Page 1 of 81
NU 170 EXAM 1 HIGH-YIELD MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
NU 170 EXAM 1: High-Yield Maternal-Child Nursing Practice Questions with
Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-50)
1. According to Erikson, which psychosocial stage corresponds to a 4-year-old child?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Answer: B. Initiative vs. Guilt
Rationale: Preschool children (ages 3-6) are in the Initiative vs. Guilt stage, where they
assert power and control through directing play and social interactions. Trust vs. Mistrust is
infancy (birth-18 months). Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is toddlerhood (18 months-3
years). Industry vs. Inferiority is school-age (6-12 years). This developmental framework is
essential for understanding pediatric behavior and providing age-appropriate care.
2. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child's play patterns. Which type of play is most
common and developmentally appropriate for this age group?
A. Cooperative play
B. Parallel play
C. Associative play
D. Solitary play
Answer: B. Parallel play
Rationale: At 2 years of age, toddlers engage mainly in parallel play, where they play
alongside other children but do not directly interact. This reflects their developmental stage
, Page 2 of 81
where social interaction is emerging but not yet fully established. Cooperative and
associative play develop later during the preschool years.
3. According to Piaget, what is the cognitive stage of an 8-year-old child?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Answer: C. Concrete operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage (approximately 7-11 years) is characterized by the
development of logical thought about concrete events. Children begin understanding
conservation, classification, and multiple perspectives. Sensorimotor (birth-2 years),
Preoperational (2-7 years), and Formal operational (11+ years) represent different cognitive
stages.
4. A 5-year-old hospitalized child begins bed wetting. How should the nurse respond?
A. "You should stop this behavior immediately."
B. "This is a sign of regression and common during hospitalization."
C. "Let's punish if this happens again."
D. "We should notify child protective services."
Answer: B. "This is a sign of regression and common during hospitalization."
Rationale: Regression is a normal response to stress or illness in children. Bedwetting may
reoccur during hospitalization, reflecting the child's temporary inability to cope. Punishment
is inappropriate, and this does not indicate abuse. Supporting the child through this
temporary setback is the therapeutic approach.
5. A 5-year-old child hospitalized for pneumonia starts using baby talk. How should the
nurse respond?
A. Discourage the behavior immediately
B. Ignore the behavior
C. Recognize the behavior as a normal regression due to stress
D. Punish the behavior
Answer: C. Recognize the behavior as a normal regression due to stress
, Page 3 of 81
Rationale: Regression is a normal coping mechanism in children facing stress such as
hospitalization. Nurses should provide supportive care rather than punishment. This
behavior typically resolves once the child's stress decreases.
6. Which action should a nurse take to help a toddler experiencing separation anxiety in
the hospital?
A. Encourage parents to room in with the child
B. Ignore the child's crying
C. Use restraints to prevent wandering
D. Limit parental visits
Answer: A. Encourage parents to room in with the child
Rationale: Parental presence provides security and reduces separation anxiety in toddlers.
Hospitalization can be a frightening experience, and family-centered care is essential.
Restraints are not appropriate, and ignoring crying is not therapeutic.
7. What is a priority goal for the care of a hospitalized toddler?
A. Teaching new skills
B. Maintaining trust through consistent care
C. Promoting independence through choices
D. Encouraging complex social interactions
Answer: B. Maintaining trust through consistent care
Rationale: Toddlers thrive on routine and consistency. Consistent caregivers help maintain
trust, reduce separation anxiety, and provide emotional security during hospitalization.
Teaching new skills is not the priority during an acute illness.
8. The nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child's cognitive development. According to
Piaget, which thinking pattern is characteristic of this age?
A. Egocentric thinking only
B. Magical thinking and animism
C. Logical thinking about concrete events
D. Abstract and hypothetical reasoning
Answer: B. Magical thinking and animism
Rationale: During the preoperational stage (2-7 years), children engage in magical thinking
and animism, believing that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities and that their thoughts
, Page 4 of 81
can cause events. Egocentrism is also present, but magical thinking and animism are
hallmarks of this stage.
9. The nurse is assessing the fine motor skills of a 3-year-old child. Which skill is
expected at this age?
A. Drawing a circle
B. Tying shoelaces
C. Using scissors to cut along a line
D. Copying a square
Answer: A. Drawing a circle
Rationale: At 3 years, children can typically draw a circle. Tying shoelaces and cutting along
a line are skills expected around 5-6 years. Copying a square is expected around 4-5 years.
10. A 15-month-old toddler has a dental checkup. Which finding is within the expected
range for this age?
A. 4 teeth
B. 9 teeth
C. 12 teeth
D. 16 teeth
Answer: B. 9 teeth
Rationale: At 15 months, toddlers typically have about 8-12 teeth. Nine teeth is within the
expected range, as primary teeth erupt between 6 and 24 months. Four teeth is too few, and
16 is excessive for this age.
SECTION 2: PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS (Questions 11-25)
11. Which symptom is an early sign of respiratory distress in a child with Respiratory
Syncytial Virus (RSV)?
