COMPREHENSIVE ATI PEDIATRICS
PROCTORED EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES/GRADED
A+/2026 UPDATE/100% CORRECT
/INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
finding requires further evaluation?
A. Birth weight has doubled.
B. Posterior fontanel is closed.
C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine.
D. The infant rolls from back to front.
Correct Answer: C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine.
Rationale: Legs remaining crossed and extended (scissoring) indicates increased
muscle tone and is a potential sign of cerebral palsy or a neurological disorder. The
posterior fontanel should close by 2-3 months, and rolling/weight doubling are
expected by 6 months .
2. A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 2-year-old child who
was found holding an open container of toilet bowl cleaner. The child’s lips are
edematous and inflamed, and he is drooling. What is the priority action?
A. Remove the child’s contaminated clothing.
B. Administer an antidote.
C. Check the child’s respiratory status.
D. Establish IV access.
Correct Answer: C. Check the child’s respiratory status.
Rationale: Airway is always the priority in the ABC framework. Edematous lips and
drooling suggest oropharyngeal burns and impending airway obstruction.
Assessment of respiratory status must occur before any other intervention .
,3. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to parents of a 1-week-old infant
postoperative following a cleft palate repair. The nurse should recommend a
referral to which member of the interprofessional team?
A. Occupational therapist
B. Physical therapist
C. Speech therapist
D. Respiratory therapist
Correct Answer: C. Speech therapist.
Rationale: Speech therapy is essential for a child post-cleft palate repair to support
articulation and speech development, as the palate is crucial for normal sound
production .
4. NGN Case Study: The nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child in a clinic. (Select
all that apply.) Which of the following developmental findings are expected for
this age?
A. Ties shoelaces independently.
B. Participates in parallel play.
C. Has an imaginary friend.
D. Rides a tricycle.
E. Understands abstract concepts like time.
Correct Answers: C, D.
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-5 years) often have imaginary friends (C) and can ride
tricycles (D). Tying shoelaces occurs in school-age; parallel play is toddler behavior;
abstract time concepts develop much later .
5. An 18-month-old toddler is brought to the ER with stridor, a "barking"
cough, and moderate intercostal retractions. The parent states the child was
well yesterday but woke up sick. Which intervention should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Immediate intubation
B. Cool mist humidified oxygen
C. Throat culture
D. Antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Cool mist humidified oxygen.
Rationale: These symptoms describe moderate croup (laryngotracheobronchitis).
Cool mist helps reduce subglottic edema. Intubation is reserved for severe cases with
impending failure .
6. A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old child’s psychosocial development. Which
finding requires further evaluation?
A. The child prefers playmates of the same sex.
B. The child is competitive when playing board games.
, C. The child complains daily about going to school.
D. The child enjoys spending time alone.
Correct Answer: C. The child complains daily about going to school.
Rationale: While some school reluctance is normal, daily complaints may indicate
bullying, learning disabilities, or separation anxiety. The other behaviors are typical
for school-age children .
7. A school-age child with sickle cell anemia is admitted with a vaso-occlusive
crisis. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Apply cold compresses to painful joints.
B. Restrict oral fluids to prevent over-hydration.
C. Administer IV fluids and opioid pain medication.
D. Position the child for high-Fowler’s.
Correct Answer: C. Administer IV fluids and opioid pain medication.
Rationale: Hydration reduces blood viscosity, and opioids are required for severe
pain. Cold compresses cause vasoconstriction, worsening the crisis .
8. A nurse is caring for an infant with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Which
action should the nurse implement to limit the spread of infection?
A. Place the infant in a negative-pressure room.
B. Wear an N95 mask during all care.
C. Have a designated stethoscope remain in the infant's room.
D. Move the infant to a room with a child who has a cold.
Correct Answer: C. Have a designated stethoscope remain in the infant's room.
Rationale: RSV is spread via contact and large droplets. Contact precautions (gown,
gloves) and equipment dedicated to the room prevent transmission. Negative
pressure is for airborne diseases (TB, Measles) .
9. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old child about development
during the toddler years. Which statement should the nurse include?
A. "Your child should refer to himself using the appropriate pronoun by 18 months."
B. "A toddler’s interest in looking at pictures occurs at 20 months."
C. "A toddler should have daytime control of bowel and bladder by 24 months."
D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at 15
months."
Correct Answer: D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a
crayon at 15 months."
Rationale: Fine motor skills develop rapidly; scribbling spontaneously is expected
around 15 months. Pronouns develop later; daytime control varies widely, but "by 24
months" is often too rigid as mastery varies .
