Free Certified Pediatric Nurse Certification Exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Certified Pediatric Nurse Certification Exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A clinically stable infant born at 30 weeks is now 2 months old and due for routine vaccines other than hepatitis B. Which age should the nurse use to plan vaccination?

   1. A. Chronological age measured from birth
   2. B. Corrected age relative to the due date
   3. C. Postmenstrual age: gestational plus postnatal age
   4. D. Developmental age estimated from milestones

   Answer: A

   Explanation: CDC states that preterm infants should be vaccinated "at the same chronological age and according to the same schedule". Prematurity alone does not justify substituting corrected, postmenstrual, or developmental age for the routine schedule.

   Reference: Special Situations: General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization — Vaccination of Preterm Infants

2. 2The nurse schedules routine formal developmental screening for a child without specific concerns. Which minimum screening-age series matches the AAP recommendation summarized by CDC?

   1. A. 6, 12, and 24 months
   2. B. 9, 18, and 30 months
   3. C. 12, 24, and 36 months
   4. D. 18, 30, and 48 months

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CDC specifies "Developmental Screening at 9, 18, and 30 months of age". These are routine formal-screening ages, distinct from ongoing developmental monitoring.

   Reference: Developmental Monitoring and Screening — Developmental Monitoring and Screening Fact Sheet: WHEN

3. 3A child presents with suspected measles. Which transmission-based precautions should the nurse initiate in addition to standard precautions?

   1. A. Contact precautions
   2. B. Droplet precautions
   3. C. Airborne precautions
   4. D. Protective-environment precautions

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CDC directs, "Follow standard and airborne precautions." Suspected measles requires airborne isolation rather than substituting contact or droplet precautions.

   Reference: Measles Clinical Diagnosis Fact Sheet — What to do if you have a suspected case

4. 4A competent 19-year-old in a Medicare-participating hospital wants to help shape the care plan. Which right should the nurse advocate?

   1. A. Clinician-directed planning followed by patient notification
   2. B. Patient selection among plans after implementation is complete
   3. C. Patient participation in developing and implementing the plan
   4. D. Representative-led planning in place of the capable patient's input

   Answer: C

   Explanation: 42 CFR §482.13(b)(1) gives the patient the right "to participate in the development and implementation of his or her plan of care." The nurse should facilitate meaningful involvement.

   Reference: 42 CFR §482.13—Condition of Participation: Patient's Rights — 42 CFR §482.13(b)(1)

5. 5A 1,700-g newborn has an HBsAg-negative mother and will remain hospitalized for 6 weeks. When should the nurse plan the first hepatitis B vaccine dose?

   1. A. At chronological age 2 months
   2. B. At chronological age 1 month
   3. C. At chronological age 4 months
   4. D. At chronological age 6 months

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CDC specifies "chronological age 1 month or hospital discharge, if hospital discharge occurs when the infant is younger than one month of age." Because discharge will occur later, the first dose is due at 1 month.

   Reference: Special Situations: General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization — Vaccination of Preterm Infants

6. 6Which growth-chart set should the nurse use for a healthy term 9-month-old in U.S. practice, regardless of whether the infant receives breast milk or formula?

   1. A. CDC extended BMI-for-age charts
   2. B. Fenton preterm growth charts
   3. C. WHO Child Growth Standards
   4. D. CDC stature-for-age charts

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CDC recommends "the WHO Child Growth Standards to monitor growth of infants and children from birth to 2 years." Premature-infant charts and charts intended for older children do not replace the recommended standards for this term infant.

   Reference: Training Module: Using WHO Child Growth Standards — Introduction

7. 7An alert 16-year-old with diabetes has low glucose and can swallow safely. The prescribed plan uses CDC's 15-15 rule. What is the initial carbohydrate amount?

   1. A. 5 grams
   2. B. 15 grams
   3. C. 30 grams
   4. D. 45 grams

   Answer: B

   Explanation: CDC states, "Have 15 grams of carbs, then wait 15 minutes." Recheck glucose afterward; younger children may need individualized smaller amounts.

   Reference: Treatment of Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia) — The 15-15 rule

8. 8A 20-year-old in a Medicare-participating hospital wants to file a grievance about care. What should the nurse facilitate?

   1. A. The designated patient-grievance contact
   2. B. The hospital's insurance billing office
   3. C. The outpatient appointment scheduler
   4. D. The medical-record release-of-information office

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The regulation requires hospitals to "inform each patient whom to contact to file a grievance." The nurse should connect the patient to that designated contact. Billing, scheduling, and record-release offices perform different administrative functions.

   Reference: 42 CFR §482.13—Condition of Participation: Patient's Rights — 42 CFR §482.13(a)(2)

9. 9An infant weighing 1,600 g at birth received hepatitis B vaccine within 12 hours because the mother was HBsAg positive. How many additional hepatitis B vaccine doses should the nurse anticipate?

   1. A. One additional dose
   2. B. Two additional doses
   3. C. Three additional doses
   4. D. Four additional doses

   Answer: C

   Explanation: CDC states, "The initial vaccine dose should not be counted toward completion of the hepatitis B series, and 3 additional doses of hepatitis B vaccine should be administered, beginning when the infant is aged 1 month." The low-birth-weight birth dose does not replace any of those three doses.

   Reference: Special Situations: General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization — Vaccination of Preterm Infants

10. 10During an asthma assessment, the nurse hears a musical whistling sound predominantly during expiration. Which term best documents this finding?

    1. A. Stridor
    2. B. Crackles
    3. C. Pleural rub
    4. D. Wheezing

    Answer: D

    Explanation: NHLBI describes "Wheezing, which is a whistling sound when you breathe out". Stridor is an upper-airway sound, crackles are discontinuous sounds, and a pleural rub has a different grating quality.

    Reference: Asthma: Symptoms — Symptoms