NCLEX RN Paediatric Respiratory
Disorders Practice Exam 100 Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
1. A nurse assesses a 2-year-old child with croup. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Barking cough
B. Hoarse voice
C. Inspiratory stridor at rest
D. Low-grade fever
Answer: Inspiratory stridor at rest
Rationale: Stridor at rest indicates significant upper-airway obstruction and
possible impending respiratory failure.
2. Which intervention is most appropriate for a child experiencing an acute
asthma exacerbation?
A. Encourage vigorous exercise
B. Administer the prescribed short-acting bronchodilator
C. Restrict all fluids
D. Place the child flat in bed
Answer: Administer the prescribed short-acting bronchodilator
Rationale: Short-acting beta₂-agonists such as albuterol rapidly relax
bronchial smooth muscle and are first-line rescue medications during acute
asthma symptoms.
3. A child with asthma is prescribed albuterol. Which assessment finding
indicates the medication is producing the desired effect?
,A. Increased wheezing
B. Decreased oxygen saturation
C. Improved air movement and reduced wheezing
D. Increased respiratory distress
Answer: Improved air movement and reduced wheezing
Rationale: Improved breath sounds and decreased wheezing indicate reduced
bronchospasm and improved airflow.
4. Which position should the nurse place a child in during an acute asthma
attack?
A. Supine
B. High-Fowler's position
C. Trendelenburg
D. Prone
Answer: High-Fowler's position
Rationale: An upright position promotes lung expansion and decreases the
work of breathing.
5. A child with cystic fibrosis is admitted with increased respiratory
secretions. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Restrict fluids
B. Encourage airway-clearance techniques
C. Avoid coughing
D. Limit physical activity permanently
Answer: Encourage airway-clearance techniques
Rationale: Chest physiotherapy, positive expiratory pressure, coughing, and
other airway-clearance methods help mobilize thick respiratory secretions in
cystic fibrosis.
6. Which finding is most characteristic of cystic fibrosis?
A. Thin respiratory secretions
B. Excessively salty sweat
,C. Persistent bradycardia
D. Decreased mucus production
Answer: Excessively salty sweat
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis causes abnormal chloride transport, producing sweat
with an unusually high salt concentration.
7. The nurse is teaching parents how to administer pancreatic enzymes to a
child with cystic fibrosis. Which instruction is correct?
A. Give enzymes only at bedtime
B. Give enzymes with meals and snacks
C. Mix enzymes with hot foods
D. Crush all enteric-coated capsules
Answer: Give enzymes with meals and snacks
Rationale: Pancreatic enzymes are needed whenever the child eats to improve
digestion and absorption of nutrients and fat.
8. Which finding is most concerning in a child with pneumonia?
A. Mild cough
B. Respiratory rate appropriate for age
C. Nasal flaring and retractions
D. Mild fatigue
Answer: Nasal flaring and retractions
Rationale: Nasal flaring and retractions indicate increased work of breathing
and possible respiratory compromise.
9. A child with pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Administer oxygen as prescribed
C. Offer a meal
D. Ambulate the child
Answer: Administer oxygen as prescribed
, Rationale: Hypoxemia requires prompt correction. Supplemental oxygen helps
improve oxygenation while the underlying cause is treated.
10.Which assessment finding is commonly associated with bronchiolitis?
A. Barking cough
B. Wheezing and crackles
C. Severe hypertension
D. Absent bowel sounds
Answer: Wheezing and crackles
Rationale: Bronchiolitis causes inflammation and obstruction of the small
airways, producing wheezing, crackles, tachypnea, and increased respiratory
effort.
11.A 6-month-old with bronchiolitis has copious nasal secretions. Which
intervention should the nurse perform before feeding?
A. Deep abdominal massage
B. Nasal suctioning
C. Encourage vigorous crying
D. Place the infant flat
Answer: Nasal suctioning
Rationale: Infants are preferential nose breathers. Clearing nasal secretions
before feeding can improve breathing and feeding tolerance.
12.Which pathogen is most commonly associated with bronchiolitis?
A. Respiratory syncytial virus
B. Clostridium difficile
C. Salmonella
D. Candida albicans
Answer: Respiratory syncytial virus
Rationale: Respiratory syncytial virus is a major cause of bronchiolitis in
infants and young children.
13.Which symptom is characteristic of epiglottitis?
