KAPLAN PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Growth and Development
Pediatric Assessment and Health Promotion
Care of the Hospitalized Child and Family
Pediatric Medication Administration and Safety
Management of Common Pediatric Health Alterations
Pediatric Emergencies and Critical Care
Ethical and Legal Issues in Pediatric Nursing
Psychosocial and Cultural Considerations in Pediatric Care
Introduction
The Kaplan Pediatric Nursing Exam is designed to evaluate
the comprehensive knowledge and clinical judgment required
for safe and effective nursing care of children and their
families. The examination assesses foundational pediatric
theory, growth and development principles, and applied
professional knowledge in diverse clinical scenarios. It
emphasizes regulatory and legal compliance, ethical decision-
making, and the application of evidence-based practice. The
,multiple-choice and scenario-based structure challenges
candidates to demonstrate critical thinking and real-world
problem-solving skills essential for promoting optimal health
outcomes in the pediatric population.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child
visit. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect the infant to have achieved?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from back to abdomen
C. Transferring objects from hand to hand
D. Pulling to a standing position
🟢 B. Rolling from back to abdomen
🔴 RATIONALE: Rolling from back to abdomen is a major
gross motor milestone typically achieved between 4 and 6
months of age. Sitting without support is usually achieved
by 8 months, transferring objects is a fine motor skill seen
around 7-9 months, and pulling to stand occurs around 9-12
months.
Question 2
,A 3-year-old child is admitted with severe dehydration due
to gastroenteritis. Which assessment finding is the most
reliable indicator of fluid volume deficit in this child?
A. Dry mucous membranes
B. Capillary refill time of 3 seconds
C. Heart rate of 140 beats per minute
D. Weight loss of 1 kg since admission
🟢 D. Weight loss of 1 kg since admission
🔴 RATIONALE: Acute weight loss is the most reliable
indicator of fluid volume deficit because it directly measures
fluid loss. While dry mucous membranes, delayed capillary
refill, and tachycardia are consistent with dehydration, they
are less specific and can be influenced by other factors.
Question 3
The parent of a 4-year-old child asks the nurse about the
child's increasing use of magical thinking. The nurse should
explain that this type of thinking is:
A. A sign of delayed cognitive development
B. A normal characteristic of preschool-aged children
C. An indication of an anxiety disorder
D. A precursor to logical operational thought
, 🟢 B. A normal characteristic of preschool-aged children
🔴 RATIONALE: Magical thinking, where a child believes
their thoughts can cause events, is a normal and expected
part of cognitive development in preschool-aged children
according to Piaget's preoperational stage. It is not a sign of
delay or disorder.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a 2-year-old
child with heart failure. The apical pulse is 88 beats per
minute. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Recheck the apical pulse in 30 minutes
C. Withhold the dose and notify the provider
D. Administer half the ordered dose
🟢 C. Withhold the dose and notify the provider
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must withhold digoxin if the
apical pulse is below a specific threshold. For a 2-year-old
child, the typical hold parameter is an apical pulse less than
90-110 beats per minute, depending on the facility protocol.
A pulse of 88 is bradycardic, and administering digoxin
could further slow the heart rate, leading to toxicity. The
priority is to hold the dose and notify the provider.
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Growth and Development
Pediatric Assessment and Health Promotion
Care of the Hospitalized Child and Family
Pediatric Medication Administration and Safety
Management of Common Pediatric Health Alterations
Pediatric Emergencies and Critical Care
Ethical and Legal Issues in Pediatric Nursing
Psychosocial and Cultural Considerations in Pediatric Care
Introduction
The Kaplan Pediatric Nursing Exam is designed to evaluate
the comprehensive knowledge and clinical judgment required
for safe and effective nursing care of children and their
families. The examination assesses foundational pediatric
theory, growth and development principles, and applied
professional knowledge in diverse clinical scenarios. It
emphasizes regulatory and legal compliance, ethical decision-
making, and the application of evidence-based practice. The
,multiple-choice and scenario-based structure challenges
candidates to demonstrate critical thinking and real-world
problem-solving skills essential for promoting optimal health
outcomes in the pediatric population.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child
visit. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect the infant to have achieved?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from back to abdomen
C. Transferring objects from hand to hand
D. Pulling to a standing position
🟢 B. Rolling from back to abdomen
🔴 RATIONALE: Rolling from back to abdomen is a major
gross motor milestone typically achieved between 4 and 6
months of age. Sitting without support is usually achieved
by 8 months, transferring objects is a fine motor skill seen
around 7-9 months, and pulling to stand occurs around 9-12
months.
Question 2
,A 3-year-old child is admitted with severe dehydration due
to gastroenteritis. Which assessment finding is the most
reliable indicator of fluid volume deficit in this child?
A. Dry mucous membranes
B. Capillary refill time of 3 seconds
C. Heart rate of 140 beats per minute
D. Weight loss of 1 kg since admission
🟢 D. Weight loss of 1 kg since admission
🔴 RATIONALE: Acute weight loss is the most reliable
indicator of fluid volume deficit because it directly measures
fluid loss. While dry mucous membranes, delayed capillary
refill, and tachycardia are consistent with dehydration, they
are less specific and can be influenced by other factors.
Question 3
The parent of a 4-year-old child asks the nurse about the
child's increasing use of magical thinking. The nurse should
explain that this type of thinking is:
A. A sign of delayed cognitive development
B. A normal characteristic of preschool-aged children
C. An indication of an anxiety disorder
D. A precursor to logical operational thought
, 🟢 B. A normal characteristic of preschool-aged children
🔴 RATIONALE: Magical thinking, where a child believes
their thoughts can cause events, is a normal and expected
part of cognitive development in preschool-aged children
according to Piaget's preoperational stage. It is not a sign of
delay or disorder.
Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin to a 2-year-old
child with heart failure. The apical pulse is 88 beats per
minute. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Administer the medication as ordered
B. Recheck the apical pulse in 30 minutes
C. Withhold the dose and notify the provider
D. Administer half the ordered dose
🟢 C. Withhold the dose and notify the provider
🔴 RATIONALE: The nurse must withhold digoxin if the
apical pulse is below a specific threshold. For a 2-year-old
child, the typical hold parameter is an apical pulse less than
90-110 beats per minute, depending on the facility protocol.
A pulse of 88 is bradycardic, and administering digoxin
could further slow the heart rate, leading to toxicity. The
priority is to hold the dose and notify the provider.
