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KAPLAN PEDIATRIC NURSING PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
PEDIATRIC
Prepare for the Kaplan Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam with a focused study resource
covering essential concepts in pediatric nursing and age-appropriate patient care. It
supports review of growth and development, pediatric assessment, common
childhood conditions, medication considerations, safety, patient education, and
nursing interventions. Use the material to reinforce key knowledge, strengthen clinical
judgment, and identify areas that may require additional review. This resource is best
suited for nursing students and NCLEX candidates preparing for pediatric nursing
assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit.
Which developmental milestone should the nurse expect the infant to
have achieved?
A) Sitting without support
B) Rolling from back to abdomen
C) Grasping a rattle voluntarily
D) Saying "mama" and "dada"
Answer: C) Grasping a rattle voluntarily
Rationale: At 4 months, infants can voluntarily grasp objects, hold a rattle,
and bring objects to their mouth. Rolling from back to abdomen typically
occurs at 5-6 months. Sitting without support occurs at 7-8 months.
Saying "mama" and "dada" occurs at 10-12 months.
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2. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill
should the nurse expect the infant to have developed?
A) Pincer grasp
B) Palmar grasp
C) Holding a crayon
D) Stacking blocks
Answer: A) Pincer grasp
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using the thumb and forefinger to pick up
small objects) develops around 9-10 months. The palmar grasp is present
at birth and disappears around 4-6 months. Holding a crayon and stacking
blocks are skills of a toddler (12-18 months).
3. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 15-month-
old toddler. Which developmental task should the nurse discuss?
A) Separation anxiety
B) Parallel play
C) Stranger anxiety
D) Object permanence
Answer: B) Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers engage in parallel play (playing alongside other
children without interacting). Separation anxiety peaks at 10-18 months
but is more prominent in infancy. Stranger anxiety peaks at 6-8 months.
Object permanence develops at 8-12 months.
4. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which language milestone
should the nurse expect?
A) Using 2-3 word sentences
B) Speaking in complete sentences
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C) Asking "why" questions
D) Naming body parts
Answer: A) Using 2-3 word sentences
Rationale: At 2 years, children typically use 2-3 word sentences (e.g.,
"more milk," "go bye-bye"). Complete sentences and "why" questions are
expected at 3-4 years. Naming body parts occurs at 18-24 months.
5. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect?
A) Tying shoelaces
B) Riding a tricycle
C) Using scissors
D) B and C
Answer: D) B and C
Rationale: At 4 years, children can ride a tricycle, use scissors, and copy
shapes. Tying shoelaces is a skill expected at 5-6 years. The 4-year-old is
also more independent and can dress independently with minimal
assistance.
6. A nurse is assessing a 6-year-old child. Which cognitive milestone
should the nurse expect according to Piaget's theory?
A) Preoperational stage
B) Concrete operational stage
C) Formal operational stage
D) Sensorimotor stage
Answer: B) Concrete operational stage
Rationale: According to Piaget, the concrete operational stage (7-11 years)
is characterized by logical thinking, conservation, and understanding of
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cause and effect. The preoperational stage is for 2-7 years, formal
operational for adolescence, and sensorimotor for infancy.
7. A nurse is assessing an adolescent for signs of normal psychosocial
development according to Erikson. The nurse should identify that the
primary developmental task for this age group is:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Identity vs. Role Confusion
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Intimacy vs. Isolation
Answer: B) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: According to Erikson, adolescence is the stage of Identity vs.
Role Confusion. The adolescent explores roles, values, and beliefs to
develop a sense of identity. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy, Industry vs.
Inferiority is school age, and Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood.
8. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 5-year-old
child. Which developmental task should the nurse discuss?
A) Development of independence
B) Development of fine motor skills
C) Development of peer relationships
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: At 5 years, children are developing independence, fine motor
skills (drawing, writing), and peer relationships. They are also learning
school readiness skills and following rules. Anticipatory guidance should
address these developmental tasks.
