Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old toddler.
Which of the following food choices should the nurse recommend to promote independence in eating?
A. Popcorn.
Choice A is wrong because popcorn is a choking hazard for toddlers. It is hard, crunchy, and can get stuck in the airway. The NHS advises not to give whole nuts and peanuts to children under 5 years old.
B. Grapes.
Choice B is wrong because grapes are also a choking hazard for toddlers. They are round, slippery, and can block the airway. The NHS recommends cutting grapes into quarters before giving them to young children.
C. Banana slices.
Banana slices are soft, easy to chew, and can be picked up by the toddler’s fingers, which promotes independence in eating. According to the CDC, foods that toddlers should avoid include: Added sugars and no-calorie sweeteners, such as sugar-sweetened and diet drinks High-salt foods, such as canned foods, processed meats, frozen dinners, fast food, and junk food Unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese Foods that may cause choking, such as hard or crunchy foods, sticky foods, stringy cheese, and foods that are not cut up into small pieces.
D. Hot dog.
Choice D is wrong because hot dogs are high in salt and can cause choking if not cut up into small pieces. The Extension warns against giving hot dogs to young toddlers.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Proctored Exam A. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation

Banana slices are soft, easy to chew, and can be picked up by the toddler’s fingers, which promotes independence in eating. According to the CDC, foods that toddlers should avoid include:
- Added sugars and no-calorie sweeteners, such as sugar-sweetened and diet drinks
- High-salt foods, such as canned foods, processed meats, frozen dinners, fast food, and junk food
- Unpasteurized juice, milk, yogurt, or cheese
- Foods that may cause choking, such as hard or crunchy foods, sticky foods, stringy cheese, and foods that are not cut up into small pieces
Choice A is wrong because popcorn is a choking hazard for toddlers.
It is hard, crunchy, and can get stuck in the airway. The NHS advises not to give whole nuts and peanuts to children under 5 years old.
Choice B is wrong because grapes are also a choking hazard for toddlers.
They are round, slippery, and can block the airway. The NHS recommends cutting grapes into quarters before giving them to young children.
Choice D is wrong because hot dogs are high in salt and can cause choking if not cut up into small pieces. The Extension warns against giving hot dogs to young toddlers.
Similar Questions
A nurse is instructing a school-age child who has asthma about the use of a peak expiratory flow meter.
Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Maintain a semi-Fowler’s position during testing.
Choice A is wrong because maintaining a semi-Fowler’s position during testing is not necessary. You can sit or stand up straight, but make sure you do it the same way each time.
B. Place tongue on the mouthpiece of the meter.
Choice B is wrong because placing tongue on the mouthpiece of the meter can block the air flow and affect the accuracy of the measurement. You should close your lips tightly on the mouthpiece instead.
C. Blow into the meter as hard and quickly as possible.
This is because a peak flow meter measures how fast you can push air out of your lungs when you blow out as hard and as fast as you can. This is called peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) or peak expiratory flow (PEF). It shows how open the airways are in the lungs and can help detect early signs of worsening asthma.
D. Record the average of the readings.
Choice D is wrong because recording the average of the readings is not recommended. You should record the highest of the three readings on a sheet of paper, calendar or in your asthma diary. This is your daily peak flow.
Full Explanation
This is because a peak flow meter measures how fast you can push air out of your lungs when you blow out as hard and as fast as you can. This is called peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) or peak expiratory flow (PEF). It shows how open the airways are in the lungs and can help detect early signs of worsening asthma.
Choice A is wrong because maintaining a semi-Fowler’s position during testing is not necessary. You can sit or stand up straight, but make sure you do it the same way each time.
Choice B is wrong because placing tongue on the mouthpiece of the meter can block the air flow and affect the accuracy of the measurement. You should close your lips tightly on the mouthpiece instead.
Choice D is wrong because recording the average of the readings is not recommended.
You should record the highest of the three readings on a sheet of paper, calendar or in your asthma diary. This is your daily peak flow.
Normal ranges for peak flow vary depending on age, height, gender and race. You can use a chart or calculator to find out your predicted normal peak flow based on these
factors. However, it is more important to find out your personal best peak flow by performing peak flow testing twice a day for two weeks when your asthma is under good control. Your personal best peak flow will be used to create your asthma action plan with your healthcare provider.
A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia.
The client states, “I’m hearing voices.” Which of the following responses is the priority for the nurse to state?
A. “Have you taken your medication today?”.
The nurse should not assume that the client’s hallucinations are related to medication noncompliance, as this can be perceived as accusatory and judgmental.
B. “How long have you been hearing the voices?”.
The nurse should not focus on the duration of the hallucinations, as this is not the priority at this time.
C. “What are the voices telling you?”.
The nurse should ask the client what the voices are telling them, because this can help assess the client’s risk for harm to self or others, and also show empathy and respect for the client’s experience.
D. “I realize the voices are real to you, but I don’t hear anything.”.
The nurse should not invalidate the client’s reality by stating that they do not hear anything, as this can cause mistrust and alienation.
Full Explanation
The nurse should ask the client what the voices are telling them, because this can help assess the client’s risk for harm to self or others, and also show empathy and respect for the client’s experience.
choice A:
The nurse should not assume that the client’s hallucinations are related to medication noncompliance, as this can be perceived as accusatory and judgmental.
choice B
The nurse should not focus on the duration of the hallucinations, as this is not the priority at this time.
choice D
The nurse should not invalidate the client’s reality by stating that they do not hear anything, as this can cause mistrust and alienation.
The nurse should use therapeutic communication techniques to establish rapport and safety with the client who has schizophrenia.
A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Nontender, protruding abdomen.
A non-tender, protruding abdomen is a normal finding for a 2- year-old toddler. This is due to the immature development of the abdominal muscles and the relatively large size of the liver and kidneys in relation to the rest of the body.
B. Head circumference exceeds chest circumference.
Choice B is wrong because the head circumference should be equal to or less than the chest circumference by age 2. A head circumference that exceeds the chest circumference could indicate hydrocephalus or other neurological problems.
C. Palpable fontanels.
Choice C is wrong because the fontanels, or soft spots on the skull, should be closed by the age of 18 months. Palpable fontanels could indicate dehydration, malnutrition, or congenital disorders.
D. Natural loss of deciduous teeth.
Choice D is wrong because the natural loss of deciduous teeth, or baby teeth, usually begins around age 6. Premature loss of teeth could indicate dental caries, trauma, or endocrine disorders.
Full Explanation
A non-tender, protruding abdomen is a normal finding for a 2- year-old toddler. This is due to the immature development of the abdominal muscles and the relatively large size of the liver and kidneys in relation to the rest of the body.
Choice B is wrong because the head circumference should be equal to or less than the chest circumference by age 2. A head circumference that exceeds the chest circumference could indicate hydrocephalus or other neurological problems.
Choice C is wrong because the fontanels, or soft spots on the skull, should be closed by the age of 18 months. Palpable fontanels could indicate dehydration, malnutrition, or congenital disorders.
Choice D is wrong because the natural loss of deciduous teeth, or baby teeth, usually begins around age 6. Premature loss of teeth could indicate dental caries, trauma, or endocrine disorders.