NUR 106 – Module G2: Pediatric Growth & Development,
Nursing Original Practice Questions & Answers |
Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing Study Guide & Exam
Preparation | Child Growth & Development,
Developmental Milestones, Infant & Toddler Development,
Preschool & School-Age Development, Adolescent
Development, Growth Assessment, Nutrition, Safety,
Health Promotion, Family-Centered Care & Detailed
Rationales
Question 1: A 2-year-old child is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. The
parent reports the child can walk up and down stairs by holding onto the
railing and can build a tower of six blocks. The nurse notes the child uses a
pincer grasp effectively. Which stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial
development is this child demonstrating?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Erikson's stage for toddlers (1-3 years) is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.
During this stage, children develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a
sense of independence. The child's ability to perform tasks like walking stairs and
building towers supports this developmental task, which focuses on self-mastery and
autonomy. Trust vs. Mistrust is for infancy (0-1 year), Initiative vs. Guilt is for preschool
(3-5 years), and Industry vs. Inferiority is for school-age (6-12 years).
Question 2: The nurse is educating a group of new parents on childhood
developmental milestones. A parent asks when an infant should be able to
hold a rattle and transfer objects from one hand to the other. Based on typical
development, which age range is most appropriate?
A. 2 to 4 months
B. 4 to 6 months
C. 7 to 9 months
D. 10 to 12 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 7 to 9 months
Rationale: The pincer grasp and the ability to transfer objects from one hand to the
other are fine motor milestones that typically develop between 7 and 9 months of age.
During this period, infants are also learning to use a raking motion and beginning to
hold a bottle. The 2- to 4-month-old is just starting to open hands and hold objects,
while 10- to 12-month-olds are already developing a superior pincer grasp.
,Question 3: A 5-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit. According to
Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the nurse should anticipate the child
to exhibit which characteristic related to cognitive processing?
A. Understanding the concept of conservation and reversibility
B. Engaging in symbolic play and having egocentric thoughts
C. Thinking abstractly and using logic to solve hypothetical problems
D. The ability to use inductive reasoning to formulate hypotheses
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Engaging in symbolic play and having egocentric
thoughts
Rationale: A 5-year-old is in the preoperational stage (2-7 years). Children in this stage
engage in symbolic play (using an object to represent another) and demonstrate
egocentrism, the inability to see a situation from another person's perspective. The
ability to understand conservation and reversibility is characteristic of the concrete
operational stage (7-11 years). Abstract thinking and hypothetical problem-solving occur
in the formal operational stage (11+ years).
Question 4: The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which developmental
finding indicates that the infant is at risk for a developmental delay and
warrants further investigation?
A. The infant is able to roll from back to abdomen.
B. The infant has a strong head lag when pulled to a sitting position.
C. The infant reaches for a rattle and shakes it.
D. The infant coos and babbles spontaneously.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The infant has a strong head lag when pulled to a
sitting position.
Rationale: By 6 months of age, infants should have little to no head lag when pulled to a
sitting position. Persistent head lag at this age is a significant warning sign for
neuromuscular or developmental delay. Rolling over, reaching for objects, and babbling
are all expected milestones for a 6-month-old.
Question 5: The clinic nurse is discussing dietary needs with the mother of a
14-month-old toddler. Which food item should the nurse instruct the mother to
avoid because it poses the greatest choking hazard?
A. Yogurt
B. Cheese cubes
C. Whole grapes
D. Cooked pasta
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Whole grapes
Rationale: Whole grapes are round and firm, making them a major choking hazard for
toddlers. They can easily become lodged in a child's airway. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends cutting round foods like grapes, hot dogs, and cherry tomatoes
,into small, non-round pieces. While cheese cubes and pasta can be hazards if large,
whole grapes are consistently cited as a primary high-risk food.
Question 6: A school nurse is assessing a 9-year-old child. According to
Piaget's theory, the nurse should expect the child to be able to do which of the
following?
