1
CPN EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
SOLUTIONS 2026
A 2-year-old female is evaluated for iron deficiency anemia. Which of the
following would NOT
likely be found?
A. Larger RBC size.
B. Decreased hemoglobin level.
C. Decreased RBC mass.
D. Decreased oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. - correct-answer - A: A
smaller RBC size (decreased MCV) rather than larger would be found in iron-
deficiency
anemia. Other indicators include decreased hemoglobin, decreased RBC mass,
and decreased
oxygen carrying capacity, as iron is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin,
which carries
oxygen.
An African-American newborn is evaluated for a possible hemoglobinopathy.
What is the most
common hemoglobinopathy in this population, occurring in 1 in 375 live births?
A. Thalassemia.
B. Sickle cell disease.
C. Babesiosis.
D. Malaria. - correct-answer - B: Sickle cell disease is a genetic hemolytic disease
and is the most common
hemoglobinopathy in African-Americans. It causes sickling of the red blood cells
because of
abnormal strands in the hemoglobin.
, 2
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired disease causing
hemorrhage. What
circulating blood component is reduced with ITP?
A. Platelets.
B. Red blood cells.
C. White blood cells.
D. Iron. - correct-answer - A: ITP represents an acquired deficiency of platelets
(thrombocytes) leading to increased
risk of bleeding. ITP is believed caused by an autoimmune process. Normal
minimal platelet count
is 140,000 for newborns and 150, 000 for older children. If the platelet count
drops below 50,000,
the child is at high risk for hemorrhage
Discharge instructions are being given to the parents of a child with iron
deficiency anemia.
Which of the following food choices would NOT be a good source of iron in the
diet?
A. Lean beef.
B. Spinach.
C. Chicken.
D. Potatoes. - correct-answer - D: Potatoes do not provide a good source of iron in
the diet. Green leafy vegetables, such as
spinach, and all meats, including lean beef and chicken, are good iron sources.
At which age would a blood pressure reading of 80/40 be considered normal?
A. 16 years.
B. 7 years.
C. 12 years.
, 3
D. 3 months - correct-answer - D: A blood pressure reading of 80/40 is considered
in the normal range for infants of 3
months old. Blood pressure in older children varies according to height and
weight.
In analysis of an ECG, what component of the heart's function does the P-wave
represent?
A. Ventricular repolarization.
B. Atrial depolarization.
C. Ventricular depolarization.
D. Resting period of the heart. - correct-answer - B: The P-wave represents atrial
depolarization and is used to mark the starting point of a
new PQRS wave, which represents right and left ventricular depolarization. The T-
wave represents
ventricular repolarization (a resting period).
. Diuretic medications are used to manage edema in pediatric patients with heart
failure. Which
of the following medications is NOT a diuretic medication?
A. Furosemide (Lasix).
B. Enalapril (Vasotec).
C. Spironolactone (Aldactone).
D. Bumetanide (Bumex). - correct-answer - B: Enalapril is an angiotensin-
converting enzyme inhibitor and is not a diuretic.
Furosemide, spironolactone, and bumetanide are commonly-used diuretics
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) results when the fetal ductus arteriosus fails to
close and
blood flows from the aorta back into the pulmonary circulation. In neonates this
can often be
, 4
closed without surgery using certain medications. What class of medications is
often used to
close this congenital heart defect non-surgically?
A. Antibiotics.
B. Adrenergic steroids.
C. Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors.
D. Beta blockers. - correct-answer - C: Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, such as
indomethacin, can be used in neonates to
close PDA's non-surgically. They are 80% effective if given within 10 days of birth.
Some children
require surgical repair.
The most common congenital heart defect is:
A. Patent foramen ovale.
B. Atrial septal defect.
C. Ventricular septal defect (VSD).
D. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). - correct-answer - C: Ventricular septal defect,
the most common congenital heart defect, is an abnormal
opening in the septum between the right and left ventricles. Depending on the
size of the defect,
some may close spontaneously and others may require surgical closure using a
graft.
Which of the following congenital heart defects would lead to right ventricular
hypertrophy and
right heart failure if not treated?
A. Aortic stenosis.
B. Pulmonic stenosis.
C. Coarctation of the aorta.
D. Tricuspid atresia. - correct-answer - B: Pulmonic stenosis can lead to right heart
failure if not treated. Pulmonic stenosis is a
stricture of the pulmonary blood vessel that controls the flow of blood from the
right ventricle to
CPN EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
SOLUTIONS 2026
A 2-year-old female is evaluated for iron deficiency anemia. Which of the
following would NOT
likely be found?
