Pediatric Nursing Exam 1
A 6-month old male is at his well-child checkup. The nurse weighs him, and his mother asks if his weight
is normal for his age. The nurse's best response is:
1. "At 6 months his weight should be approximately three times his birth weight."
2. "Each child gains weight at his or her own pace."
3. "At 6 months his weight should be approximately twice his birth weight."
4. At 6 months a child should weigh about 10 lb more than his or her birth weight." - correct answer
3. "At 6 months his weight should be approximately twice his birth weight."
Rationale: Infants should double their weight by 4-6-months of age.
How can the nurse best facilitate the trust relationship between infant and parents while the infant is
hospitalized? The nurse should:
1. Encourage the parents to remain at their child's bedside as much as possible.
2. Keep parents informed about all aspects of their child's condition.
3. Encourage the parents to hold their child as much as possible.
4. Advise the parents to participate actively in their child's care. - correct answer 3.
Encourage the parents to hold their child as much as possible.
The nurse is going to give a 6-month-old a dose of Rocephin IM. What must the nurse do when the 1.5
mL dose arrives from the pharmacy?
1. Administer the injection into the deltoid muscle.
2. Divide the dose into two injections.
3. Administer the injection into the dorsogluteal muscle.
4. Give dose as a single injection into the vastus lateralis muscle. - correct answer 2.
Divide the dose into two injections.
Rationale: A nurse should not deliver more than 1 mL per IM injection to a 6-month old.
Which statement by an infant's mother leads the nurse to believe she needs further education about the
nutritional needs of a 6-month-old?
,1. "I will continue to breastfeed my son and will give him rice cereal three times a day."
2. "I will start my son on fruits and gradually introduce vegetables."
3. "I will start my son on carrots and will introduce one new vegetable every few days."
4. "I will not give my son any more than 8 ounces of baby juice per day." - correct answer
2. "I will start my son on fruits and gradually introduce vegetables."
Rationale: Infants should be started on vegetables prior to fruits. The sweetness of fruits may inhibit
infants from taking vegetables.
** As a parent, this is true! Trust me 😂
Which statement accurately describes the best method for assessing a 12-month old?
1. The nurse should assess the child on the examining table.
2. The nurse should assess the child in a head-to-toe sequence.
3. The nurse should have the child's mother assist in holding her down.
4. The nurse should assess the child while she is in her mother's lap. - correct answer
4. The nurse should assess the child while she is in her mother's lap.
The nurse is instructing a new breastfeeding mother in the need to provide her premature infant with an
adequate source of iron in her diet. Which statement reflects a need for further education of the new
mother?
1. "I will use only breast milk or an iron-fortified formula as a source of milk for my baby until she is at
least 12 months old."
2. "My baby will need to have iron supplements introduce when she is 4 months old."
3. "I will need to add iron supplements to my baby's diet when she is 2 months old."
4. :When my baby begins to eat solid foods, I should introduce iron-fortified cereals to her diet." -
correct answer 3. "I will need to add iron supplements to my baby's diet when she
is 2 months old."
Rationale: Premature infants have iron stores from the mother that last approximately 2 months, so it is
important to introduce iron supplement by 2 months of age. Full-term infants have iron stores that last
approximately 4-6 months.
A first-time mother brings in her 5-day-old baby for a well-child visit. The nurse weighs the infant and
reports a weight of 7 lbs 5 oz to the mother. The mother looks concerned and tells the nurse that her
,baby weighed 7 lb 10 oz when she was discharged 4 days ago. The nurse's best response to the mother
is:
1. "I will let the doctor the doctor know, and he will talk with you about the possible causes of our
infant's weigh loss."
2. "A weight loss of a few ounces is common among newborns, especially for breastfeeding mothers."
3. I can tell you are a first-time mother. Don't worry; we will find out why she is losing weight."
4. "Maybe she isn't getting enough milk. How often are you breastfeeding her?" - correct answer
2. "A weight loss of a few ounces is common among newborns, especially for breastfeeding mothers."
Which toy is the best choice for a 12-month-old?
1. Baby doll
2. Musical rattle
3. Board book
4. Colorful beads - correct answer 2. Musical rattle
Rationale: A musical rattle is the perfect toy for this child. Infants have short attention spans and enjoy
auditory and visual stimulation.
** 1 and 3 are good options, but they will likely just put them in their mouth, so they're not the best
option. 4 is a choking hazard.