A. Think about abstract concepts like justice and freedom.
B. Understand that a lump of clay can be reshaped into a ball without changing the
amount.
C. Communicate using a vocabulary of over 2,500 words.
D. Organize a collection of toy cars by color and speed simultaneously.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Understand that a lump of clay can be reshaped into a
ball without changing the amount.
Rationale: A 9-year-old is in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years). The hallmark of
this stage is the understanding of conservation—the ability to understand that quantity
remains the same despite changes in shape. Abstract reasoning is part of formal
operations (adolescence), and simultaneous classification (seriation) is also a concrete
skill, but conservation is the most definitive characteristic of this stage.
Question 7: During a well-baby checkup, the nurse notes that the 4-month-old
infant is able to hold the head erect and steady when held in a sitting position.
The nurse interprets this as:
A. A sign of advanced gross motor development.
B. An expected developmental milestone for this age.
C. A delayed milestone requiring a referral to physical therapy.
D. A deviation from normal that indicates possible cerebral palsy.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. An expected developmental milestone for this age.
Rationale: At 4 months of age, an infant should be able to hold their head steady and
erect when sitting with support. This is a normal expected gross motor milestone. Head
control is usually well established by 4-6 months. This finding is not advanced, delayed,
or indicative of a neurological issue like cerebral palsy, which might manifest with
persistent head lag or fisting.
Question 8: The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 3-
month-old infant. Which statement regarding dental health is the most
important for the nurse to include?
A. Begin brushing the infant's teeth with fluoridated toothpaste twice a day.
B. Schedule the infant's first dental appointment by the first birthday.
C. Clean the infant's gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush after feedings.
D. Avoid giving the infant a bottle of juice at naptime to prevent caries.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Clean the infant's gums with a soft cloth or infant
toothbrush after feedings.
, Rationale: At 3 months, teeth have not typically erupted. The primary anticipatory
guidance is to establish a habit of cleaning the gums after feeding to remove bacteria
and sugar. The first dental visit is recommended by age 1 or within 6 months of the first
tooth eruption. Fluoridated toothpaste is not used in large amounts until 2-3 years of
age.
Question 9: A 15-year-old adolescent tells the nurse, "I just don't understand
my parents. They want me to be responsible, but they treat me like a child."
The nurse recognizes this statement as typical of which developmental task of
adolescence?
A. Developing a sense of industry.
B. Resolving the crisis of identity vs. role confusion.
C. Achieving intimacy vs. isolation.
D. Overcoming the inferiority complex related to physical changes.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Resolving the crisis of identity vs. role confusion.
Rationale: During Erikson's stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescence), the
individual struggles to develop a sense of self and personal identity. The adolescent
often feels torn between their growing need for independence and the constraints
imposed by parents. This friction is a hallmark of this stage. Industry vs. Inferiority is
school-age, and Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood.
Question 10: A 6-year-old child is learning to ride a bicycle. The child sustains
a minor abrasion on the knee after a fall. The nurse should be aware that this
child is in which stage of Kohlberg's moral development?
A. Preconventional level: punishment and obedience orientation
B. Preconventional level: instrumental purpose orientation
C. Conventional level: "good boy-nice girl" orientation
D. Conventional level: law-and-order orientation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Preconventional level: punishment and obedience
orientation
Rationale: A 6-year-old is in the preconventional level of Kohlberg's theory. At this stage,
morality is externally controlled. The child follows rules to avoid punishment and is
aware of the consequences of actions. An instrumental purpose orientation (focus on
rewards) is more common in the 7-10-year-old group, and conventional morality doesn't
usually develop until later childhood/adolescence.
Question 11: The nurse is assessing the fine motor skills of a 10-month-old
infant. Which finding is most consistent with the expected developmental
milestone for this age?
