PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND 100% CORRECT AND WELL EXPLAINED
ANSWERS|LATEST 2025/2026|GRADED A
+|VERIFIED
When a poison has been ingested by a child, the parents should be instructed to do which of
the following first?
a) Induce vomiting.
b) Call the local poison control center.
c) Administer an emetic.
d) Get to an emergency facility. - ANSWER- Call the local poison control center.
Correct
Explanation:
Not all poisons should be vomited. Strong acids, for example, could cause as much
destruction of tissue being vomited as being swallowed. The poison control center will
provide the most accurate information on the next steps for the patient.
Assessment of a child reveals a tension pneumothorax. The nurse would prepare the child
for which of the following?
a) Needle thoracotomy
b) Suctioning
c) Intubation
d) Defibrillation - ANSWER- Needle thoracotomy
Correct
Explanation:
A needle thoracotomy is indicated for tension pneumothorax to relieve the air collected in
the space. Intubation is indicated for apnea and in situations in which the airway cannot be
maintained. Suctioning would be indicated for excessive airway secretions that influence
airway patency. Defibrillation is used to stimulate or alter the heart's electrical rhythm.
1
Wicky
,A 6-year-old girl who is being treated for shock is pulseless with an irregular heart rate of 32
BPM. Choose the priority intervention:
a) Administer doses defibrillator shocks in a row
b) Initiate cardiac compressions
c) Give three doses of epinephrine
d) Defibrillate once followed by three cycles of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) -
ANSWER- Initiate cardiac compressions
Correct
Explanation:
The American Heart Association (AHA) emphasizes the importance of cardiac compressions
in pulseless clients with arrhythmias, making this the priority intervention in this situation.
Current AHA recommendations are for defibrillation to be administered once followed by
five cycles of CPR. The AHA now recommends against using multiple doses of epinephrine
because they have not been shown to be helpful and may actually cause harm to the child.
A 3-year-old girl had a near-drowning incident when she fell into a wading pool. Which
intervention would be of the highest priority?
a) Inserting a nasogastric tube to decompress stomach
b) Assuring the child stays still during an X-ray
c) Suctioning the upper airway to ensure airway patency
d) Covering the child with warming blankets - ANSWER- Suctioning the upper airway
to ensure airway patency
Correct
Explanation:
Due to the potentially devastating effects of drowning-related hypoxia on a child's brain,
airway interventions must be initiated immediately. The child's airway should be suctioned
to ensure patency. Other interventions such as covering the child with blankets, inserting a
nasogastric tube, and assuring that the child remains still during X-ray are interventions that
are appropriate once airway patency is achieved and maintained.
2
Wicky
, The nurse is preparing an in-service program on pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The nurse would include a discussion that cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children is
most likely the result of which of the following?
a) Underlying heart disease
b) Respiratory failure
c) Neurologic trauma
d) Lethal arrhythmia - ANSWER- Respiratory failure
Correct
Explanation:
Cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children typically results from disorders that lead to
respiratory failure and shock. In adults, the most common causes of cardiopulmonary arrest
are lethal arrhythmias secondary to heart disease. Although neurologic trauma can lead to
respiratory failure, it alone is not the most likely factor.
A 13-year-old girl suffered a serious fall while hiking with friends and injured her head. She is
now being evaluated by a nurse in the emergency room. The nurse notices clear fluid
flowing from the girl's nose. The girl's friend said that she had been suffering from pollen
allergy recently. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to
determine whether the fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or rhinitis from an allergy?
a) Evaluate the client's level of consciousness
b) Assess the client's blood pressure
c) Perform a skull x-ray
d) Test the fluid with a glucose reagent strip - ANSWER- Test the fluid with a glucose
reagent strip
Correct
Explanation:
Rhinorrhea or otorrhea (clear fluid draining from the nose or ear, respectively) may be
noticeable. The fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is a serious finding because it means
that the child's central nervous system is open to infection. If it's not clear if the fluid is CSF
3
Wicky
AND 100% CORRECT AND WELL EXPLAINED
ANSWERS|LATEST 2025/2026|GRADED A
+|VERIFIED
When a poison has been ingested by a child, the parents should be instructed to do which of
the following first?
a) Induce vomiting.
b) Call the local poison control center.
c) Administer an emetic.
d) Get to an emergency facility. - ANSWER- Call the local poison control center.
