CCRN PEDS AACN EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
1. A critical care nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with salicylate intoxication. The
nurse would expect which of the following to be initiated as a priority therapeutic
intervention?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Glucose
C. Packed RBCs
D. Fluid and electrolyte replacement - Answer D. Fluid and electrolyte replacement
2. An adolescent whose developmental age is that of a 4-year-old requires the insertion
of a chest tube. The best method of preparing this patient for the chest tube would be to
A. Explain in short, simple sentences and not include abstract descriptions.
B. Show him a chest tube and explain what the sensation will be like when it is inserted.
C. Completely explain what a chest tube is for and exactly how it functions.
D. Explain to the parents what will be done so they may relate this to their child. -Answer
Use simple sentences and concrete explanations in a succinct manner.
3. A child is admitted with a gunshot wound of the head, accidentally inflicted by an
older sibling. The parents are grief stricken and appear to be ignoring the following
statements by the older sibling: "It was an accident; I didn't mean to do it; I'm sorry!"
Which of the following actions by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A. Have a discussion with the older sibling, with the parents present at the bedside,
about gun safety.
B. Reinforce the ways for the parents to support the older sibling
C. Instruct the parents about the need to support the older sibling
,D. Tell the sibling, "Accidents happen; I know you didn't mean to do it." - Answer Seek
additional reinforcement for the parents regarding ways they can support the older
sibling
4. The following laboratory finding is consistent with the syndrome of inappropriate ADH
secretion (SIADH)?
A. Serum sodium = 148 mEq/L
B. Decreased serum osmolality
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) = 28 mg/dl
D. Serum potassium = 5.1 mEq/L - Answer Decreased serum osmolality
5. A 3-year-old is admitted to the ICU with a 10-hour history of an acute-onset asthma
attack. Initial assessment reveals the following
HR 160
pH 7.25
RR 48
pCO2 35
BP 112/76
pO2 40
T 32*C
HCO3 22
A. Administration of NaHCO3
B. Fluid resuscitation
C. Racemic epinephrine
D. Intubation - Answer Intubation
6. A 2-year-old is exhibiting signs and symptoms of digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity. BP is
94/60, capillary refill time is 2 seconds and the electrocardiogram reveals AV block with
,a heart rate of 60. The critical care nurse would expect which of the following actions?
A. The nurse would expect cardioversion to be performed
B. The nurse would expect Atropine to be administered
C. The nurse would expect vasovagal maneuvers to be performed
D. Monitoring of HR and rhythm and perfusion status - Answer Monitoring of HR and
rhythm and perfusion status
7. An asthmatic teenager is hospitalized again after one week since discharge. During
assessment, the nurse finds out that the client does not use the inhalers in school. The
nurse should
A. Discuss with the teenager the long-term complications of the disease if the treatment
plan is not adhered to
B. Discuss with the school nurse the reason medications are not being monitored at the
school
C. Help the parents create a disciplinary contract for the adolescent
D. Arranged for the adolescent to attend an asthma support group - Answer -Arrange
for the adolescent to attend an asthma support group
8. An unconscious 5-month-old is admitted. The parent reports the baby fell off the table
during a diaper change by an older sibling. What findings would indicate further inquiry
of the history?
A. A reddened or bruised are on the skull
B. Poorly reactive pupils
C. Retinal hemorrhage
D. A linear skull fracture - Answer Retinal hemorrhage
1. A 1-month-old infant has poor feeding, vomiting, and diarrhea since birth. The infant is
lethargic and in mild respiratory distress. The mother relates that she had another infant
who had similar symptoms and died at 2 months of age. Which finding would make the
, nurse suspect an inborn error of metabolism?
A. micrognathia
B. microglossia
C. petite facial features
D. abnormal urine odor - Answer abnormal urine odor
2. Cardiac defects associated with increased pulmonary blood flow place the patient at
greatest risk for
A. heart failure.
B. systemic air emboli.
C. hypoxemia.
D. syncope. - Answer heart failure
3. Which ventilator parameters would be weaned first in a patient with
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)?
A. VT and FiO2
B. peak inspiratory pressure and IMV
C. FiO2 and IMV
D. FiO2 and peak inspiratory pressure - Answer FiO2 and peak inspiratory pressure
4. Amrinone lactate (Inocor) exerts which of the following effects?
A. vasodilation
B. phospholipid inhibition
C. depressed myocardial contractility
1. A critical care nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with salicylate intoxication. The
nurse would expect which of the following to be initiated as a priority therapeutic
intervention?