A. Using a crude pincer grasp to pick up a Cheerio.
B. Building a tower of two cubes.
Nursing Original Practice Questions & Answers |
Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing Study Guide & Exam
Preparation | Child Growth & Development,
Developmental Milestones, Infant & Toddler Development,
Preschool & School-Age Development, Adolescent
Development, Growth Assessment, Nutrition, Safety,
Health Promotion, Family-Centered Care & Detailed
Rationales
Question 1: A 2-year-old child is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. The
parent reports the child can walk up and down stairs by holding onto the
railing and can build a tower of six blocks. The nurse notes the child uses a
pincer grasp effectively. Which stage of Erikson's theory of psychosocial
development is this child demonstrating?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Erikson's stage for toddlers (1-3 years) is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt.
During this stage, children develop a sense of personal control over physical skills and a
sense of independence. The child's ability to perform tasks like walking stairs and
building towers supports this developmental task, which focuses on self-mastery and
autonomy. Trust vs. Mistrust is for infancy (0-1 year), Initiative vs. Guilt is for preschool
(3-5 years), and Industry vs. Inferiority is for school-age (6-12 years).
Question 2: The nurse is educating a group of new parents on childhood
developmental milestones. A parent asks when an infant should be able to
hold a rattle and transfer objects from one hand to the other. Based on typical
development, which age range is most appropriate?
A. 2 to 4 months
B. 4 to 6 months
C. 7 to 9 months
D. 10 to 12 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 7 to 9 months
Rationale: The pincer grasp and the ability to transfer objects from one hand to the
other are fine motor milestones that typically develop between 7 and 9 months of age.
During this period, infants are also learning to use a raking motion and beginning to
hold a bottle. The 2- to 4-month-old is just starting to open hands and hold objects,
while 10- to 12-month-olds are already developing a superior pincer grasp.
,Question 3: A 5-year-old child is admitted to the pediatric unit. According to
Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the nurse should anticipate the child
to exhibit which characteristic related to cognitive processing?
A. Understanding the concept of conservation and reversibility
B. Engaging in symbolic play and having egocentric thoughts
C. Thinking abstractly and using logic to solve hypothetical problems
D. The ability to use inductive reasoning to formulate hypotheses
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Engaging in symbolic play and having egocentric
thoughts
Rationale: A 5-year-old is in the preoperational stage (2-7 years). Children in this stage
engage in symbolic play (using an object to represent another) and demonstrate
egocentrism, the inability to see a situation from another person's perspective. The
ability to understand conservation and reversibility is characteristic of the concrete
operational stage (7-11 years). Abstract thinking and hypothetical problem-solving occur
in the formal operational stage (11+ years).
Question 4: The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which developmental
finding indicates that the infant is at risk for a developmental delay and
warrants further investigation?
A. The infant is able to roll from back to abdomen.
B. The infant has a strong head lag when pulled to a sitting position.
C. The infant reaches for a rattle and shakes it.
D. The infant coos and babbles spontaneously.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The infant has a strong head lag when pulled to a
sitting position.
Rationale: By 6 months of age, infants should have little to no head lag when pulled to a
sitting position. Persistent head lag at this age is a significant warning sign for
neuromuscular or developmental delay. Rolling over, reaching for objects, and babbling
are all expected milestones for a 6-month-old.
Question 5: The clinic nurse is discussing dietary needs with the mother of a
14-month-old toddler. Which food item should the nurse instruct the mother to
avoid because it poses the greatest choking hazard?
A. Yogurt
B. Cheese cubes
C. Whole grapes
D. Cooked pasta
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Whole grapes
Rationale: Whole grapes are round and firm, making them a major choking hazard for
toddlers. They can easily become lodged in a child's airway. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends cutting round foods like grapes, hot dogs, and cherry tomatoes
,into small, non-round pieces. While cheese cubes and pasta can be hazards if large,
whole grapes are consistently cited as a primary high-risk food.
Question 6: A school nurse is assessing a 9-year-old child. According to
Piaget's theory, the nurse should expect the child to be able to do which of the
following?
