DHA Paediatrics Nursing Practice Questions
What this topic covers
Growth and development, paediatric vital signs, dehydration, respiratory illness, immunisation and child safety.
Free DHA paediatrics nursing questions
- Organise a competitive group game in the playroom
- Offer simple choices, such as which cup to drink from
- Explain procedures in detail several days beforehand
- Encourage the child to share toys with other children
Show answer and rationale
Answer: B. Offer simple choices, such as which cup to drink from
Toddlers are in Erikson's stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt, so offering limited, simple choices supports their sense of control. Toddlers engage in parallel play and cannot yet understand detailed explanations given days in advance.
Reference: Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children – Erikson's stages
- Around 5 months
- At birth
- Around 8 months
- Around 2 months
Show answer and rationale
Answer: D. Around 2 months
A social (responsive) smile usually appears by about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Absence of a social smile by 3 months warrants further developmental assessment.
Reference: Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children – developmental milestones
- Give a fast-acting carbohydrate such as fruit juice
- Give the child's usual dose of insulin
- Let the child rest and recheck glucose in 1 hour
- Give intramuscular glucagon
Show answer and rationale
Answer: A. Give a fast-acting carbohydrate such as fruit juice
A conscious child with hypoglycaemia should take about 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate, with glucose rechecked in 15 minutes. Glucagon is reserved for a child who cannot safely swallow, and insulin would worsen hypoglycaemia.
Reference: ISPAD – hypoglycaemia in children with diabetes
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Oral rehydration solution
- Aspirin
Show answer and rationale
Answer: D. Aspirin
Aspirin is avoided in children and adolescents with viral illnesses such as influenza and chickenpox because of the risk of Reye syndrome. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are appropriate antipyretics at weight-based doses.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – aspirin and Reye syndrome
- Only the nurse's overall conclusion about what happened
- 'The parents are abusing this child.'
- Objective findings and the child's statements in their own words, in quotation marks
- Nothing until the investigation is complete
Show answer and rationale
Answer: C. Objective findings and the child's statements in their own words, in quotation marks
Documentation should be objective and factual, describing injuries (size, location, colour) and recording the child's and carers' words exactly as spoken. Opinions and accusations should not be recorded, and documentation should not be delayed.
Reference: Wong's Nursing Care of Infants and Children – child maltreatment
Questions are written with AI assistance. About 10% (150+) have been reviewed by a licensed nurse so far, and more are reviewed every month. Practice questions are for study only and may contain mistakes; verify with official study guides from your destination country. Report a question
Study tip
Children compensate well and then crash; tachycardia and poor perfusion are early warnings, hypotension is late.
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