Correct
Explanation:
Not all poisons should be vomited. Strong acids, for example, could cause as much
destruction of tissue being vomited as being swallowed. The poison control center will
provide the most accurate information on the next steps for the patient.
Assessment of a child reveals a tension pneumothorax. The nurse would prepare the child
for which of the following?
a) Needle thoracotomy
b) Suctioning
c) Intubation
d) Defibrillation - ANSWER- Needle thoracotomy
Correct
Explanation:
A needle thoracotomy is indicated for tension pneumothorax to relieve the air collected in
the space. Intubation is indicated for apnea and in situations in which the airway cannot be
maintained. Suctioning would be indicated for excessive airway secretions that influence
airway patency. Defibrillation is used to stimulate or alter the heart's electrical rhythm.
1
Wicky
,A 6-year-old girl who is being treated for shock is pulseless with an irregular heart rate of 32
BPM. Choose the priority intervention:
a) Administer doses defibrillator shocks in a row
b) Initiate cardiac compressions
c) Give three doses of epinephrine
d) Defibrillate once followed by three cycles of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) -
ANSWER- Initiate cardiac compressions
Correct
Explanation:
The American Heart Association (AHA) emphasizes the importance of cardiac compressions
in pulseless clients with arrhythmias, making this the priority intervention in this situation.
Current AHA recommendations are for defibrillation to be administered once followed by
five cycles of CPR. The AHA now recommends against using multiple doses of epinephrine
because they have not been shown to be helpful and may actually cause harm to the child.
A 3-year-old girl had a near-drowning incident when she fell into a wading pool. Which
intervention would be of the highest priority?
a) Inserting a nasogastric tube to decompress stomach
b) Assuring the child stays still during an X-ray
c) Suctioning the upper airway to ensure airway patency
d) Covering the child with warming blankets - ANSWER- Suctioning the upper airway
to ensure airway patency
Correct
Explanation:
Due to the potentially devastating effects of drowning-related hypoxia on a child's brain,
airway interventions must be initiated immediately. The child's airway should be suctioned
to ensure patency. Other interventions such as covering the child with blankets, inserting a
nasogastric tube, and assuring that the child remains still during X-ray are interventions that
are appropriate once airway patency is achieved and maintained.
2
Wicky
, The nurse is preparing an in-service program on pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The nurse would include a discussion that cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children is
most likely the result of which of the following?
a) Underlying heart disease
b) Respiratory failure
c) Neurologic trauma
d) Lethal arrhythmia - ANSWER- Respiratory failure
Correct
Explanation:
Cardiopulmonary arrest in infants and children typically results from disorders that lead to
respiratory failure and shock. In adults, the most common causes of cardiopulmonary arrest
are lethal arrhythmias secondary to heart disease. Although neurologic trauma can lead to
respiratory failure, it alone is not the most likely factor.
A 13-year-old girl suffered a serious fall while hiking with friends and injured her head. She is
now being evaluated by a nurse in the emergency room. The nurse notices clear fluid
flowing from the girl's nose. The girl's friend said that she had been suffering from pollen
allergy recently. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to
determine whether the fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or rhinitis from an allergy?
a) Evaluate the client's level of consciousness
b) Assess the client's blood pressure
c) Perform a skull x-ray
d) Test the fluid with a glucose reagent strip - ANSWER- Test the fluid with a glucose
reagent strip
Correct
Explanation:
Rhinorrhea or otorrhea (clear fluid draining from the nose or ear, respectively) may be
noticeable. The fluid is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is a serious finding because it means
that the child's central nervous system is open to infection. If it's not clear if the fluid is CSF
3
Wicky