Disorders Practice Exam 100 Questions
And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
1. A nurse assesses a 2-year-old child with croup. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Barking cough
B. Hoarse voice
C. Inspiratory stridor at rest
D. Low-grade fever
Answer: Inspiratory stridor at rest
Rationale: Stridor at rest indicates significant upper-airway obstruction and
possible impending respiratory failure.
2. Which intervention is most appropriate for a child experiencing an acute
asthma exacerbation?
A. Encourage vigorous exercise
B. Administer the prescribed short-acting bronchodilator
C. Restrict all fluids
D. Place the child flat in bed
Answer: Administer the prescribed short-acting bronchodilator
Rationale: Short-acting beta₂-agonists such as albuterol rapidly relax
bronchial smooth muscle and are first-line rescue medications during acute
asthma symptoms.
3. A child with asthma is prescribed albuterol. Which assessment finding
indicates the medication is producing the desired effect?
,A. Increased wheezing
B. Decreased oxygen saturation
C. Improved air movement and reduced wheezing
D. Increased respiratory distress
Answer: Improved air movement and reduced wheezing
Rationale: Improved breath sounds and decreased wheezing indicate reduced
bronchospasm and improved airflow.
4. Which position should the nurse place a child in during an acute asthma
attack?
A. Supine
B. High-Fowler's position
C. Trendelenburg
D. Prone
Answer: High-Fowler's position
Rationale: An upright position promotes lung expansion and decreases the
work of breathing.
5. A child with cystic fibrosis is admitted with increased respiratory
secretions. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Restrict fluids
B. Encourage airway-clearance techniques
C. Avoid coughing
D. Limit physical activity permanently
Answer: Encourage airway-clearance techniques
Rationale: Chest physiotherapy, positive expiratory pressure, coughing, and
other airway-clearance methods help mobilize thick respiratory secretions in
cystic fibrosis.
6. Which finding is most characteristic of cystic fibrosis?
A. Thin respiratory secretions
B. Excessively salty sweat
,C. Persistent bradycardia
D. Decreased mucus production
Answer: Excessively salty sweat
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis causes abnormal chloride transport, producing sweat
with an unusually high salt concentration.
7. The nurse is teaching parents how to administer pancreatic enzymes to a
child with cystic fibrosis. Which instruction is correct?
A. Give enzymes only at bedtime
B. Give enzymes with meals and snacks
C. Mix enzymes with hot foods
D. Crush all enteric-coated capsules
Answer: Give enzymes with meals and snacks
Rationale: Pancreatic enzymes are needed whenever the child eats to improve
digestion and absorption of nutrients and fat.
8. Which finding is most concerning in a child with pneumonia?
A. Mild cough
B. Respiratory rate appropriate for age
C. Nasal flaring and retractions
D. Mild fatigue
Answer: Nasal flaring and retractions
Rationale: Nasal flaring and retractions indicate increased work of breathing
and possible respiratory compromise.
9. A child with pneumonia has an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage oral fluids
B. Administer oxygen as prescribed
C. Offer a meal
D. Ambulate the child
Answer: Administer oxygen as prescribed
, Rationale: Hypoxemia requires prompt correction. Supplemental oxygen helps
improve oxygenation while the underlying cause is treated.
10.Which assessment finding is commonly associated with bronchiolitis?
A. Barking cough
B. Wheezing and crackles
C. Severe hypertension
D. Absent bowel sounds
Answer: Wheezing and crackles
Rationale: Bronchiolitis causes inflammation and obstruction of the small
airways, producing wheezing, crackles, tachypnea, and increased respiratory
effort.
11.A 6-month-old with bronchiolitis has copious nasal secretions. Which
intervention should the nurse perform before feeding?
A. Deep abdominal massage
B. Nasal suctioning
C. Encourage vigorous crying
D. Place the infant flat
Answer: Nasal suctioning
Rationale: Infants are preferential nose breathers. Clearing nasal secretions
before feeding can improve breathing and feeding tolerance.
12.Which pathogen is most commonly associated with bronchiolitis?
A. Respiratory syncytial virus
B. Clostridium difficile
C. Salmonella
D. Candida albicans
Answer: Respiratory syncytial virus
Rationale: Respiratory syncytial virus is a major cause of bronchiolitis in
infants and young children.
13.Which symptom is characteristic of epiglottitis?
