Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Practice Exam

What is a primary concern during exposure assessment in a pediatric patient?

1. Maintaining confidentiality

2. Assessing pain levels

3. Signs of heat loss

4. Detecting psychological trauma

The correct answer is: Signs of heat loss

During exposure assessment in a pediatric patient, assessing signs of heat loss is a primary concern because children are particularly vulnerable to temperature changes due to their higher surface area-to-volume ratio and less effective thermoregulation compared to adults. Hypothermia can develop quickly in children, especially in cold environments or when they have been exposed to wet conditions. Effective exposure assessment involves checking the child’s skin temperature, capillary refill time, and shivering response, among other indicators, to ensure they are not losing body heat and to implement interventions as needed. Maintaining confidentiality, assessing pain levels, and detecting psychological trauma are also important aspects of pediatric care, but they do not specifically pertain to the immediate physical condition related to exposure risks. These concerns may arise later in the overall assessment or treatment plan, yet ensuring the child is stable in terms of thermal regulation takes precedence during exposure assessment to prevent rapid deterioration.