KAPLAN PEDIATRIC NURSING PRACTICE EXAM 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
PEDIATRIC
Prepare for the Kaplan Pediatric Nursing Practice Exam with a focused study resource
covering essential concepts in pediatric nursing and age-appropriate patient care. It
supports review of growth and development, pediatric assessment, common
childhood conditions, medication considerations, safety, patient education, and
nursing interventions. Use the material to reinforce key knowledge, strengthen clinical
judgment, and identify areas that may require additional review. This resource is best
suited for nursing students and NCLEX candidates preparing for pediatric nursing
assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit.
Which developmental milestone should the nurse expect the infant to
have achieved?
A) Sitting without support
B) Rolling from back to abdomen
C) Grasping a rattle voluntarily
D) Saying "mama" and "dada"
Answer: C) Grasping a rattle voluntarily
Rationale: At 4 months, infants can voluntarily grasp objects, hold a rattle,
and bring objects to their mouth. Rolling from back to abdomen typically
occurs at 5-6 months. Sitting without support occurs at 7-8 months.
Saying "mama" and "dada" occurs at 10-12 months.
, Page 2 of 46
2. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. Which fine motor skill
should the nurse expect the infant to have developed?
A) Pincer grasp
B) Palmar grasp
C) Holding a crayon
D) Stacking blocks
Answer: A) Pincer grasp
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using the thumb and forefinger to pick up
small objects) develops around 9-10 months. The palmar grasp is present
at birth and disappears around 4-6 months. Holding a crayon and stacking
blocks are skills of a toddler (12-18 months).
3. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 15-month-
old toddler. Which developmental task should the nurse discuss?
A) Separation anxiety
B) Parallel play
C) Stranger anxiety
D) Object permanence
Answer: B) Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers engage in parallel play (playing alongside other
children without interacting). Separation anxiety peaks at 10-18 months
but is more prominent in infancy. Stranger anxiety peaks at 6-8 months.
Object permanence develops at 8-12 months.
4. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which language milestone
should the nurse expect?
A) Using 2-3 word sentences
B) Speaking in complete sentences
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C) Asking "why" questions
D) Naming body parts
Answer: A) Using 2-3 word sentences
Rationale: At 2 years, children typically use 2-3 word sentences (e.g.,
"more milk," "go bye-bye"). Complete sentences and "why" questions are
expected at 3-4 years. Naming body parts occurs at 18-24 months.
5. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect?
A) Tying shoelaces
B) Riding a tricycle
C) Using scissors
D) B and C
Answer: D) B and C
Rationale: At 4 years, children can ride a tricycle, use scissors, and copy
shapes. Tying shoelaces is a skill expected at 5-6 years. The 4-year-old is
also more independent and can dress independently with minimal
assistance.
6. A nurse is assessing a 6-year-old child. Which cognitive milestone
should the nurse expect according to Piaget's theory?
A) Preoperational stage
B) Concrete operational stage
C) Formal operational stage
D) Sensorimotor stage
Answer: B) Concrete operational stage
Rationale: According to Piaget, the concrete operational stage (7-11 years)
is characterized by logical thinking, conservation, and understanding of
, Page 4 of 46
cause and effect. The preoperational stage is for 2-7 years, formal
operational for adolescence, and sensorimotor for infancy.
7. A nurse is assessing an adolescent for signs of normal psychosocial
development according to Erikson. The nurse should identify that the
primary developmental task for this age group is:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Identity vs. Role Confusion
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Intimacy vs. Isolation
Answer: B) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: According to Erikson, adolescence is the stage of Identity vs.
Role Confusion. The adolescent explores roles, values, and beliefs to
develop a sense of identity. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy, Industry vs.
Inferiority is school age, and Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood.
8. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 5-year-old
child. Which developmental task should the nurse discuss?
A) Development of independence
B) Development of fine motor skills
C) Development of peer relationships
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: At 5 years, children are developing independence, fine motor
skills (drawing, writing), and peer relationships. They are also learning
school readiness skills and following rules. Anticipatory guidance should
address these developmental tasks.
