moist and flushed; mucous membranes dry
2. Low specific gravity of urine; skin color pale
3. Fontanels depressed; capillary refill greater than three seconds
4. High specific gravity of urine; moist mucous membranes
Answer: 3
, Rationale: Depressed fontanels and capillary refill greater than three
seconds are signs of severe dehydration in an infant. Other signs of severe
dehydration include sunken eyes, lack of tears, oliguria, tachycardia,
hypotension, and lethargy. Low specific gravity is not consistent with
dehydration; high specific gravity would be expected. Moist skin and
mucous membranes would not be seen in dehydration.
Question 4:
The nurse is expecting the admission of a child with severe isotonic
dehydration. Which intravenous fluid should the nurse anticipate the
practitioner to order initially to replace fluids?
1. D5W
2. 0.9 percent Normal Saline (NS)
3. Albumin
4. D5 0.2 percent (1/4) Normal Saline
Answer: 2
Rationale: In isotonic dehydration, 0.9% Normal Saline is the initial fluid of
choice for resuscitation because it is isotonic and helps restore
intravascular volume. D5W is hypotonic and can cause fluid shifts. Albumin
is a colloid and not typically first-line for simple dehydration. D5 0.2% NS is
hypotonic and not appropriate for initial resuscitation.
Question 5:
Parents of an infant with slow weight gain ask the nurse if they can feed
