,NUR 254 EXAM 4 Maternal & Pediatric Nursing Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which finding is most consistent with anemia in a child?
A) Fatigue and pallor
B) Hypertension and edema
C) Excessive urine output
D) Increased muscle strength
Correct Answer: A) Fatigue and pallor
Rationale: Anemia decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood,
commonly producing fatigue, pallor, weakness, and decreased activity
tolerance.
Q2. Which laboratory finding most directly supports a diagnosis of
anemia?
A) Increased platelet count
B) Decreased hemoglobin
C) Increased sodium
D) Decreased bilirubin
Correct Answer: B) Decreased hemoglobin
Rationale: Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in red blood
cells. A decreased hemoglobin concentration indicates reduced oxygen-
carrying capacity.
Q3. Why can iron-deficiency anemia cause fatigue?
A) Iron directly controls muscle contraction
B) Low iron prevents adequate oxygen transport when hemoglobin
production is impaired
C) Iron deficiency causes excess circulating oxygen
D) Iron increases platelet destruction
Correct Answer: B) Low iron prevents adequate oxygen transport when
hemoglobin production is impaired
Rationale: Iron is required for hemoglobin synthesis. Deficiency can reduce
hemoglobin production and therefore decrease oxygen delivery to tissues.
Q4. Which instruction is appropriate when administering oral iron to
a child?
,A) Give it with milk to improve absorption
B) Give it with a source of vitamin C when appropriate
C) Stop the medication if stools become dark
D) Mix it with a high-calcium meal
Correct Answer: B) Give it with a source of vitamin C when appropriate
Rationale: Vitamin C enhances iron absorption, while calcium can interfere
with absorption. Dark stools are a common expected effect of oral iron.
Q5. A child taking oral iron develops dark stools. What should the
nurse explain?
A) This always indicates gastrointestinal bleeding
B) This is an expected effect of iron therapy
C) The medication is causing renal failure
D) The child has developed hemophilia
Correct Answer: B) This is an expected effect of iron therapy
Rationale: Oral iron commonly darkens stool. The finding alone does not
indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.
Q6. Which nutritional choice is most appropriate for increasing
dietary iron?
A) Lean meat
B) Candy
C) Clear soda
D) Ice water
Correct Answer: A) Lean meat
Rationale: Meat provides highly bioavailable heme iron, which can help
improve dietary iron intake.
Q7. Sickle cell disease results from an abnormality involving:
A) Platelet production
B) Hemoglobin
C) Plasma sodium
D) White blood cell antibodies only
Correct Answer: B) Hemoglobin
, Rationale: Sickle cell disease results from an inherited abnormal
hemoglobin that can cause red blood cells to become rigid and sickle under
certain conditions.
Q8. Which factor can precipitate a sickle cell crisis?
A) Adequate hydration
B) Dehydration
C) Regular rest
D) Mild stretching
Correct Answer: B) Dehydration
Rationale: Dehydration promotes sickling and vaso-occlusion. Other
triggers include infection, hypoxia, cold exposure, and physiologic stress.
Q9. What is the priority intervention for a child experiencing a vaso-
occlusive sickle cell crisis?
A) Encourage hydration and provide prescribed pain management
B) Restrict all fluids
C) Encourage strenuous exercise
D) Delay analgesia until the pain resolves
Correct Answer: A) Encourage hydration and provide prescribed pain
management
Rationale: Hydration helps reduce blood viscosity and support circulation,
while timely pain management addresses the severe pain caused by vaso-
occlusion.
Q10. Which finding is particularly concerning during a sickle cell
crisis?
A) Mild hunger
B) New neurologic deficits
C) Increased appetite
D) Clear urine
Correct Answer: B) New neurologic deficits
Rationale: Sickle cell disease can cause cerebrovascular complications.
Sudden weakness, speech changes, seizures, or other neurologic deficits
require urgent evaluation.
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which finding is most consistent with anemia in a child?
A) Fatigue and pallor
B) Hypertension and edema
C) Excessive urine output
D) Increased muscle strength
Correct Answer: A) Fatigue and pallor
Rationale: Anemia decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood,
commonly producing fatigue, pallor, weakness, and decreased activity
tolerance.
Q2. Which laboratory finding most directly supports a diagnosis of
anemia?
A) Increased platelet count
B) Decreased hemoglobin
C) Increased sodium
D) Decreased bilirubin
Correct Answer: B) Decreased hemoglobin
Rationale: Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen in red blood
cells. A decreased hemoglobin concentration indicates reduced oxygen-
carrying capacity.
Q3. Why can iron-deficiency anemia cause fatigue?
A) Iron directly controls muscle contraction
B) Low iron prevents adequate oxygen transport when hemoglobin
production is impaired
C) Iron deficiency causes excess circulating oxygen
D) Iron increases platelet destruction
Correct Answer: B) Low iron prevents adequate oxygen transport when
hemoglobin production is impaired
Rationale: Iron is required for hemoglobin synthesis. Deficiency can reduce
hemoglobin production and therefore decrease oxygen delivery to tissues.
Q4. Which instruction is appropriate when administering oral iron to
a child?
,A) Give it with milk to improve absorption
B) Give it with a source of vitamin C when appropriate
C) Stop the medication if stools become dark
D) Mix it with a high-calcium meal
Correct Answer: B) Give it with a source of vitamin C when appropriate
Rationale: Vitamin C enhances iron absorption, while calcium can interfere
with absorption. Dark stools are a common expected effect of oral iron.
Q5. A child taking oral iron develops dark stools. What should the
nurse explain?
A) This always indicates gastrointestinal bleeding
B) This is an expected effect of iron therapy
C) The medication is causing renal failure
D) The child has developed hemophilia
Correct Answer: B) This is an expected effect of iron therapy
Rationale: Oral iron commonly darkens stool. The finding alone does not
indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.
Q6. Which nutritional choice is most appropriate for increasing
dietary iron?
A) Lean meat
B) Candy
C) Clear soda
D) Ice water
Correct Answer: A) Lean meat
Rationale: Meat provides highly bioavailable heme iron, which can help
improve dietary iron intake.
Q7. Sickle cell disease results from an abnormality involving:
A) Platelet production
B) Hemoglobin
C) Plasma sodium
D) White blood cell antibodies only
Correct Answer: B) Hemoglobin
, Rationale: Sickle cell disease results from an inherited abnormal
hemoglobin that can cause red blood cells to become rigid and sickle under
certain conditions.
Q8. Which factor can precipitate a sickle cell crisis?
A) Adequate hydration
B) Dehydration
C) Regular rest
D) Mild stretching
Correct Answer: B) Dehydration
Rationale: Dehydration promotes sickling and vaso-occlusion. Other
triggers include infection, hypoxia, cold exposure, and physiologic stress.
Q9. What is the priority intervention for a child experiencing a vaso-
occlusive sickle cell crisis?
A) Encourage hydration and provide prescribed pain management
B) Restrict all fluids
C) Encourage strenuous exercise
D) Delay analgesia until the pain resolves
Correct Answer: A) Encourage hydration and provide prescribed pain
management
Rationale: Hydration helps reduce blood viscosity and support circulation,
while timely pain management addresses the severe pain caused by vaso-
occlusion.
Q10. Which finding is particularly concerning during a sickle cell
crisis?
A) Mild hunger
B) New neurologic deficits
C) Increased appetite
D) Clear urine
Correct Answer: B) New neurologic deficits
Rationale: Sickle cell disease can cause cerebrovascular complications.
Sudden weakness, speech changes, seizures, or other neurologic deficits
require urgent evaluation.
