ATI Pediatrics | ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Proctored
Exam 2026–2027 | ATI Pediatric Nursing / Nursing
Care of Children Study Guide | Growth & Development,
Pediatric Assessment, Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical
Disorders, Emergencies, Family-Centered Care, Clinical
Judgment, NGN & NCLEX-Style Practice Questions
with Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant at a well-
child visit. Which developmental milestone should the nurse expect
the infant to have achieved?
A. Rolling from back to side
B. Sitting without support
C. Crawling on hands and knees
D. Walking with assistance
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Rolling from back to side
Rationale: At 4 months of age, infants typically develop the ability to roll
from back to side. Sitting without support is expected at 6 to 8 months,
crawling at 6 to 10 months, and walking with assistance at 9 to 12 months.
Question 2: By what age should the anterior fontanel typically close
in an infant?
A. 2 to 3 months
B. 6 to 8 months
C. 12 to 18 months
D. 24 to 36 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 12 to 18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel typically closes by 12 to 18 months of age.
The posterior fontanel closes earlier, by 2 to 3 months of age.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which
finding indicates normal development?
A. The infant cannot hold a bottle
B. The infant plays peek-a-boo and demonstrates object permanence
,C. The infant cannot sit with support
D. The infant has not doubled birth weight
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The infant plays peek-a-boo and
demonstrates object permanence
Rationale: By 6 to 8 months, infants develop object permanence and enjoy
interactive games like peek-a-boo. Sitting with support is expected by 6
months, and birth weight should double by 4 to 6 months.
Question 4: A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents
of a 15-month-old toddler. Which statement by the parent indicates
understanding of normal development?
A. "My child should have 20 teeth by now."
B. "My child should be able to walk independently and use a few words."
C. "My child should be able to draw a circle."
D. "My child should be able to hop on one foot."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "My child should be able to walk
independently and use a few words."
Rationale: By 15 months, toddlers typically walk independently and use a
few words. They usually have 8 to 10 teeth, not 20. Drawing a circle is
expected by 3 years, and hopping on one foot by 4 years.
Question 5: At what age should an infant be able to sit without
support?
A. 4 months
B. 6 months
C. 8 months
D. 12 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 8 months
Rationale: Infants typically achieve sitting without support at approximately
8 months of age. Sitting with support is expected by 6 months, and
independent sitting is a key gross motor milestone.
,Question 6: A nurse is teaching parents about play activities for a
preschooler. Which activity should the nurse recommend?
A. Playing dress-up with costumes
B. Watching educational television alone
C. Playing competitive board games
D. Using age-appropriate computer games
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Playing dress-up with costumes
Rationale: Preschoolers engage in associative and imaginative play. Dress-
up promotes social, mental, and physical development appropriate for this
age group. Competitive games are more suited for school-age children.
Question 7: A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child whose mother
left 2 hours ago. The child is experiencing the separation anxiety
stage of despair. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. The child is crying loudly and clinging to the nurse
B. The child appears withdrawn, quiet, and uninterested in the environment
C. The child is happy and playing with other children
D. The child is demanding to see the mother immediately
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The child appears withdrawn, quiet, and
uninterested in the environment
Rationale: The despair stage of separation anxiety is characterized by
withdrawal, sadness, and disinterest. The protest stage involves crying and
clinging, while detachment involves superficial adjustment.
Question 8: A parent of a toddler asks why their child's abdomen
sticks out. Which response should the nurse provide?
A. "This indicates a serious gastrointestinal disorder."
B. "Toddlers do not have well-developed abdominal muscles."
C. "Your child is overweight and needs dietary changes."
D. "This is a sign of malnutrition."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "Toddlers do not have well-developed
abdominal muscles."
, Rationale: Toddlers have weak abdominal muscles and a developing spine,
which causes the abdomen to protrude. This is a normal finding and not
indicative of pathology.
Question 9: A nurse is assessing a school-age child's development.
Which activity is appropriate for this age group?
A. Playing with rattles and soft toys
B. Engaging in rule-based games and collecting items
C. Parallel play with peers
D. Solitary imaginative play
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Engaging in rule-based games and
collecting items
Rationale: School-age children (6 to 12 years) enjoy rule-based games,
collecting items, and group activities. Parallel play is characteristic of
toddlers, and solitary play is typical of preschoolers.
Question 10: At what age should a child be able to draw a circle?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 3 years
Rationale: By approximately 3 years of age, children can draw a circle.
Drawing a square is expected by 4 to 5 years, and copying a triangle by 5 to
6 years.
Question 11: A nurse is assessing an adolescent for developmental
milestones. Which finding is expected?
