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NMC CBT 2026 · Children's Nursing

NMC CBT Children's Nursing questions and mock test

Practice questions with answers and timed mock tests for nurses joining the children's nursing part of the NMC register. Children's nursing questions cover paediatric basic life support, recognising a seriously ill child, bronchiolitis, safeguarding, Gillick competence and the Fraser guidelines, family-centred care and weight-based fluid and drug calculations. The NMC lists the Children Act 1989 and consent for children and young people among the field-specific content.

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Sample NMC CBT children's nursing questions with answers

4 of the 15 children's nursing questions in NMC Ready, with answers and explanations. Practise the rest by topic in study mode.

Question 1 · Clinical nursing practice

A child is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Following UK Paediatric Basic Life Support guidance, after opening the airway what should a trained healthcare professional do?

  1. A.Give 30 chest compressions, then 2 rescue breaths, and repeat at 30:2
  2. B.Give 2 rescue breaths, then chest compressions at a ratio of 30:2
  3. C.Give 5 rescue breaths, then chest compressions at a ratio of 15:2
  4. D.Give continuous chest compressions at 100–120 a minute until help arrives
Show answer and explanation

✓ Answer: C. Give 5 rescue breaths, then chest compressions at a ratio of 15:2

The Resuscitation Council UK paediatric BLS algorithm starts with 5 initial rescue breaths, then chest compressions at a ratio of 15 compressions to 2 breaths for healthcare professionals.

Question 2 · Clinical nursing practice

A febrile toddler has a purpuric rash that does not fade under a glass. What is the priority?

  1. A.Treat as meningococcal disease and escalate at once for IV antibiotics
  2. B.Give paracetamol, then reassess the rash and temperature again in 1 hour
  3. C.Photograph the rash, then refer the child to the dermatology team as routine
  4. D.Reassure the parents and advise them to monitor the rash closely at home
Show answer and explanation

✓ Answer: A. Treat as meningococcal disease and escalate at once for IV antibiotics

A non-blanching rash in a febrile child should be treated as meningococcal septicaemia until proven otherwise. It is a time-critical emergency that needs immediate escalation and parenteral antibiotics without delay.

Question 3 · Professional values & accountability

A 14-year-old wants to consent to treatment without involving her parents. Which principle is used to decide whether she can consent herself?

  1. A.The Fraser guidelines, which cover treatment of under-16s in general
  2. B.Parental consent, which is needed for treatment before age 16
  3. C.Gillick competence: whether she fully understands what is proposed
  4. D.The Mental Health Act 1983, which covers consent for young people
Show answer and explanation

✓ Answer: C. Gillick competence: whether she fully understands what is proposed

A child under 16 can consent to their own treatment if they are judged Gillick competent. The Fraser guidelines are a related, narrower set of criteria that apply specifically to contraception and sexual health advice.

Question 4 · Professional values & accountability

A 9-year-old tells you that an adult at home hurts them, and asks you to keep it a secret. How should you respond?

  1. A.Promise to keep it secret, so the child keeps trusting you and tells you more
  2. B.Ask detailed questions about what happened, so you have evidence to report
  3. C.Explain that you'll need to discuss it with the child's parents before doing anything
  4. D.Listen, explain you can't keep it secret, and follow safeguarding policy
Show answer and explanation

✓ Answer: D. Listen, explain you can't keep it secret, and follow safeguarding policy

Never promise confidentiality when a child discloses abuse. Listen, reassure them they did the right thing, avoid leading questions, record what they said in their own words, and report to the safeguarding lead under local procedures. Do not alert anyone who may be the abuser.

Topics covered

  • Clinical nursing practice
  • Professional values & accountability
  • Communication
  • Leadership & management
  • Nursing calculations

Other fields of nursing

Frequently asked questions

Is the NMC CBT different for children's nursing?

Partly. The NMC's test specification says 90% of the CBT content is generic and could be assessed in any field of nursing, and 10% of the Part B clinical questions are specific to your field. Part A numeracy follows the same blueprint for every field.

What is the pass mark for the NMC CBT for children's nursing?

Part A numeracy needs 13 out of 15 (87%) in every field. Part B pass marks vary between the nursing fields to reflect the difficulty of each test, but the NMC says they are generally set between 60% and 70%.

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