ATI PEDIATRICS NURSING
COMPETENCY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for an infant who has a prescription for digoxin. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as an early indication of digoxin toxicity?
A. Hyperreflexia
B. Tachycardia
C. Hypertension
D. Vomiting
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Vomiting is a classic early sign of digoxin toxicity in infants and
children. Other signs include bradycardia and anorexia.
2. A nurse is assessing a child with bacterial meningitis. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis?
A. Cloudy appearance, decreased glucose, increased protein
B. Clear appearance, increased glucose, decreased protein
,C. Clear appearance, normal glucose, normal protein
D. Cloudy appearance, increased glucose, decreased protein
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Bacterial meningitis typically results in cloudy CSF, elevated
protein levels due to inflammation, and decreased glucose levels because bacteria consume
the glucose.
3. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with cystic fibrosis about dietary requirements.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Restrict sodium intake to 1 gram per day.
B. Limit protein intake to prevent kidney stress.
C. Administer pancreatic enzymes 2 hours after meals.
D. Increase fat intake to 40% of total calories.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Children with cystic fibrosis require a high-calorie, high-protein,
and high-fat diet to compensate for malabsorption. Sodium intake is usually increased, and
enzymes are taken with or before meals.
4. A nurse is caring for a toddler who has intussusception. Which of the following clinical
manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Projectile vomiting
, B. Currant jelly-like stools
C. Ribbon-like stools
D. Steatorrhea
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Intussusception is characterized by the sudden onset of
abdominal pain and stools that contain blood and mucus, often described as currant jelly-
like stools.
5. A nurse is assessing a child who has Tetralogy of Fallot. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Polycythemia
B. Left-to-right shunting of blood
C. Increased pulmonary blood flow
D. Low hemoglobin levels
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Chronic hypoxemia in Tetralogy of Fallot triggers the body to
produce more red blood cells (polycythemia) to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of
the blood.
COMPETENCY EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. A nurse is caring for an infant who has a prescription for digoxin. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as an early indication of digoxin toxicity?
A. Hyperreflexia
B. Tachycardia
C. Hypertension
D. Vomiting
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Vomiting is a classic early sign of digoxin toxicity in infants and
children. Other signs include bradycardia and anorexia.
2. A nurse is assessing a child with bacterial meningitis. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis?
A. Cloudy appearance, decreased glucose, increased protein
B. Clear appearance, increased glucose, decreased protein
,C. Clear appearance, normal glucose, normal protein
D. Cloudy appearance, increased glucose, decreased protein
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Bacterial meningitis typically results in cloudy CSF, elevated
protein levels due to inflammation, and decreased glucose levels because bacteria consume
the glucose.
3. A nurse is teaching the parents of a child with cystic fibrosis about dietary requirements.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Restrict sodium intake to 1 gram per day.
B. Limit protein intake to prevent kidney stress.
C. Administer pancreatic enzymes 2 hours after meals.
D. Increase fat intake to 40% of total calories.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Children with cystic fibrosis require a high-calorie, high-protein,
and high-fat diet to compensate for malabsorption. Sodium intake is usually increased, and
enzymes are taken with or before meals.
4. A nurse is caring for a toddler who has intussusception. Which of the following clinical
manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Projectile vomiting
, B. Currant jelly-like stools
C. Ribbon-like stools
D. Steatorrhea
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Intussusception is characterized by the sudden onset of
abdominal pain and stools that contain blood and mucus, often described as currant jelly-
like stools.
5. A nurse is assessing a child who has Tetralogy of Fallot. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Polycythemia
B. Left-to-right shunting of blood
C. Increased pulmonary blood flow
D. Low hemoglobin levels
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Chronic hypoxemia in Tetralogy of Fallot triggers the body to
produce more red blood cells (polycythemia) to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of
the blood.