The parents of a newborn are asking the nurse how to use the infant car seat and where it should be
placed in their vehicle. Which is the next most appropriate action by the nurse?
1. Give the parents a pamphlet explaining how to install the car seat.
2. Accompany the parents to the car, and show them how to install the car seat.
3. Contact the hospital's car seat safety officer, and ask the officer to accompany the parents to the car
for car seat installations.
4. Show the parents a video on car seat installation and safety, and ask if they are comfortable with the
information. - correct answer 3. Contact the hospital's car seat safety officer, and
ask the officer to accompany the parents to the car for car seat installations.
Rationale: The car seat safety officer is the best choice, as that individual would have the needed
information and certification to help the family.
The mother of a newborn asks the nurse when the infant will receive the first hepatitis B immunization.
Which is the nurse's best response?
, 1. "Babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine only if their mother is hepatitis B-positive."
2. "The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be given prior to discharge today."
3. "The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine is given at 1 year of age."
4. "Babies receive their first hepatitis B vaccine at 6-months of age." - correct answer
2. "The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be given prior to discharge today."
Which finding would the nurse consider abnormal when performing a physical assessment on a 6-
month-old?
1. The posterior fontanel is open.
2. The anterior fontanel is open.
3. Beginning signs of tooth eruption.
4. Able to track and follow objects. - correct answer 1. The posterior fontanel is
open.
Rationale: The posterior fontanel should close between 6 and 8 weeks of age. The anterior fontanel
should close between 12 and 18 months of age. The other two options are normal.
A mother requests that her child receive the varicella vaccine at the 9-month well-child checkup. The
nurse tells the mother that:
1. Children who are vaccinated will likely develop a mild case of the disease.
2. The vaccine cannot be given at that visit.
3. The vaccine will be administered after the physician examines the child.
4. A booster vaccination will be needed at 18 months of age. - correct answer 2. The
vaccine cannot be given at that visit.
Rationale: The nurse should not give the vaccine. The varicella vaccine is usually not administered prior
to 1 year of age.
What should parents understand is one of the most common causes of injury and death for a 7-month-
old infant?
1. Poisoning.
2. Child abuse.
3. Aspiration.
4. Dog bites. - correct answer 3. Aspiration.
A 6-month old male is at his well-child checkup. The nurse weighs him, and his mother asks if his weight
is normal for his age. The nurse's best response is:
1. "At 6 months his weight should be approximately three times his birth weight."
2. "Each child gains weight at his or her own pace."
3. "At 6 months his weight should be approximately twice his birth weight."
4. At 6 months a child should weigh about 10 lb more than his or her birth weight." - correct answer
3. "At 6 months his weight should be approximately twice his birth weight."
Rationale: Infants should double their weight by 4-6-months of age.
How can the nurse best facilitate the trust relationship between infant and parents while the infant is
hospitalized? The nurse should:
1. Encourage the parents to remain at their child's bedside as much as possible.
2. Keep parents informed about all aspects of their child's condition.
3. Encourage the parents to hold their child as much as possible.
4. Advise the parents to participate actively in their child's care. - correct answer 3.
Encourage the parents to hold their child as much as possible.
The nurse is going to give a 6-month-old a dose of Rocephin IM. What must the nurse do when the 1.5
mL dose arrives from the pharmacy?
1. Administer the injection into the deltoid muscle.
2. Divide the dose into two injections.
3. Administer the injection into the dorsogluteal muscle.
4. Give dose as a single injection into the vastus lateralis muscle. - correct answer 2.
Divide the dose into two injections.
Rationale: A nurse should not deliver more than 1 mL per IM injection to a 6-month old.
Which statement by an infant's mother leads the nurse to believe she needs further education about the
nutritional needs of a 6-month-old?
,1. "I will continue to breastfeed my son and will give him rice cereal three times a day."
2. "I will start my son on fruits and gradually introduce vegetables."
3. "I will start my son on carrots and will introduce one new vegetable every few days."
4. "I will not give my son any more than 8 ounces of baby juice per day." - correct answer
2. "I will start my son on fruits and gradually introduce vegetables."
Rationale: Infants should be started on vegetables prior to fruits. The sweetness of fruits may inhibit
infants from taking vegetables.
** As a parent, this is true! Trust me 😂
Which statement accurately describes the best method for assessing a 12-month old?
