ATI PEDIATRICS PROCTORED EXAM
2026 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has a new diagnosis of epiglottitis. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a throat culture to identify the causative organism.
B. Assess the child for the presence of a gag reflex.
C. Prepare the child for a lateral neck X-ray.
D. Initiate humidified oxygen via a blow-by system.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Airway management is the priority. In epiglottitis, throat
cultures and examinations of the throat with a tongue blade are contraindicated as they can
cause laryngospasm and total airway obstruction. Humidified oxygen is the safest
immediate intervention.
2. A school nurse is assessing a 10-year-old child who has a history of asthma and reports
chest tightness. Which of the following findings is an early indicator of respiratory distress?
A. Cyanosis of the lips
,B. Restlessness and irritability
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Intercostal retractions
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Restlessness and irritability are early signs of hypoxia. Cyanosis
and the use of accessory muscles are late signs of respiratory distress.
3. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a child who has cystic fibrosis about fat-
soluble vitamin supplementation. Which of the following vitamins should the nurse include?
A. Vitamins B1, B6, and C
B. Folic acid and B12
C. Vitamins A, D, E, and K
D. Iron and Calcium
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Children with cystic fibrosis have malabsorption of fats due to
pancreatic insufficiency, requiring supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
4. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant who has pyloric stenosis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Currant jelly-like stools
B. Olive-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
, C. Ribbon-like stools
D. Projectile vomiting containing bile
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is characterized by an olive-
shaped mass in the RUQ and non-bilious projectile vomiting. Currant jelly stools are seen in
intussusception, and ribbon-like stools in Hirschsprung’s disease.
5. A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has scoliosis and is wearing a Boston brace. Which
of the following statements by the adolescent indicates an understanding of the treatment?
A. ‘I should wear a thin cotton t-shirt under the brace.’
B. ‘I can take the brace off while I’m playing soccer.’
C. ‘I should wear the brace for 12 hours a day.’
D. ‘The brace will correct the curve in my spine permanently.’
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A thin cotton shirt prevents skin breakdown. Braces for scoliosis
are typically worn 23 hours a day and are used to slow the progression of the curve, not
necessarily correct it completely.
6. A nurse is caring for a toddler who has a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Machine-like murmur
2026 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child who has a new diagnosis of epiglottitis. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Obtain a throat culture to identify the causative organism.
B. Assess the child for the presence of a gag reflex.
C. Prepare the child for a lateral neck X-ray.
D. Initiate humidified oxygen via a blow-by system.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Airway management is the priority. In epiglottitis, throat
cultures and examinations of the throat with a tongue blade are contraindicated as they can
cause laryngospasm and total airway obstruction. Humidified oxygen is the safest
immediate intervention.
2. A school nurse is assessing a 10-year-old child who has a history of asthma and reports
chest tightness. Which of the following findings is an early indicator of respiratory distress?
A. Cyanosis of the lips
,B. Restlessness and irritability
C. Use of accessory muscles
D. Intercostal retractions
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Restlessness and irritability are early signs of hypoxia. Cyanosis
and the use of accessory muscles are late signs of respiratory distress.
3. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a child who has cystic fibrosis about fat-
soluble vitamin supplementation. Which of the following vitamins should the nurse include?
A. Vitamins B1, B6, and C
B. Folic acid and B12
C. Vitamins A, D, E, and K
D. Iron and Calcium
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Children with cystic fibrosis have malabsorption of fats due to
pancreatic insufficiency, requiring supplementation of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).
4. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant who has pyloric stenosis. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Currant jelly-like stools
B. Olive-shaped mass in the right upper quadrant
, C. Ribbon-like stools
D. Projectile vomiting containing bile
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is characterized by an olive-
shaped mass in the RUQ and non-bilious projectile vomiting. Currant jelly stools are seen in
intussusception, and ribbon-like stools in Hirschsprung’s disease.
5. A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has scoliosis and is wearing a Boston brace. Which
of the following statements by the adolescent indicates an understanding of the treatment?
A. ‘I should wear a thin cotton t-shirt under the brace.’
B. ‘I can take the brace off while I’m playing soccer.’
C. ‘I should wear the brace for 12 hours a day.’
D. ‘The brace will correct the curve in my spine permanently.’
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A thin cotton shirt prevents skin breakdown. Braces for scoliosis
are typically worn 23 hours a day and are used to slow the progression of the curve, not
necessarily correct it completely.
6. A nurse is caring for a toddler who has a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Machine-like murmur
