199+ Free CPN Practice Questions

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Question 1

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A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. According to developmental milestones, which behavior would the nurse expect to observe?

Sitting unsupported for brief periods

Walking with support while holding furniture

Using a pincer grasp to pick up small objects

Saying 3-5 meaningful words

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CPN Exam

77%

First-Time Pass Rate

PNCB 2023

175

Total Questions

150 scored

400

Passing Score

Scaled 200-800

Exam Time

Single session

35%

Assessment Domain

Largest section

$309

Exam Fee

PNCB

The CPN exam has a 77% first-time pass rate (PNCB 2023). The exam contains 175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored) over 3 hours. Content follows the PNCB blueprint with Assessment (35%), Planning and Management (33%), Health Promotion (23%), and Professional Responsibilities (9%). Certified Pediatric Nurses demonstrate specialized knowledge in pediatric care across hospital and community settings.

Sample CPN Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CPN exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 199+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. According to developmental milestones, which behavior would the nurse expect to observe?

A.Sitting unsupported for brief periods

B.Walking with support while holding furniture

C.Using a pincer grasp to pick up small objects

D.Saying 3-5 meaningful words

Explanation: At 6 months, infants typically sit unsupported for brief periods. Walking with furniture (cruising) occurs around 9-10 months, pincer grasp develops around 9-12 months, and saying 3-5 words occurs around 12-15 months.

2A mother asks the nurse when her 2-year-old toddler should be able to use two-word sentences. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?

A.By 12 months of age

B.By 18-24 months of age

C.By 30-36 months of age

D.By 4 years of age

Explanation: Two-word sentences typically emerge between 18-24 months of age. At 12 months, children usually say 1-2 words; by 30-36 months, they use 3-word sentences and have a vocabulary of about 200 words.

3A 4-year-old child is brought to the clinic. The nurse observes that the child can hop on one foot, dresses independently, and can draw a person with 3-4 body parts. These findings indicate:

A.Developmental delay requiring referral

B.Age-appropriate development

C.Advanced development for age

D.Need for further neurological assessment

Explanation: These are all age-appropriate developmental milestones for a 4-year-old. At this age, children can hop on one foot, dress independently (though may need help with buttons/snaps), and draw a person with 3-4 parts.

4According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the primary developmental task for a preschool-age child (3-6 years) is:

A.Trust vs. Mistrust

B.Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

C.Initiative vs. Guilt

D.Industry vs. Inferiority

Explanation: Preschool-age children (3-6 years) are in the Initiative vs. Guilt stage. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy (0-18 months), Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is toddlerhood (18 months-3 years), and Industry vs. Inferiority is school-age (6-12 years).

5The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 9-month-old infant. Which statement about sleep safety is most appropriate?

A.Place the infant on their stomach to sleep once they can roll over

B.Use soft bedding and pillows to keep the infant comfortable

C.Place the infant on their back to sleep on a firm mattress without loose bedding

D.Co-sleeping is recommended until 12 months of age

Explanation: The safe sleep recommendations from the AAP include placing infants on their backs to sleep, using a firm sleep surface, and keeping loose bedding, pillows, and soft objects out of the sleep area. Co-sleeping is not recommended due to SIDS risk.

6Parents of a 15-month-old ask the nurse about toilet training readiness. Which developmental sign indicates the child may be ready to begin toilet training?

A.The child can walk independently

B.The child can stay dry for 2+ hours and shows interest in the potty

C.The child can speak in 3-word sentences

D.The child can dress and undress independently

Explanation: Signs of toilet training readiness include staying dry for 2+ hours, showing interest in using the potty, having predictable bowel patterns, and being able to follow simple instructions. Most children are ready between 18-24 months.

7The nurse is counseling parents about screen time for their 3-year-old child. According to current AAP guidelines, which recommendation is most appropriate?

A.No more than 4 hours per day of educational programming

B.Unlimited screen time as long as it is educational

C.Limit to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming with co-viewing

D.Screen time is not recommended for children under 5 years

Explanation: The AAP recommends limiting screen time to 1 hour per day of high-quality programming for children ages 2-5 years, with parents co-viewing to help children understand what they are seeing. For children under 18 months, video chatting only; 18-24 months limited high-quality programming with co-viewing.

8A parent asks the nurse about car seat safety for their 4-year-old child who weighs 38 pounds. Which recommendation is most appropriate?

A.The child can use a seat belt without a booster seat

B.The child should remain in a forward-facing car seat with harness

C.The child should use a belt-positioning booster seat

D.The child can sit in the front passenger seat with appropriate restraint

Explanation: Children should use a belt-positioning booster seat when they have outgrown their forward-facing harness seat (usually at 40-65 pounds) until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and 8-12 years old. Children should remain in the back seat until at least age 13.