A. Larger RBC size.
B. Decreased hemoglobin level.
C. Decreased RBC mass.
D. Decreased oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. - correct-answer - A: A
smaller RBC size (decreased MCV) rather than larger would be found in iron-
deficiency
anemia. Other indicators include decreased hemoglobin, decreased RBC mass,
and decreased
oxygen carrying capacity, as iron is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin,
which carries
oxygen.
An African-American newborn is evaluated for a possible hemoglobinopathy.
What is the most
common hemoglobinopathy in this population, occurring in 1 in 375 live births?
A. Thalassemia.
B. Sickle cell disease.
C. Babesiosis.
D. Malaria. - correct-answer - B: Sickle cell disease is a genetic hemolytic disease
and is the most common
hemoglobinopathy in African-Americans. It causes sickling of the red blood cells
because of
abnormal strands in the hemoglobin.
, 2
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an acquired disease causing
hemorrhage. What
circulating blood component is reduced with ITP?
A. Platelets.
B. Red blood cells.
C. White blood cells.
D. Iron. - correct-answer - A: ITP represents an acquired deficiency of platelets
(thrombocytes) leading to increased
risk of bleeding. ITP is believed caused by an autoimmune process. Normal
minimal platelet count
is 140,000 for newborns and 150, 000 for older children. If the platelet count
drops below 50,000,
the child is at high risk for hemorrhage
Discharge instructions are being given to the parents of a child with iron
deficiency anemia.
Which of the following food choices would NOT be a good source of iron in the
diet?
A. Lean beef.
B. Spinach.
C. Chicken.
D. Potatoes. - correct-answer - D: Potatoes do not provide a good source of iron in
the diet. Green leafy vegetables, such as
spinach, and all meats, including lean beef and chicken, are good iron sources.
At which age would a blood pressure reading of 80/40 be considered normal?
A. 16 years.
B. 7 years.
C. 12 years.
, 3
D. 3 months - correct-answer - D: A blood pressure reading of 80/40 is considered
in the normal range for infants of 3
months old. Blood pressure in older children varies according to height and
weight.
In analysis of an ECG, what component of the heart's function does the P-wave
represent?
A. Ventricular repolarization.
B. Atrial depolarization.
C. Ventricular depolarization.
D. Resting period of the heart. - correct-answer - B: The P-wave represents atrial
depolarization and is used to mark the starting point of a
new PQRS wave, which represents right and left ventricular depolarization. The T-
wave represents
ventricular repolarization (a resting period).
. Diuretic medications are used to manage edema in pediatric patients with heart
failure. Which
of the following medications is NOT a diuretic medication?
A. Furosemide (Lasix).
B. Enalapril (Vasotec).
C. Spironolactone (Aldactone).
D. Bumetanide (Bumex). - correct-answer - B: Enalapril is an angiotensin-
converting enzyme inhibitor and is not a diuretic.
Furosemide, spironolactone, and bumetanide are commonly-used diuretics
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) results when the fetal ductus arteriosus fails to
close and
blood flows from the aorta back into the pulmonary circulation. In neonates this
can often be
, 4
closed without surgery using certain medications. What class of medications is
often used to
close this congenital heart defect non-surgically?
A. Antibiotics.
B. Adrenergic steroids.
C. Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors.
D. Beta blockers. - correct-answer - C: Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, such as
indomethacin, can be used in neonates to
close PDA's non-surgically. They are 80% effective if given within 10 days of birth.
Some children
require surgical repair.
The most common congenital heart defect is:
A. Patent foramen ovale.
B. Atrial septal defect.
C. Ventricular septal defect (VSD).
D. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). - correct-answer - C: Ventricular septal defect,
the most common congenital heart defect, is an abnormal
opening in the septum between the right and left ventricles. Depending on the
size of the defect,
some may close spontaneously and others may require surgical closure using a
graft.
Which of the following congenital heart defects would lead to right ventricular
hypertrophy and
right heart failure if not treated?
A. Aortic stenosis.
B. Pulmonic stenosis.
C. Coarctation of the aorta.
D. Tricuspid atresia. - correct-answer - B: Pulmonic stenosis can lead to right heart
failure if not treated. Pulmonic stenosis is a
stricture of the pulmonary blood vessel that controls the flow of blood from the
right ventricle to
