UNFOLDING REASONING CASE STUDY
PEDIATRIC GASTROENTERITIS COMPLETE
CASE ANALYSIS AND ANSWER KEY 2026
◉ A female child with CF is hospitalized with constipation. The
parent asks the nurse what will need to be done to relieve the child's
constipation. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "Your child likely has an obstruction and will require surgery."
2. "Your child will likely be given IV fluids to relieve her
constipation."
3. "Your child will likely be given GoLYTELY to relieve her
constipation."
4. "Your child will be placed on a clear liquid diet to relieve her
constipation.". Answer: 3. CF patients with constipation commonly
receive a stool softener or an osmotic solution orally to relieve their
constipation.
◉ The parents of a 5-week-old have just been told that their child
has CF. The mother had a sister who died of CF when she was 19
years of age. The parents are sad and ask the nurse several questions
about CF and the current projected life expectancy. What is the
nurse's best initial intervention?
,1. The nurse should tell the parents that the life expectancy for CF
patients has improved significantly in recent years.
2. The nurse should tell the parents that their child might not follow
the same course that the mother's sister did.
3. The nurse should listen to the parents and tell them that the
physician will come to speak to them about treatment options.
4. The nurse should listen to the parents and be available to them
anytime during the day to answer their questions.. Answer: 4. The
nurse's best intervention is to let the parents express their concerns
and fears. The nurse should be available if the parents have any
other concerns or questions or if they just need someone with
whom to talk.
◉ A physician diagnoses a school-age child with strep throat and
pharyngitis. The child's parent asks the nurse what treatment the
child will need. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "Your child will be sent home on bedrest and should recover in a
few days without any intervention."
2. "Your child will need to have the tonsils removed to prevent future
strep infections."
3. "Your child will need oral penicillin for 10 days and should feel
better in a few days."
4. "Your child will need to be admitted to the hospital for 5 days of
intravenous antibiotics.". Answer: 3. The child will need a 10-day
course of penicillin to treat the strep infection. It is essential that the
,nurse always tell the family that, although the child will feel better in
a few days, the entire course of antibiotics must be completed.
◉ A 5-year-old female is diagnosed with pharyngitis. The child is
complaining of throat pain. Which of the following statements by the
mother indicates that she needs more education regarding the care
and treatment of her daughter's throat pain?
1. "I will have my daughter gargle with warm saline 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 give my daughter her amoxicillin until all doses of the
antibiotic are gone.". Answer: 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.
◉ A school-age child is admitted to the hospital for a tonsillectomy.
The nurse caring for this patient is assessing the child 8 hours after
surgery. During the nurse's assessment, the child's parent tells the
nurse that the child is in pain. Which of the following observations
should be of most concern to the nurse?
1. The child's heart rate and blood pressure are elevated.
2. The child complains of having a sore throat.
3. The child is refusing to eat solid foods.
, 4. The child is swallowing excessively.. Answer: 4. Soft foods are
recommended to limit the child's pain and to decrease the risk for
bleeding.
◉ A pediatric client is admitted in status asthmaticus. The parent
reports that the child is currently taking Singulair, albuterol, and
Flovent. What is the most important piece of information that the
nurse must ask the parent in order to best treat the patient?
1. "What time did your child eat last?"
2. "Has your child been exposed to any of the usual asthma
triggers?"
3. "When was your child last admitted to the hospital for asthma?"
4. "When was your child's last dose of medication?". Answer: 4. The
nurse needs to know what medication the child had last and when
the child took it in order to know how to begin treatment for the
current asthmatic condition.
◉ A 2-year-old is diagnosed with asthma. The parents are big sports
fans and want their child to play sports. The parents ask the nurse
what impact asthma will have on the child's future in sports. Which
is the nurse's best response?
1. "As long as your child takes prescribed asthma medication, the
child will be fine."
2. "The earlier a child is diagnosed with asthma, the more significant
the symptoms."