9The nurse is providing safety education to parents of a 10-month-old infant. Which statement indicates the parents understand appropriate injury prevention measures?

A."We have placed padding on all sharp corners of furniture"

B."We keep medications in a locked cabinet out of reach"

C."We allow our baby to sleep with a small blanket for comfort"

D."We have installed gates at the bottom of all stairs"

Explanation: Keeping medications in a locked cabinet out of reach is an appropriate safety measure. Corner padding is more relevant for toddlers. Infants should not sleep with blankets due to suffocation risk. Gates should be at both top and bottom of stairs.

10A mother asks the nurse when she can introduce solid foods to her breastfed infant. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?

A.At 3-4 months when the infant can hold their head up

B.At approximately 6 months when showing signs of readiness

C.At 9 months to ensure proper digestive system development

D.Solid foods should not be introduced until 12 months

Explanation: The AAP recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, with introduction of complementary foods at approximately 6 months when the infant shows signs of readiness (sitting with support, good head control, interest in food, ability to move food to back of mouth).

About the CPN Exam

The CPN certification exam validates competency in pediatric nursing for registered nurses caring for children in acute care, primary care, and community settings. The exam covers four domains: Health Promotion (23%), Assessment (35%), Planning and Management (33%), and Professional Responsibilities (9%).

Questions

175 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

400 (scaled score)

Exam Fee

$309 (PNCB (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board))

CPN Exam Content Outline

23%

Health Promotion

Growth and development, anticipatory guidance, illness and injury prevention, nutrition, immunizations, family-centered care, and health maintenance across pediatric age groups

35%

Assessment

Health history, physical assessment, pain assessment, developmental screening, family assessment, cultural considerations, and psychosocial assessment

33%

Planning and Management

Respiratory, GI/nutrition, cardiology, neurology, endocrine, musculoskeletal, genitourinary, immunology, infectious disease, behavioral/mental health, medication administration, patient education, chronic illness, and emergency care

Professional Responsibilities

Ethics and legal issues, evidence-based practice, advocacy, professional issues, and quality improvement

How to Pass the CPN Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 400 (scaled score)
Exam length: 175 questions
Time limit: 3 hours
Exam fee: $309

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CPN Study Tips from Top Performers

1Focus on high-yield domains: Assessment (35%) and Planning and Management (33%) account for 68% of the exam content

2Master pediatric assessment skills: vital signs by age, physical exam techniques, pain assessment tools, and developmental screening

3Know common pediatric conditions: asthma, bronchiolitis, dehydration, appendicitis, diabetes, seizures, and sickle cell crisis

4Understand growth and development: Erikson's stages, Piaget's theory, developmental milestones, and age-specific care

5Review medication safety: pediatric dosing calculations, safe administration practices, and common pediatric medications

6Practice prioritization and delegation: know which patients need immediate attention and appropriate nurse scope of practice

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CPN pass rate?

The CPN first-time pass rate is approximately 77% (PNCB 2023 data). The exam is comprehensive and requires thorough preparation in pediatric nursing concepts across health promotion, assessment, planning/management, and professional responsibilities.

How many questions are on the CPN exam?

The CPN exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions, with 150 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions. You have 3 hours to complete the exam. The questions cover Health Promotion (23%), Assessment (35%), Planning and Management (33%), and Professional Responsibilities (9%).

What is the CPN passing score?

The CPN uses a scaled scoring system with a passing score of 400. Scores range from 200-800. You will receive preliminary pass/fail results immediately after the exam, with official score reports available within 2-3 weeks.

How long should I study for the CPN?

Most candidates study for 6-10 weeks before the CPN exam, completing 1,500-2,000 practice questions. Focus on high-yield areas like Assessment (35%) and Planning and Management (33%). Use practice questions to identify weak areas and review pediatric nursing guidelines.

Who is eligible to take the CPN exam?

To be eligible for the CPN exam, you must have a current, active RN license and meet one of the following: 1,800 hours of pediatric clinical experience in the past 24 months, OR 5 years as an RN with pediatric experience plus 3,000 hours in pediatric nursing.

What clinical conditions are covered on the CPN exam?

The exam prioritizes clinical problems including Respiratory, GI/Nutritional, Behavioral/Mental Health, Infectious Disease, Neurology, ENT, Endocrine/Metabolic, Musculoskeletal, Trauma, and Hematology/Oncology. The assessment domain includes physical assessment, pain assessment, developmental screening, and family assessment.