2026 ATI PN PEDIATRIC PROCTORED
EXAM STUDY GUIDE HIGH-YIELD NGN
QUESTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Master your upcoming nursing assessment with this
comprehensive, 100% verified practice bank specifically designed
for the 2026 ATI PN Pediatric Proctored Exam. This high-yield
study package features Next-Generation NCLEX (NGN) unfolding
case studies, complex dosage calculations, and critical
prioritization scenarios styled with italicised answers and bolded
rationales for rapid, high-retention learning. Perfect for nursing
students aiming for a Level 3 score, this premium resource
guarantees maximum preparation and concept mastery.
Section 1: Growth and Development (Questions
1–12)
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant
during a well-child visit. Which of the following
developmental milestones should the nurse
expect the infant to exhibit?
A) Sitting up unsupported
B) Using a neat pincer grasp
C) Rolling from back to side
D) Exhibiting a stranger anxiety response
Correct Answer: C) Rolling from back to side
Rationale: Infants typically learn to roll from
back to side by 4 months of age. Sitting up
unsupported usually occurs around 6 to 8
,months, a neat pincer grasp develops around 11
to 12 months, and stranger anxiety peaks
between 6 and 9 months.
Q2. A nurse is evaluating a 12-month-old infant's
fine motor skills. Which of the following findings
indicates normal development?
A) Building a tower of six blocks
B) Turning pages of a book one at a time
C) Placing a small object into a container
D) Cutting shapes out of paper with scissors
Correct Answer: C) Placing a small object into a
container
Rationale: By 12 months, an infant should be
able to drop small objects into containers, use a
neat pincer grasp, and attempt to stack two
blocks. Stacking six blocks is a 24-month
milestone, turning single pages occurs around
21 to 24 months, and scissor usage is a
preschool skill (3 to 4 years).
Q3. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to
the guardian of a 15-month-old toddler regarding
speech development. Which milestone should
the nurse mention as expected for this age?
A) Using 4 to 6 words correctly
B) Speaking in 3-word sentences
,C) Having a vocabulary of 50 words
D) Pointing to a body part when asked
Correct Answer: A) Using 4 to 6 words correctly
Rationale: A 15-month-old toddler typically uses
4 to 6 words meaningfully. Speaking in short
sentences and having a 50-word vocabulary are
expected milestones at 24 months of age.
Q4. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, which of the
following behaviors should a nurse expect to
observe in a 2-year-old toddler?
A) Asking "Why?" regarding every instruction
B) Playing cooperatively with a group of children
C) Expressing frustration by saying "No!" frequently
D) Showing a high level of guilt when making a
mistake
Correct Answer: C) Expressing frustration by saying
"No!" frequently
Rationale: Toddlers aged 1 to 3 years are in the
"Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt" stage.
Negativism (saying "No!") and ritualism are
classic manifestations of trying to exert
independence. Cooperative play and asking
"Why?" are characteristics of preschoolers.
, Q5. A nurse is observing toddlers in a hospital
playroom. Which type of play should the nurse
expect to witness among the 2-year-old
children?
A) Associative play
B) Cooperative play
C) Parallel play
D) Solitary play
Correct Answer: C) Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers engage in parallel play,
where they play independently alongside other
children but do not play cooperatively with them.
Infants engage in solitary play, while
preschoolers progress to associative and
cooperative play.
Q6. A nurse is teaching the parents of a 4-year-
old child about normal cognitive development.
According to Piaget, which stage of development
is this child experiencing?
A) Sensorimotor stage
B) Preoperational stage
C) Concrete operational stage
D) Formal operational stage
Correct Answer: B) Preoperational stage
Rationale: Children aged 2 to 7 years are in
EXAM STUDY GUIDE HIGH-YIELD NGN
QUESTIONS & EXPLANATIONS
Master your upcoming nursing assessment with this
comprehensive, 100% verified practice bank specifically designed
for the 2026 ATI PN Pediatric Proctored Exam. This high-yield
study package features Next-Generation NCLEX (NGN) unfolding
case studies, complex dosage calculations, and critical
prioritization scenarios styled with italicised answers and bolded
rationales for rapid, high-retention learning. Perfect for nursing
students aiming for a Level 3 score, this premium resource
guarantees maximum preparation and concept mastery.
Section 1: Growth and Development (Questions
1–12)
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant
during a well-child visit. Which of the following
developmental milestones should the nurse
expect the infant to exhibit?
A) Sitting up unsupported
B) Using a neat pincer grasp
C) Rolling from back to side
D) Exhibiting a stranger anxiety response
Correct Answer: C) Rolling from back to side
Rationale: Infants typically learn to roll from
back to side by 4 months of age. Sitting up
unsupported usually occurs around 6 to 8
,months, a neat pincer grasp develops around 11
to 12 months, and stranger anxiety peaks
between 6 and 9 months.
Q2. A nurse is evaluating a 12-month-old infant's
fine motor skills. Which of the following findings
indicates normal development?
A) Building a tower of six blocks
B) Turning pages of a book one at a time
C) Placing a small object into a container
D) Cutting shapes out of paper with scissors
Correct Answer: C) Placing a small object into a
container
Rationale: By 12 months, an infant should be
able to drop small objects into containers, use a
neat pincer grasp, and attempt to stack two
blocks. Stacking six blocks is a 24-month
milestone, turning single pages occurs around
21 to 24 months, and scissor usage is a
preschool skill (3 to 4 years).
Q3. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to
the guardian of a 15-month-old toddler regarding
speech development. Which milestone should
the nurse mention as expected for this age?
A) Using 4 to 6 words correctly
B) Speaking in 3-word sentences
,C) Having a vocabulary of 50 words
D) Pointing to a body part when asked
Correct Answer: A) Using 4 to 6 words correctly
Rationale: A 15-month-old toddler typically uses
4 to 6 words meaningfully. Speaking in short
sentences and having a 50-word vocabulary are
expected milestones at 24 months of age.
Q4. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, which of the
following behaviors should a nurse expect to
observe in a 2-year-old toddler?
A) Asking "Why?" regarding every instruction
B) Playing cooperatively with a group of children
C) Expressing frustration by saying "No!" frequently
D) Showing a high level of guilt when making a
mistake
Correct Answer: C) Expressing frustration by saying
"No!" frequently
Rationale: Toddlers aged 1 to 3 years are in the
"Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt" stage.
Negativism (saying "No!") and ritualism are
classic manifestations of trying to exert
independence. Cooperative play and asking
"Why?" are characteristics of preschoolers.
, Q5. A nurse is observing toddlers in a hospital
playroom. Which type of play should the nurse
expect to witness among the 2-year-old
children?
A) Associative play
B) Cooperative play
C) Parallel play
D) Solitary play
Correct Answer: C) Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers engage in parallel play,
where they play independently alongside other
children but do not play cooperatively with them.
Infants engage in solitary play, while
preschoolers progress to associative and
cooperative play.
Q6. A nurse is teaching the parents of a 4-year-
old child about normal cognitive development.
According to Piaget, which stage of development
is this child experiencing?
A) Sensorimotor stage
B) Preoperational stage
C) Concrete operational stage
D) Formal operational stage
Correct Answer: B) Preoperational stage
Rationale: Children aged 2 to 7 years are in
