ENPC 6th Edition Course Exam Test Bank Study Guide |
Exam Prep Practice Questions & Answer Key with
Solutions | 2026/2027 Edition
Section 1: Pediatric Assessment & Triage
1. Which of the following is the first and most critical
component of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT)?
A) Capillary refill
B) Appearance
C) Work of breathing
D) Circulation to the skin
Answer: B
Rationale: The PAT consists of three components: Appearance,
Work of Breathing, and Circulation to the skin. Appearance is
assessed first as it provides an immediate visual cue to the
severity of illness or injury and overall brain perfusion.
2. A 2-year-old child is brought to the ED with a high fever and
lethargy. The nurse notes the child is breathing rapidly with
grunting and nasal flaring. Which PAT component is the nurse
evaluating when observing the grunting and nasal flaring?
A) Appearance
,B) Work of breathing
C) Circulation to the skin
D) Level of consciousness
Answer: B
Rationale: Work of breathing is assessed by observing the
child's respiratory effort. Grunting, nasal flaring, retractions,
and abnormal airway sounds are key indicators of increased
work of breathing.
3. When assessing capillary refill time (CRT) in a pediatric
patient, which finding is considered abnormal and indicative of
poor perfusion?
A) Less than 2 seconds
B) 2 to 3 seconds
C) Greater than 3 seconds
D) 5 seconds in a cold environment
Answer: C
Rationale: A capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds is normal.
A CRT greater than 3 seconds is a delayed refill and indicates
poor peripheral perfusion, which can be an early sign of shock.
,4. Which of the following is an appropriate method to estimate
a child's weight in an emergency situation when a scale is not
available?
A) Ask the parents to guess the weight
B) Use the Broselow tape
C) Use the child's age multiplied by 2
D) Estimate based on the child's height only
Answer: B
Rationale: The Broselow tape is a length-based resuscitation
tape that provides an estimated weight based on the child's
length, along with appropriate dosing for medications and
equipment sizes.
5. A 6-month-old infant presents with a heart rate of 190 beats
per minute. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A) Normal for age
B) Bradycardia requiring immediate intervention
C) Tachycardia requiring further assessment
D) Sinus rhythm indicating shock
Answer: A
, Rationale: The normal heart rate for an infant (1-11 months)
ranges from 100 to 160 bpm, but rates up to 190 bpm can be a
normal physiologic response to stress, fever, or crying. However,
it requires ongoing assessment to determine the underlying
cause.
6. Which of the following is a key anatomical difference in the
pediatric airway compared to an adult airway?
A) The epiglottis is shorter and stiffer
B) The tongue is relatively smaller in proportion to the oral
cavity
C) The larynx is higher and more anterior (anteriorly placed)
D) The vocal cords are the narrowest part of the airway
Answer: C
Rationale: In children, the larynx is higher and more anterior
(C3-C4 level vs. C5-C6 in adults), the tongue is relatively larger,
and the narrowest part of the airway is the cricoid cartilage
(below the vocal cords), not the vocal cords themselves.
7. A child presents with altered mental status, sunken eyes, and
prolonged capillary refill. The mother states the child has had
Exam Prep Practice Questions & Answer Key with
Solutions | 2026/2027 Edition
Section 1: Pediatric Assessment & Triage
1. Which of the following is the first and most critical
component of the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT)?
A) Capillary refill
B) Appearance
C) Work of breathing
D) Circulation to the skin
Answer: B
Rationale: The PAT consists of three components: Appearance,
Work of Breathing, and Circulation to the skin. Appearance is
assessed first as it provides an immediate visual cue to the
severity of illness or injury and overall brain perfusion.
2. A 2-year-old child is brought to the ED with a high fever and
lethargy. The nurse notes the child is breathing rapidly with
grunting and nasal flaring. Which PAT component is the nurse
evaluating when observing the grunting and nasal flaring?
A) Appearance
,B) Work of breathing
C) Circulation to the skin
D) Level of consciousness
Answer: B
Rationale: Work of breathing is assessed by observing the
child's respiratory effort. Grunting, nasal flaring, retractions,
and abnormal airway sounds are key indicators of increased
work of breathing.
3. When assessing capillary refill time (CRT) in a pediatric
patient, which finding is considered abnormal and indicative of
poor perfusion?
A) Less than 2 seconds
B) 2 to 3 seconds
C) Greater than 3 seconds
D) 5 seconds in a cold environment
Answer: C
Rationale: A capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds is normal.
A CRT greater than 3 seconds is a delayed refill and indicates
poor peripheral perfusion, which can be an early sign of shock.
,4. Which of the following is an appropriate method to estimate
a child's weight in an emergency situation when a scale is not
available?
A) Ask the parents to guess the weight
B) Use the Broselow tape
C) Use the child's age multiplied by 2
D) Estimate based on the child's height only
Answer: B
Rationale: The Broselow tape is a length-based resuscitation
tape that provides an estimated weight based on the child's
length, along with appropriate dosing for medications and
equipment sizes.
5. A 6-month-old infant presents with a heart rate of 190 beats
per minute. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A) Normal for age
B) Bradycardia requiring immediate intervention
C) Tachycardia requiring further assessment
D) Sinus rhythm indicating shock
Answer: A
, Rationale: The normal heart rate for an infant (1-11 months)
ranges from 100 to 160 bpm, but rates up to 190 bpm can be a
normal physiologic response to stress, fever, or crying. However,
it requires ongoing assessment to determine the underlying
cause.
6. Which of the following is a key anatomical difference in the
pediatric airway compared to an adult airway?
A) The epiglottis is shorter and stiffer
B) The tongue is relatively smaller in proportion to the oral
cavity
C) The larynx is higher and more anterior (anteriorly placed)
D) The vocal cords are the narrowest part of the airway
Answer: C
Rationale: In children, the larynx is higher and more anterior
(C3-C4 level vs. C5-C6 in adults), the tongue is relatively larger,
and the narrowest part of the airway is the cricoid cartilage
(below the vocal cords), not the vocal cords themselves.
7. A child presents with altered mental status, sunken eyes, and
prolonged capillary refill. The mother states the child has had
