ATI PN Pediatric Nursing Exam
2025/2026 – Actual 60 Questions with
Verified Correct Answers and Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a newborn immediately after birth. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first? A. Apply identification bands. B. Dry the newborn vigorously. C. Assess the
newborn's heart rate. D. Administer vitamin K injection.
C. Assess the newborn's heart rate. Rationale: Assessing the newborn's heart rate is the
priority to determine if resuscitation is needed, as per the Neonatal Resuscitation Program
(NRP) guidelines, ensuring immediate stabilization before other interventions.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a 2-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a variation of normal? A. Closed posterior fontanelle. B.
Positive Babinski reflex. C. Head circumference equal to chest circumference. D. Presence of
teeth.
B. Positive Babinski reflex. Rationale: The Babinski reflex is positive in infants up to 12
months, indicating normal neurological development; it disappears as the corticospinal
tract matures.
Question 3
A nurse is teaching the parents of a 6-year-old child about dental hygiene. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include? A. "Floss once a week." B. "Brush teeth twice
daily with fluoride toothpaste." C. "Use a soft toothbrush for 1 minute." D. "Rinse with water
after brushing."
B. "Brush teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste." Rationale: The American Dental
Association recommends brushing twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste to
prevent caries, especially during the eruption of permanent teeth around age 6.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a 10-year-old child who has type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which of the
following laboratory values should the nurse recognize as indicating hypoglycemia? A. Blood
glucose 120 mg/dL. B. Blood glucose 60 mg/dL. C. HbA1c 7%. D. Urine ketones positive.
, B. Blood glucose 60 mg/dL. Rationale: Blood glucose below 70 mg/dL indicates
hypoglycemia in children, requiring immediate intervention with fast-acting carbohydrates
to prevent neuroglycopenic symptoms.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child who has suspected appendicitis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? A. Rebound tenderness in the left lower quadrant. B.
McBurney's point tenderness. C. Hyperactive bowel sounds. D. Pain relieved by movement.
B. McBurney's point tenderness. Rationale: McBurney's point tenderness in the right
lower quadrant is a classic sign of appendicitis in children, indicating peritoneal
inflammation and requiring urgent surgical evaluation.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone to a 3-year-old child.
Which of the following sites should the nurse select? A. Deltoid. B. Dorsogluteal. C.
Ventrogluteal. D. Vastus lateralis.
D. Vastus lateralis. Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred IM site for infants and
young children due to its large muscle mass and low risk of sciatic nerve injury.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has acne vulgaris. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include in the teaching plan? A. "Apply topical benzoyl peroxide daily." B.
"Avoid all dairy products." C. "Use oil-based moisturizers." D. "Squeeze blackheads to clean
pores."
A. "Apply topical benzoyl peroxide daily." Rationale: Benzoyl peroxide reduces
Propionibacterium acnes and unclogs pores, a first-line treatment for mild to moderate
acne in adolescents.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a newborn for hip dysplasia. Which of the following tests should the nurse
perform? A. Ortolani maneuver. B. Babinski reflex. C. Moro reflex. D. Rooting reflex.
A. Ortolani maneuver. Rationale: The Ortolani maneuver detects hip instability by
reducing a dislocated hip, a key screening tool for developmental dysplasia of the hip in
newborns.
Question 9
2025/2026 – Actual 60 Questions with
Verified Correct Answers and Rationales
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a newborn immediately after birth. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first? A. Apply identification bands. B. Dry the newborn vigorously. C. Assess the
newborn's heart rate. D. Administer vitamin K injection.
C. Assess the newborn's heart rate. Rationale: Assessing the newborn's heart rate is the
priority to determine if resuscitation is needed, as per the Neonatal Resuscitation Program
(NRP) guidelines, ensuring immediate stabilization before other interventions.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a 2-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as a variation of normal? A. Closed posterior fontanelle. B.
Positive Babinski reflex. C. Head circumference equal to chest circumference. D. Presence of
teeth.
B. Positive Babinski reflex. Rationale: The Babinski reflex is positive in infants up to 12
months, indicating normal neurological development; it disappears as the corticospinal
tract matures.
Question 3
A nurse is teaching the parents of a 6-year-old child about dental hygiene. Which of the
following instructions should the nurse include? A. "Floss once a week." B. "Brush teeth twice
daily with fluoride toothpaste." C. "Use a soft toothbrush for 1 minute." D. "Rinse with water
after brushing."
B. "Brush teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste." Rationale: The American Dental
Association recommends brushing twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste to
prevent caries, especially during the eruption of permanent teeth around age 6.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a 10-year-old child who has type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which of the
following laboratory values should the nurse recognize as indicating hypoglycemia? A. Blood
glucose 120 mg/dL. B. Blood glucose 60 mg/dL. C. HbA1c 7%. D. Urine ketones positive.
, B. Blood glucose 60 mg/dL. Rationale: Blood glucose below 70 mg/dL indicates
hypoglycemia in children, requiring immediate intervention with fast-acting carbohydrates
to prevent neuroglycopenic symptoms.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child who has suspected appendicitis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? A. Rebound tenderness in the left lower quadrant. B.
McBurney's point tenderness. C. Hyperactive bowel sounds. D. Pain relieved by movement.
B. McBurney's point tenderness. Rationale: McBurney's point tenderness in the right
lower quadrant is a classic sign of appendicitis in children, indicating peritoneal
inflammation and requiring urgent surgical evaluation.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone to a 3-year-old child.
Which of the following sites should the nurse select? A. Deltoid. B. Dorsogluteal. C.
Ventrogluteal. D. Vastus lateralis.
D. Vastus lateralis. Rationale: The vastus lateralis is the preferred IM site for infants and
young children due to its large muscle mass and low risk of sciatic nerve injury.
Question 7
A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has acne vulgaris. Which of the following instructions
should the nurse include in the teaching plan? A. "Apply topical benzoyl peroxide daily." B.
"Avoid all dairy products." C. "Use oil-based moisturizers." D. "Squeeze blackheads to clean
pores."
A. "Apply topical benzoyl peroxide daily." Rationale: Benzoyl peroxide reduces
Propionibacterium acnes and unclogs pores, a first-line treatment for mild to moderate
acne in adolescents.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a newborn for hip dysplasia. Which of the following tests should the nurse
perform? A. Ortolani maneuver. B. Babinski reflex. C. Moro reflex. D. Rooting reflex.
A. Ortolani maneuver. Rationale: The Ortolani maneuver detects hip instability by
reducing a dislocated hip, a key screening tool for developmental dysplasia of the hip in
newborns.
Question 9