1. The nurse should assess the child on the examining table.
2. The nurse should assess the child in a head-to-toe sequence.
3. The nurse should have the child's mother assist in holding her down.
4. The nurse should assess the child while she is in her mother's lap. - correct answer
4. The nurse should assess the child while she is in her mother's lap.
The nurse is instructing a new breastfeeding mother in the need to provide her premature infant with an
adequate source of iron in her diet. Which statement reflects a need for further education of the new
mother?
1. "I will use only breast milk or an iron-fortified formula as a source of milk for my baby until she is at
least 12 months old."
2. "My baby will need to have iron supplements introduce when she is 4 months old."
3. "I will need to add iron supplements to my baby's diet when she is 2 months old."
4. :When my baby begins to eat solid foods, I should introduce iron-fortified cereals to her diet." -
correct answer 3. "I will need to add iron supplements to my baby's diet when she
is 2 months old."
Rationale: Premature infants have iron stores from the mother that last approximately 2 months, so it is
important to introduce iron supplement by 2 months of age. Full-term infants have iron stores that last
approximately 4-6 months.
A first-time mother brings in her 5-day-old baby for a well-child visit. The nurse weighs the infant and
reports a weight of 7 lbs 5 oz to the mother. The mother looks concerned and tells the nurse that her
,baby weighed 7 lb 10 oz when she was discharged 4 days ago. The nurse's best response to the mother
is:
1. "I will let the doctor the doctor know, and he will talk with you about the possible causes of our
infant's weigh loss."
2. "A weight loss of a few ounces is common among newborns, especially for breastfeeding mothers."
3. I can tell you are a first-time mother. Don't worry; we will find out why she is losing weight."
4. "Maybe she isn't getting enough milk. How often are you breastfeeding her?" - correct answer
2. "A weight loss of a few ounces is common among newborns, especially for breastfeeding mothers."
Which toy is the best choice for a 12-month-old?
1. Baby doll
2. Musical rattle
3. Board book
4. Colorful beads - correct answer 2. Musical rattle
Rationale: A musical rattle is the perfect toy for this child. Infants have short attention spans and enjoy
auditory and visual stimulation.
** 1 and 3 are good options, but they will likely just put them in their mouth, so they're not the best
option. 4 is a choking hazard.
The parents of a newborn are asking the nurse how to use the infant car seat and where it should be
placed in their vehicle. Which is the next most appropriate action by the nurse?
1. Give the parents a pamphlet explaining how to install the car seat.
2. Accompany the parents to the car, and show them how to install the car seat.
3. Contact the hospital's car seat safety officer, and ask the officer to accompany the parents to the car
for car seat installations.
4. Show the parents a video on car seat installation and safety, and ask if they are comfortable with the
information. - correct answer 3. Contact the hospital's car seat safety officer, and
ask the officer to accompany the parents to the car for car seat installations.
Rationale: The car seat safety officer is the best choice, as that individual would have the needed
information and certification to help the family.
The mother of a newborn asks the nurse when the infant will receive the first hepatitis B immunization.
Which is the nurse's best response?
, 1. "Babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine only if their mother is hepatitis B-positive."
2. "The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be given prior to discharge today."
3. "The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine is given at 1 year of age."
4. "Babies receive their first hepatitis B vaccine at 6-months of age." - correct answer
2. "The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be given prior to discharge today."
Which finding would the nurse consider abnormal when performing a physical assessment on a 6-
month-old?
1. The posterior fontanel is open.
2. The anterior fontanel is open.
3. Beginning signs of tooth eruption.
4. Able to track and follow objects. - correct answer 1. The posterior fontanel is
open.
Rationale: The posterior fontanel should close between 6 and 8 weeks of age. The anterior fontanel
should close between 12 and 18 months of age. The other two options are normal.
A mother requests that her child receive the varicella vaccine at the 9-month well-child checkup. The
nurse tells the mother that:
1. Children who are vaccinated will likely develop a mild case of the disease.
2. The vaccine cannot be given at that visit.
3. The vaccine will be administered after the physician examines the child.
4. A booster vaccination will be needed at 18 months of age. - correct answer 2. The
vaccine cannot be given at that visit.
Rationale: The nurse should not give the vaccine. The varicella vaccine is usually not administered prior
to 1 year of age.
What should parents understand is one of the most common causes of injury and death for a 7-month-
old infant?
1. Poisoning.
2. Child abuse.
3. Aspiration.
4. Dog bites. - correct answer 3. Aspiration.
