Pediatric Respiratory Test Questions and
Correct Answers with Rationale
Question 1
The parent of a child with frequent ear infections asks the nurse if there is anything
that can be done to help avoid future ear infections. Which is the nurse's best
response?
2. "Your child should be kept away from tobacco smoke."
3. "Your child should be kept away from other children with otitis media."
4. "Your child should always wear a hat when outside."
Correct Answer
ANS 2
1. Singulair is an allergy medication, but it has not been proven to help reduce the
number of ear infections in children.
2. Tobacco smoke has been proved to increase the incidence of ear infections. The
tobacco smoke damages mucociliary function, prolonging the inflammatory process
and impeding drainage through the eustachian tube.
3. Otitis media is not transmitted from one child to another. Otitis is often preceded
by a URI, so children who are around other children with URIs may contract one,
increasing their chances of developing an ear infection.
4. Wearing a hat outside will have no impact on whether a child contracts an ear
infection.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answer 3 by understanding that
otitis media is not a contagious disease process. Answer 4 can be eliminated if the
test taker understands that otitis media is not caused by exposing the child to cold
air.
Page 1 of 61
,Question 2
A school-age child has been diagnosed with strep throat. The parent asks the nurse
when the child can return to school. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "Forty-eight hours after the first documented normal temperature."
2. "Twenty-four hours after the first dose of antibiotics."
3. "Forty-eight hours after the first dose of antibiotics."
4. "Twenty-four hours after the first documented normal temperature."
Correct Answer
ANS 2
1. School systems require that children remain home for 24 hours after having a
documented fever. However, in this question the child has been diagnosed with
strep throat. Even if the child is fever-free, the child must have completed a 24-hour
course of antibiotics before returning to school. Children with strep throat are no
longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy.
2. Children with strep throat are no longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of
antibiotic therapy.
3. Children with strep throat are no longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of
antibiotic therapy.
4. School systems require that children remain home for 24 hours after having a
documented fever. However, in this question the child has been diagnosed with
strep throat. Even if the child is fever-free, the child must have completed a 24-hour
course of antibiotics before returning to school. Children with strep throat are no
longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answers 1 and 4 given knowledge
of the communicability of strep throat.
Page 2 of 61
,Question 3
The parents of a 6-year-old who has a new diagnosis of asthma ask the nurse what to
do to make their home a more allergy-free environment. Which is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Use a humidifier in your child's room."
2. "Have your carpet cleaned chemically once a month."
3. "Wash household pets weekly."
4. "Avoid purchasing upholstered furniture."
Correct Answer
ANS 4
1. It is better to maintain 30% to 50% humidity in homes of asthmatic children.
However, humidifiers are not recommended because they can harbor mold as a
result of lack of proper cleaning.
2. Chemical cleaning is not recommended because the chemicals used can be a
trigger and actually cause the child to have an asthma attack. The best
recommendation is to remove all carpet from the house, if possible.
3. Household pets are not recommended for children with asthma.
4. Leather furniture is recommended rather than upholstered furniture. Upholstered
furniture can harbor large amounts of dust, whereas leather furniture may be wiped
off regularly with a damp cloth.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answer 3 because there is no
known way to make a pet allergy-free. Household pets are discouraged for all
children with asthma or severe allergies. Answer 2 can be eliminated if the test taker
understands that chemical agents are triggers to asthma for many children.
Page 3 of 61
, Question 4
A child is complaining of throat pain. Which statement by the mother indicates that
she needs more education regarding the care and treatment of her daughter's
pharyngitis?
1. "I will have my daughter gargle with salt water three times a day."
2. "I will offer my daughter ice chips several times a day."
3. "I will give my daughter Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours as needed." 4. "I will ask the
nurse practitioner for some amoxicillin.
Correct Answer
ANS 4
1. Gargling with warm salt water is a recommended treatment to relieve some of the
discomfort associated with pharyngitis.
2. Encouraging ice chips is a recommended treatment to relieve some of the
discomfort associated with pharyngitis.
3. Tylenol is a suggested treatment for relief of discomfort related to pharyngitis
4. Pharyngitis is a self-limiting viral illness that does not require antibiotic therapy.
Pharyngitis should be treated with rest and comfort measures, including Tylenol,
throat sprays, cold liquids, and Popsicles.
TEST-TAKING HINT: Answers 1, 2, and 3 are comfort measures. The question
requires that the student have knowledge regarding pharyngitis.