A. Protamine sulfate
B. Glucose
C. Packed RBCs
D. Fluid and electrolyte replacement - Answer D. Fluid and electrolyte replacement
2. An adolescent whose developmental age is that of a 4-year-old requires the insertion
of a chest tube. The best method of preparing this patient for the chest tube would be to
A. Explain in short, simple sentences and not include abstract descriptions.
B. Show him a chest tube and explain what the sensation will be like when it is inserted.
C. Completely explain what a chest tube is for and exactly how it functions.
D. Explain to the parents what will be done so they may relate this to their child. -Answer
Use simple sentences and concrete explanations in a succinct manner.
3. A child is admitted with a gunshot wound of the head, accidentally inflicted by an
older sibling. The parents are grief stricken and appear to be ignoring the following
statements by the older sibling: "It was an accident; I didn't mean to do it; I'm sorry!"
Which of the following actions by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A. Have a discussion with the older sibling, with the parents present at the bedside,
about gun safety.
B. Reinforce the ways for the parents to support the older sibling
C. Instruct the parents about the need to support the older sibling
,D. Tell the sibling, "Accidents happen; I know you didn't mean to do it." - Answer Seek
additional reinforcement for the parents regarding ways they can support the older
sibling
4. The following laboratory finding is consistent with the syndrome of inappropriate ADH
secretion (SIADH)?
A. Serum sodium = 148 mEq/L
B. Decreased serum osmolality
C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) = 28 mg/dl
D. Serum potassium = 5.1 mEq/L - Answer Decreased serum osmolality
5. A 3-year-old is admitted to the ICU with a 10-hour history of an acute-onset asthma
attack. Initial assessment reveals the following
HR 160
pH 7.25
RR 48
pCO2 35
BP 112/76
pO2 40
T 32*C
HCO3 22
A. Administration of NaHCO3
B. Fluid resuscitation
C. Racemic epinephrine
D. Intubation - Answer Intubation
6. A 2-year-old is exhibiting signs and symptoms of digoxin (Lanoxin) toxicity. BP is
94/60, capillary refill time is 2 seconds and the electrocardiogram reveals AV block with
,a heart rate of 60. The critical care nurse would expect which of the following actions?
A. The nurse would expect cardioversion to be performed
B. The nurse would expect Atropine to be administered
C. The nurse would expect vasovagal maneuvers to be performed
D. Monitoring of HR and rhythm and perfusion status - Answer Monitoring of HR and
rhythm and perfusion status
7. An asthmatic teenager is hospitalized again after one week since discharge. During
assessment, the nurse finds out that the client does not use the inhalers in school. The
nurse should
A. Discuss with the teenager the long-term complications of the disease if the treatment
plan is not adhered to
B. Discuss with the school nurse the reason medications are not being monitored at the
school
C. Help the parents create a disciplinary contract for the adolescent
D. Arranged for the adolescent to attend an asthma support group - Answer -Arrange
for the adolescent to attend an asthma support group
8. An unconscious 5-month-old is admitted. The parent reports the baby fell off the table
during a diaper change by an older sibling. What findings would indicate further inquiry
of the history?
A. A reddened or bruised are on the skull
B. Poorly reactive pupils
C. Retinal hemorrhage
D. A linear skull fracture - Answer Retinal hemorrhage
1. A 1-month-old infant has poor feeding, vomiting, and diarrhea since birth. The infant is
lethargic and in mild respiratory distress. The mother relates that she had another infant
who had similar symptoms and died at 2 months of age. Which finding would make the
, nurse suspect an inborn error of metabolism?
A. micrognathia
B. microglossia
C. petite facial features
D. abnormal urine odor - Answer abnormal urine odor
2. Cardiac defects associated with increased pulmonary blood flow place the patient at
greatest risk for
A. heart failure.
B. systemic air emboli.
C. hypoxemia.
D. syncope. - Answer heart failure
3. Which ventilator parameters would be weaned first in a patient with
bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)?
A. VT and FiO2
B. peak inspiratory pressure and IMV
C. FiO2 and IMV
D. FiO2 and peak inspiratory pressure - Answer FiO2 and peak inspiratory pressure
4. Amrinone lactate (Inocor) exerts which of the following effects?
A. vasodilation
B. phospholipid inhibition
C. depressed myocardial contractility
