Pediatric CCRN Exam Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the Pediatric CCRN Exam exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 Pediatric CCRN Exam Exam Format at a Glance
📚 Pediatric CCRN Exam Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample Pediatric CCRN Exam Questions & Answers
1. Which tissue is not impacted by leukemia?
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood-forming tissues, primarily originating in the bone marrow. While it can spread and affect organs rich in lymphatic tissue, such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, the kidney is not a primary site of leukemia cell proliferation. Although leukemia can indirectly cause kidney damage through complications like tumor lysis syndrome, the kidney itself is not directly impacted as a tissue where leukemia typically originates or extensively infiltrates.
2. What desired outcome is achieved when amrinone lactate (Inocor) is administered?
Amrinone lactate (Inocor) is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that increases intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) in both cardiac and vascular smooth muscle cells. In the heart, this leads to increased contractility (positive inotropy). In vascular smooth muscle, increased cAMP causes relaxation, resulting in systemic and pulmonary vasodilation, which reduces afterload. This dual action improves cardiac output by both strengthening contractions and reducing the resistance the heart pumps against.
3. A child with a large ventricular septal defect is at greatest risk for developing which complication over time if left unrepaired?
Chronic left-to-right shunting from a large VSD causes pulmonary hypertension; when pulmonary pressure exceeds systemic, Eisenmenger syndrome (reversal of shunt) develops.
4. Which parameter is MOST important to monitor in a child receiving IV amiodarone for arrhythmia control?
Amiodarone has multi-organ toxicities including hepatotoxicity, thyroid dysfunction (hypo or hyperthyroidism), and pulmonary toxicity, requiring regular monitoring of liver, thyroid, and pulmonary function.
5. Which finding is MOST specific for non-accidental trauma (abusive head trauma) in a 6-month-old?
Bilateral retinal hemorrhages (especially extending to the periphery) combined with subdural hematoma at different stages of evolution are highly specific for abusive head trauma in infants.
6. A 15 kg child requires a dopamine infusion at 5 mcg/kg/min. Using a concentration of 400 mcg/mL, what is the correct infusion rate in mL/hr?
Dose (mcg/min) = 5 × 15 = 75 mcg/min = 4,500 mcg/hr; rate = 4,500 ÷ 400 mcg/mL = 11.25 mL/hr — closest correct calculation rechecked: 75 mcg/min ÷ 400 mcg/mL × 60 min/hr = 11.25, but at standard 1,600 mcg/mL: 75÷1600×60=2.8; at 400 mcg/mL: 11.25 mL/hr.