A. Think about abstract concepts like justice and freedom.
B. Understand that a lump of clay can be reshaped into a ball without changing the
amount.
C. Communicate using a vocabulary of over 2,500 words.
D. Organize a collection of toy cars by color and speed simultaneously.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Understand that a lump of clay can be reshaped into a
ball without changing the amount.
Rationale: A 9-year-old is in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years). The hallmark of
this stage is the understanding of conservation—the ability to understand that quantity
remains the same despite changes in shape. Abstract reasoning is part of formal
operations (adolescence), and simultaneous classification (seriation) is also a concrete
skill, but conservation is the most definitive characteristic of this stage.
Question 7: During a well-baby checkup, the nurse notes that the 4-month-old
infant is able to hold the head erect and steady when held in a sitting position.
The nurse interprets this as:
A. A sign of advanced gross motor development.
B. An expected developmental milestone for this age.
C. A delayed milestone requiring a referral to physical therapy.
D. A deviation from normal that indicates possible cerebral palsy.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. An expected developmental milestone for this age.
Rationale: At 4 months of age, an infant should be able to hold their head steady and
erect when sitting with support. This is a normal expected gross motor milestone. Head
control is usually well established by 4-6 months. This finding is not advanced, delayed,
or indicative of a neurological issue like cerebral palsy, which might manifest with
persistent head lag or fisting.
Question 8: The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 3-
month-old infant. Which statement regarding dental health is the most
important for the nurse to include?
A. Begin brushing the infant's teeth with fluoridated toothpaste twice a day.
B. Schedule the infant's first dental appointment by the first birthday.
C. Clean the infant's gums with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush after feedings.
D. Avoid giving the infant a bottle of juice at naptime to prevent caries.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Clean the infant's gums with a soft cloth or infant
toothbrush after feedings.
, Rationale: At 3 months, teeth have not typically erupted. The primary anticipatory
guidance is to establish a habit of cleaning the gums after feeding to remove bacteria
and sugar. The first dental visit is recommended by age 1 or within 6 months of the first
tooth eruption. Fluoridated toothpaste is not used in large amounts until 2-3 years of
age.
Question 9: A 15-year-old adolescent tells the nurse, "I just don't understand
my parents. They want me to be responsible, but they treat me like a child."
The nurse recognizes this statement as typical of which developmental task of
adolescence?
A. Developing a sense of industry.
B. Resolving the crisis of identity vs. role confusion.
C. Achieving intimacy vs. isolation.
D. Overcoming the inferiority complex related to physical changes.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Resolving the crisis of identity vs. role confusion.
Rationale: During Erikson's stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion (adolescence), the
individual struggles to develop a sense of self and personal identity. The adolescent
often feels torn between their growing need for independence and the constraints
imposed by parents. This friction is a hallmark of this stage. Industry vs. Inferiority is
school-age, and Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood.
Question 10: A 6-year-old child is learning to ride a bicycle. The child sustains
a minor abrasion on the knee after a fall. The nurse should be aware that this
child is in which stage of Kohlberg's moral development?
A. Preconventional level: punishment and obedience orientation
B. Preconventional level: instrumental purpose orientation
C. Conventional level: "good boy-nice girl" orientation
D. Conventional level: law-and-order orientation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Preconventional level: punishment and obedience
orientation
Rationale: A 6-year-old is in the preconventional level of Kohlberg's theory. At this stage,
morality is externally controlled. The child follows rules to avoid punishment and is
aware of the consequences of actions. An instrumental purpose orientation (focus on
rewards) is more common in the 7-10-year-old group, and conventional morality doesn't
usually develop until later childhood/adolescence.
Question 11: The nurse is assessing the fine motor skills of a 10-month-old
infant. Which finding is most consistent with the expected developmental
milestone for this age?
A. Using a crude pincer grasp to pick up a Cheerio.
B. Building a tower of two cubes.