A. Concrete thinking only
B. Abstract thinking and concern about body image
C. Complete dependence on parents
D. Lack of interest in peer relationships
Exam 2026–2027 | ATI Pediatric Nursing / Nursing
Care of Children Study Guide | Growth & Development,
Pediatric Assessment, Pharmacology, Medical-Surgical
Disorders, Emergencies, Family-Centered Care, Clinical
Judgment, NGN & NCLEX-Style Practice Questions
with Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant at a well-
child visit. Which developmental milestone should the nurse expect
the infant to have achieved?
A. Rolling from back to side
B. Sitting without support
C. Crawling on hands and knees
D. Walking with assistance
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Rolling from back to side
Rationale: At 4 months of age, infants typically develop the ability to roll
from back to side. Sitting without support is expected at 6 to 8 months,
crawling at 6 to 10 months, and walking with assistance at 9 to 12 months.
Question 2: By what age should the anterior fontanel typically close
in an infant?
A. 2 to 3 months
B. 6 to 8 months
C. 12 to 18 months
D. 24 to 36 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 12 to 18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel typically closes by 12 to 18 months of age.
The posterior fontanel closes earlier, by 2 to 3 months of age.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which
finding indicates normal development?
A. The infant cannot hold a bottle
B. The infant plays peek-a-boo and demonstrates object permanence
,C. The infant cannot sit with support
D. The infant has not doubled birth weight
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The infant plays peek-a-boo and
demonstrates object permanence
Rationale: By 6 to 8 months, infants develop object permanence and enjoy
interactive games like peek-a-boo. Sitting with support is expected by 6
months, and birth weight should double by 4 to 6 months.
Question 4: A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents
of a 15-month-old toddler. Which statement by the parent indicates
understanding of normal development?
A. "My child should have 20 teeth by now."
B. "My child should be able to walk independently and use a few words."
C. "My child should be able to draw a circle."
D. "My child should be able to hop on one foot."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "My child should be able to walk
independently and use a few words."
Rationale: By 15 months, toddlers typically walk independently and use a
few words. They usually have 8 to 10 teeth, not 20. Drawing a circle is
expected by 3 years, and hopping on one foot by 4 years.
Question 5: At what age should an infant be able to sit without
support?
A. 4 months
B. 6 months
C. 8 months
D. 12 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 8 months
Rationale: Infants typically achieve sitting without support at approximately
8 months of age. Sitting with support is expected by 6 months, and
independent sitting is a key gross motor milestone.
,Question 6: A nurse is teaching parents about play activities for a
preschooler. Which activity should the nurse recommend?
A. Playing dress-up with costumes
B. Watching educational television alone
C. Playing competitive board games
D. Using age-appropriate computer games
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Playing dress-up with costumes
Rationale: Preschoolers engage in associative and imaginative play. Dress-
up promotes social, mental, and physical development appropriate for this
age group. Competitive games are more suited for school-age children.
Question 7: A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old child whose mother
left 2 hours ago. The child is experiencing the separation anxiety
stage of despair. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. The child is crying loudly and clinging to the nurse
B. The child appears withdrawn, quiet, and uninterested in the environment
C. The child is happy and playing with other children
D. The child is demanding to see the mother immediately
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The child appears withdrawn, quiet, and
uninterested in the environment
Rationale: The despair stage of separation anxiety is characterized by
withdrawal, sadness, and disinterest. The protest stage involves crying and
clinging, while detachment involves superficial adjustment.
Question 8: A parent of a toddler asks why their child's abdomen
sticks out. Which response should the nurse provide?
A. "This indicates a serious gastrointestinal disorder."
B. "Toddlers do not have well-developed abdominal muscles."
C. "Your child is overweight and needs dietary changes."
D. "This is a sign of malnutrition."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "Toddlers do not have well-developed
abdominal muscles."
, Rationale: Toddlers have weak abdominal muscles and a developing spine,
which causes the abdomen to protrude. This is a normal finding and not
indicative of pathology.
Question 9: A nurse is assessing a school-age child's development.
Which activity is appropriate for this age group?
A. Playing with rattles and soft toys
B. Engaging in rule-based games and collecting items
C. Parallel play with peers
D. Solitary imaginative play
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Engaging in rule-based games and
collecting items
Rationale: School-age children (6 to 12 years) enjoy rule-based games,
collecting items, and group activities. Parallel play is characteristic of
toddlers, and solitary play is typical of preschoolers.
Question 10: At what age should a child be able to draw a circle?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 3 years
Rationale: By approximately 3 years of age, children can draw a circle.
Drawing a square is expected by 4 to 5 years, and copying a triangle by 5 to
6 years.
Question 11: A nurse is assessing an adolescent for developmental
milestones. Which finding is expected?
A. Concrete thinking only
B. Abstract thinking and concern about body image
C. Complete dependence on parents
D. Lack of interest in peer relationships