A. Bradycardia
B. Cyanosis
C. Tachypnea
D. Dyspnea
Answer: C. Tachypnea
NU 170 EXAM 1 HIGH-YIELD MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
NU 170 EXAM 1: High-Yield Maternal-Child Nursing Practice Questions with
Rationales
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1-50)
1. According to Erikson, which psychosocial stage corresponds to a 4-year-old child?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Answer: B. Initiative vs. Guilt
Rationale: Preschool children (ages 3-6) are in the Initiative vs. Guilt stage, where they
assert power and control through directing play and social interactions. Trust vs. Mistrust is
infancy (birth-18 months). Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is toddlerhood (18 months-3
years). Industry vs. Inferiority is school-age (6-12 years). This developmental framework is
essential for understanding pediatric behavior and providing age-appropriate care.
2. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child's play patterns. Which type of play is most
common and developmentally appropriate for this age group?
A. Cooperative play
B. Parallel play
C. Associative play
D. Solitary play
Answer: B. Parallel play
Rationale: At 2 years of age, toddlers engage mainly in parallel play, where they play
alongside other children but do not directly interact. This reflects their developmental stage
, Page 2 of 81
where social interaction is emerging but not yet fully established. Cooperative and
associative play develop later during the preschool years.
3. According to Piaget, what is the cognitive stage of an 8-year-old child?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Answer: C. Concrete operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage (approximately 7-11 years) is characterized by the
development of logical thought about concrete events. Children begin understanding
conservation, classification, and multiple perspectives. Sensorimotor (birth-2 years),
Preoperational (2-7 years), and Formal operational (11+ years) represent different cognitive
stages.
4. A 5-year-old hospitalized child begins bed wetting. How should the nurse respond?
A. "You should stop this behavior immediately."
B. "This is a sign of regression and common during hospitalization."
C. "Let's punish if this happens again."
D. "We should notify child protective services."
Answer: B. "This is a sign of regression and common during hospitalization."
Rationale: Regression is a normal response to stress or illness in children. Bedwetting may
reoccur during hospitalization, reflecting the child's temporary inability to cope. Punishment
is inappropriate, and this does not indicate abuse. Supporting the child through this
temporary setback is the therapeutic approach.
5. A 5-year-old child hospitalized for pneumonia starts using baby talk. How should the
nurse respond?
A. Discourage the behavior immediately
B. Ignore the behavior
C. Recognize the behavior as a normal regression due to stress
D. Punish the behavior
Answer: C. Recognize the behavior as a normal regression due to stress
, Page 3 of 81
Rationale: Regression is a normal coping mechanism in children facing stress such as
hospitalization. Nurses should provide supportive care rather than punishment. This
behavior typically resolves once the child's stress decreases.
6. Which action should a nurse take to help a toddler experiencing separation anxiety in
the hospital?
A. Encourage parents to room in with the child
B. Ignore the child's crying
C. Use restraints to prevent wandering
D. Limit parental visits
Answer: A. Encourage parents to room in with the child
Rationale: Parental presence provides security and reduces separation anxiety in toddlers.
Hospitalization can be a frightening experience, and family-centered care is essential.
Restraints are not appropriate, and ignoring crying is not therapeutic.
7. What is a priority goal for the care of a hospitalized toddler?
A. Teaching new skills
B. Maintaining trust through consistent care
C. Promoting independence through choices
D. Encouraging complex social interactions
Answer: B. Maintaining trust through consistent care
Rationale: Toddlers thrive on routine and consistency. Consistent caregivers help maintain
trust, reduce separation anxiety, and provide emotional security during hospitalization.
Teaching new skills is not the priority during an acute illness.
8. The nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child's cognitive development. According to
Piaget, which thinking pattern is characteristic of this age?
A. Egocentric thinking only
B. Magical thinking and animism
C. Logical thinking about concrete events
D. Abstract and hypothetical reasoning
Answer: B. Magical thinking and animism
Rationale: During the preoperational stage (2-7 years), children engage in magical thinking
and animism, believing that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities and that their thoughts
, Page 4 of 81
can cause events. Egocentrism is also present, but magical thinking and animism are
hallmarks of this stage.
9. The nurse is assessing the fine motor skills of a 3-year-old child. Which skill is
expected at this age?
A. Drawing a circle
B. Tying shoelaces
C. Using scissors to cut along a line
D. Copying a square
Answer: A. Drawing a circle
Rationale: At 3 years, children can typically draw a circle. Tying shoelaces and cutting along
a line are skills expected around 5-6 years. Copying a square is expected around 4-5 years.
10. A 15-month-old toddler has a dental checkup. Which finding is within the expected
range for this age?
A. 4 teeth
B. 9 teeth
C. 12 teeth
D. 16 teeth
Answer: B. 9 teeth
Rationale: At 15 months, toddlers typically have about 8-12 teeth. Nine teeth is within the
expected range, as primary teeth erupt between 6 and 24 months. Four teeth is too few, and
16 is excessive for this age.
SECTION 2: PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS (Questions 11-25)
11. Which symptom is an early sign of respiratory distress in a child with Respiratory
Syncytial Virus (RSV)?
A. Bradycardia
B. Cyanosis
C. Tachypnea
D. Dyspnea
Answer: C. Tachypnea