Page 4 of 61
Correct Answers with Rationale
Question 1
The parent of a child with frequent ear infections asks the nurse if there is anything
that can be done to help avoid future ear infections. Which is the nurse's best
response?
2. "Your child should be kept away from tobacco smoke."
3. "Your child should be kept away from other children with otitis media."
4. "Your child should always wear a hat when outside."
Correct Answer
ANS 2
1. Singulair is an allergy medication, but it has not been proven to help reduce the
number of ear infections in children.
2. Tobacco smoke has been proved to increase the incidence of ear infections. The
tobacco smoke damages mucociliary function, prolonging the inflammatory process
and impeding drainage through the eustachian tube.
3. Otitis media is not transmitted from one child to another. Otitis is often preceded
by a URI, so children who are around other children with URIs may contract one,
increasing their chances of developing an ear infection.
4. Wearing a hat outside will have no impact on whether a child contracts an ear
infection.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answer 3 by understanding that
otitis media is not a contagious disease process. Answer 4 can be eliminated if the
test taker understands that otitis media is not caused by exposing the child to cold
air.
Page 1 of 61
,Question 2
A school-age child has been diagnosed with strep throat. The parent asks the nurse
when the child can return to school. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "Forty-eight hours after the first documented normal temperature."
2. "Twenty-four hours after the first dose of antibiotics."
3. "Forty-eight hours after the first dose of antibiotics."
4. "Twenty-four hours after the first documented normal temperature."
Correct Answer
ANS 2
1. School systems require that children remain home for 24 hours after having a
documented fever. However, in this question the child has been diagnosed with
strep throat. Even if the child is fever-free, the child must have completed a 24-hour
course of antibiotics before returning to school. Children with strep throat are no
longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy.
2. Children with strep throat are no longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of
antibiotic therapy.
3. Children with strep throat are no longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of
antibiotic therapy.
4. School systems require that children remain home for 24 hours after having a
documented fever. However, in this question the child has been diagnosed with
strep throat. Even if the child is fever-free, the child must have completed a 24-hour
course of antibiotics before returning to school. Children with strep throat are no
longer contagious 24 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answers 1 and 4 given knowledge
of the communicability of strep throat.
Page 2 of 61
,Question 3
The parents of a 6-year-old who has a new diagnosis of asthma ask the nurse what to
do to make their home a more allergy-free environment. Which is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Use a humidifier in your child's room."
2. "Have your carpet cleaned chemically once a month."
3. "Wash household pets weekly."
4. "Avoid purchasing upholstered furniture."
Correct Answer
ANS 4
1. It is better to maintain 30% to 50% humidity in homes of asthmatic children.
However, humidifiers are not recommended because they can harbor mold as a
result of lack of proper cleaning.
2. Chemical cleaning is not recommended because the chemicals used can be a
trigger and actually cause the child to have an asthma attack. The best
recommendation is to remove all carpet from the house, if possible.
3. Household pets are not recommended for children with asthma.
4. Leather furniture is recommended rather than upholstered furniture. Upholstered
furniture can harbor large amounts of dust, whereas leather furniture may be wiped
off regularly with a damp cloth.
TEST-TAKING HINT: The test taker can eliminate answer 3 because there is no
known way to make a pet allergy-free. Household pets are discouraged for all
children with asthma or severe allergies. Answer 2 can be eliminated if the test taker
understands that chemical agents are triggers to asthma for many children.
Page 3 of 61
, Question 4
A child is complaining of throat pain. Which statement by the mother indicates that
she needs more education regarding the care and treatment of her daughter's
pharyngitis?
1. "I will have my daughter gargle with salt water three times a day."
2. "I will offer my daughter ice chips several times a day."
3. "I will give my daughter Tylenol every 4 to 6 hours as needed." 4. "I will ask the
nurse practitioner for some amoxicillin.
Correct Answer
ANS 4
1. Gargling with warm salt water is a recommended treatment to relieve some of the
discomfort associated with pharyngitis.
2. Encouraging ice chips is a recommended treatment to relieve some of the
discomfort associated with pharyngitis.
3. Tylenol is a suggested treatment for relief of discomfort related to pharyngitis
4. Pharyngitis is a self-limiting viral illness that does not require antibiotic therapy.
Pharyngitis should be treated with rest and comfort measures, including Tylenol,
throat sprays, cold liquids, and Popsicles.
TEST-TAKING HINT: Answers 1, 2, and 3 are comfort measures. The question
requires that the student have knowledge regarding pharyngitis.
Page 4 of 61