PROCTORED EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES/GRADED
A+/2026 UPDATE/100% CORRECT
/INSTANT DOWNLOAD
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
finding requires further evaluation?
A. Birth weight has doubled.
B. Posterior fontanel is closed.
C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine.
D. The infant rolls from back to front.
Correct Answer: C. Legs remain crossed and extended when supine.
Rationale: Legs remaining crossed and extended (scissoring) indicates increased
muscle tone and is a potential sign of cerebral palsy or a neurological disorder. The
posterior fontanel should close by 2-3 months, and rolling/weight doubling are
expected by 6 months .
2. A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 2-year-old child who
was found holding an open container of toilet bowl cleaner. The child’s lips are
edematous and inflamed, and he is drooling. What is the priority action?
A. Remove the child’s contaminated clothing.
B. Administer an antidote.
C. Check the child’s respiratory status.
D. Establish IV access.
Correct Answer: C. Check the child’s respiratory status.
Rationale: Airway is always the priority in the ABC framework. Edematous lips and
drooling suggest oropharyngeal burns and impending airway obstruction.
Assessment of respiratory status must occur before any other intervention .
,3. A nurse is providing discharge teaching to parents of a 1-week-old infant
postoperative following a cleft palate repair. The nurse should recommend a
referral to which member of the interprofessional team?
A. Occupational therapist
B. Physical therapist
C. Speech therapist
D. Respiratory therapist
Correct Answer: C. Speech therapist.
Rationale: Speech therapy is essential for a child post-cleft palate repair to support
articulation and speech development, as the palate is crucial for normal sound
production .
4. NGN Case Study: The nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child in a clinic. (Select
all that apply.) Which of the following developmental findings are expected for
this age?
A. Ties shoelaces independently.
B. Participates in parallel play.
C. Has an imaginary friend.
D. Rides a tricycle.
E. Understands abstract concepts like time.
Correct Answers: C, D.
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-5 years) often have imaginary friends (C) and can ride
tricycles (D). Tying shoelaces occurs in school-age; parallel play is toddler behavior;
abstract time concepts develop much later .
5. An 18-month-old toddler is brought to the ER with stridor, a "barking"
cough, and moderate intercostal retractions. The parent states the child was
well yesterday but woke up sick. Which intervention should the nurse
anticipate?
A. Immediate intubation
B. Cool mist humidified oxygen
C. Throat culture
D. Antibiotics
Correct Answer: B. Cool mist humidified oxygen.
Rationale: These symptoms describe moderate croup (laryngotracheobronchitis).
Cool mist helps reduce subglottic edema. Intubation is reserved for severe cases with
impending failure .
6. A nurse is assessing a 7-year-old child’s psychosocial development. Which
finding requires further evaluation?
A. The child prefers playmates of the same sex.
B. The child is competitive when playing board games.
, C. The child complains daily about going to school.
D. The child enjoys spending time alone.
Correct Answer: C. The child complains daily about going to school.
Rationale: While some school reluctance is normal, daily complaints may indicate
bullying, learning disabilities, or separation anxiety. The other behaviors are typical
for school-age children .
7. A school-age child with sickle cell anemia is admitted with a vaso-occlusive
crisis. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Apply cold compresses to painful joints.
B. Restrict oral fluids to prevent over-hydration.
C. Administer IV fluids and opioid pain medication.
D. Position the child for high-Fowler’s.
Correct Answer: C. Administer IV fluids and opioid pain medication.
Rationale: Hydration reduces blood viscosity, and opioids are required for severe
pain. Cold compresses cause vasoconstriction, worsening the crisis .
8. A nurse is caring for an infant with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Which
action should the nurse implement to limit the spread of infection?
A. Place the infant in a negative-pressure room.
B. Wear an N95 mask during all care.
C. Have a designated stethoscope remain in the infant's room.
D. Move the infant to a room with a child who has a cold.
Correct Answer: C. Have a designated stethoscope remain in the infant's room.
Rationale: RSV is spread via contact and large droplets. Contact precautions (gown,
gloves) and equipment dedicated to the room prevent transmission. Negative
pressure is for airborne diseases (TB, Measles) .
9. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old child about development
during the toddler years. Which statement should the nurse include?
A. "Your child should refer to himself using the appropriate pronoun by 18 months."
B. "A toddler’s interest in looking at pictures occurs at 20 months."
C. "A toddler should have daytime control of bowel and bladder by 24 months."
D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at 15
months."
Correct Answer: D. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a
crayon at 15 months."
Rationale: Fine motor skills develop rapidly; scribbling spontaneously is expected
around 15 months. Pronouns develop later; daytime control varies widely, but "by 24
months" is often too rigid as mastery varies .
