PEDS Exam 1 Practice Questions

The nurse is explaining Kohlberg's theory of moral development to the parent of a toddler. The nurse tells the parents that in the preconventional level of moral development, what factor motivates obedience?

A. Avoidance of punishment Why --> Toddlers are in the preconventional level of moral development. They do not understand the concept of right and wrong. Their behavior is driven by the desire to avoid punishment and get rewards.

Which of the following motor development milestones would you expect an infant to attain first?​​

A. Opens and closes hands​ ​ Why --> An infant learns to open and close their hands at 2 months of age. They use a raking grasp at 6 months, a pincer grasp at 9 months, and feed themselves with a spoon at 12 months.​

Which of the following people are most likely to affect an adolescent's behavior?

A. Peers Why--> Peers are the most influential aspect of an adolescent's life. Parents, siblings, and religious leaders are secondary contributors to adolescent's identity development.

An infant is born with congenital clubfoot and the nurse tells the mother that serial casting should be started soon after birth. The mother asks why treatment must start so early? Which response, if made by the nurse, would best explain the need for early treatment?

B. "Early treatment allows the bone to be reformed before it hardens." Why--> Bones begin ossifying soon after birth, and are less responsive to treatment after ossification begins. At birth, bones are soft and porous and are susceptible to repositioning.

Which of the following is the first line of treatment for adolescent depression?

B. Psychotherapy Why --> Psychotherapy is the first choice of treatment for adolescent depression. If there is no improvement after 4 to 8 weeks, pharmacotherapy with antidepressants (typically SSRIs) is warranted.

The nurse is assessing gross and fine motor development in a 2-year-old child. Which of the following developmental milestones would the nurse expect to observe in this child?

B. Stacks objects Why --> A 2-year-old child should be able to stack objects, copy circles and lines, turn pages, run, kick a ball, and jump with two feet. The other milestones are appropriate for a 3-year-old child.

Which of the following is the number one way to prevent hand-foot-and-mouth disease?​​

C. Hand washing, especially following diaper changes.​ ​ Why --> Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by the coxsackie virus and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. The number one way to prevent the spread of the virus is to perform frequent hand washing, especially after changing diapers or using the restroom. There is no immunization for hand-foot-and-mouth disease.​​

A nurse is working with occupational therapy to plan what developmentally-appropriate toys should be given to her 10-month-old patient. Which of the following toys would be most appropriate?​​

D. Board books​ ​ Why --> Board books, toys that make noise or light up, soft dolls, teething toys, and large blocks are all appropriate toys for older infants. The other toys would be given to a younger infant, aged 6 months old or less.​

Which of the following pain scales would be most appropriate for the nurse to implement for a 10-year-old child with a leg fracture?

D. Numerical Rating Scale Why--> The Numerical Rating Scale is the most appropriate pain scale for children older than 7. FLACC is appropriate to use for infants and toddlers. The Oucher and FACES scales are used in preschool children.

A 4-year-old child tells the nurse, "I got sick because I broke my sister's toy." The nurse knows that this is an example of which of the following?​

D. Transductive reasoning​ ​ Why--> The preschool child has transductive reasoning, magical thinking, and a vivid imagination. Therefore, they connect seemingly related events that are not related at all. This child is connecting the act of breaking a toy with getting sick, even though the two are not correlated. ​​

A child with a newly diagnosed ulnar fracture has a short-arm cast applied. Which of the following symptoms would be most concerning for the nurse?

D. Uncontrolled, severe pain Why--> Uncontrolled pain is the first sign of compartment syndrome. The nurse should assess the neurovascular status of the extremity and intervene immediately to prevent tissue necrosis and permanent damage.

All children with gender dysphoria later identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

False Why --> Although some children with gender dysphoria later identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, some children only have short-term gender dysphoria that resolves by the end of adolescence.

Family values and home routine are two of the most important influences during the school-age period.

False Why --> School-age children experience a transition away from caregivers and the family environment, and instead focus on developing friendships and peer relationships.

​Children wake up from night terrors and seek comfort from their caregivers.

False​ ​ Why --> Children do not wake during night terrors and they do not remember the episodes. In contrast, children do wake up from nightmares and seek the comfort of their caregiver. The caregiver should discuss the nightmare with the child, provide reassurance, and put them back to sleep.​​

A FLACC score of 8 indicates mild pain.​

False​ ​ Why --> The FLACC scale is scored on a 0 to 10 scale, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst pain possible. A score of 8 would indicate severe pain and should be treated using developmentally-appropriate pain control techniques.​

A nurse is planning an educational campaign to reduce pediatric deaths within the community. Based on the prior chart, What should the nurse focus on?​

Should she focus on infection prevention, healthy eating, safety or air quality

When changing diapers, caregivers should lift children with osteogenesis imperfecta by the hips.

True Why--> The bones fracture very easily in children with osteogenesis imperfecta. Caregivers should handle children gently and avoid pulling on extremities. When changing diapers, caregivers should lift from the hips instead of the legs.

Speed, endurance, and coordination improve during the adolescent period.

True Why--> Speed, endurance, and coordination do improve during the adolescent period. There is also an increased focus on fine motor development, skill, and muscle development.