PEDIATRIC GASTROENTERITIS COMPLETE
CASE ANALYSIS AND ANSWER KEY 2026
◉ A female child with CF is hospitalized with constipation. The
parent asks the nurse what will need to be done to relieve the child's
constipation. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "Your child likely has an obstruction and will require surgery."
2. "Your child will likely be given IV fluids to relieve her
constipation."
3. "Your child will likely be given GoLYTELY to relieve her
constipation."
4. "Your child will be placed on a clear liquid diet to relieve her
constipation.". Answer: 3. CF patients with constipation commonly
receive a stool softener or an osmotic solution orally to relieve their
constipation.
◉ The parents of a 5-week-old have just been told that their child
has CF. The mother had a sister who died of CF when she was 19
years of age. The parents are sad and ask the nurse several questions
about CF and the current projected life expectancy. What is the
nurse's best initial intervention?
,1. The nurse should tell the parents that the life expectancy for CF
patients has improved significantly in recent years.
2. The nurse should tell the parents that their child might not follow
the same course that the mother's sister did.
3. The nurse should listen to the parents and tell them that the
physician will come to speak to them about treatment options.
4. The nurse should listen to the parents and be available to them
anytime during the day to answer their questions.. Answer: 4. The
nurse's best intervention is to let the parents express their concerns
and fears. The nurse should be available if the parents have any
other concerns or questions or if they just need someone with
whom to talk.
◉ A physician diagnoses a school-age child with strep throat and
pharyngitis. The child's parent asks the nurse what treatment the
child will need. Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "Your child will be sent home on bedrest and should recover in a
few days without any intervention."
2. "Your child will need to have the tonsils removed to prevent future
strep infections."
3. "Your child will need oral penicillin for 10 days and should feel
better in a few days."
4. "Your child will need to be admitted to the hospital for 5 days of
intravenous antibiotics.". Answer: 3. The child will need a 10-day
course of penicillin to treat the strep infection. It is essential that the
,nurse always tell the family that, although the child will feel better in
a few days, the entire course of antibiotics must be completed.
◉ A 5-year-old female is diagnosed with pharyngitis. The child is
complaining of throat pain. Which of the following statements by the
mother indicates that she needs more education regarding the care
and treatment of her daughter's throat pain?
1. "I will have my daughter gargle with warm saline 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 give my daughter her amoxicillin until all doses of the
antibiotic are gone.". Answer: 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.
◉ A school-age child is admitted to the hospital for a tonsillectomy.
The nurse caring for this patient is assessing the child 8 hours after
surgery. During the nurse's assessment, the child's parent tells the
nurse that the child is in pain. Which of the following observations
should be of most concern to the nurse?
1. The child's heart rate and blood pressure are elevated.
2. The child complains of having a sore throat.
3. The child is refusing to eat solid foods.
, 4. The child is swallowing excessively.. Answer: 4. Soft foods are
recommended to limit the child's pain and to decrease the risk for
bleeding.
◉ A pediatric client is admitted in status asthmaticus. The parent
reports that the child is currently taking Singulair, albuterol, and
Flovent. What is the most important piece of information that the
nurse must ask the parent in order to best treat the patient?
1. "What time did your child eat last?"
2. "Has your child been exposed to any of the usual asthma
triggers?"
3. "When was your child last admitted to the hospital for asthma?"
4. "When was your child's last dose of medication?". Answer: 4. The
nurse needs to know what medication the child had last and when
the child took it in order to know how to begin treatment for the
current asthmatic condition.
◉ A 2-year-old is diagnosed with asthma. The parents are big sports
fans and want their child to play sports. The parents ask the nurse
what impact asthma will have on the child's future in sports. Which
is the nurse's best response?
1. "As long as your child takes prescribed asthma medication, the
child will be fine."
2. "The earlier a child is diagnosed with asthma, the more significant
the symptoms."
