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GCU – NSG 434 – NURSING CARE OF
CHILDREN – 2026 EXAM 1 COMPLETE (160)
CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES|GRADED A+.
NSG
Below are 160- practice questions for GCU NSG 434 Exam 1 – Nursing
Care of Children (multiple-choice A-D, correct answer with letter and text,
and explanation). The exam covers growth and development, pediatric
assessment, common acute and chronic conditions, immunizations,
family-centered care, and pediatric nursing interventions.
Multiple choice.
Section 1: Growth & Development (Questions 1–30)
1. Which of the following developmental milestones is expected in a
12-month-old infant?
A) Walks independently
B) Builds a tower of two cubes
C) Uses a spoon without spilling
D) Rides a tricycle
Answer: A. Walks independently
Explanation: Most infants begin walking independently between 12
and 15 months. Building a tower of two cubes is typical at 15-18
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months. Spoon use develops around 18-24 months, and tricycle
riding at 3-4 years.
2. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of the toddler
(ages 1-3 years) is:
A) Trust vs. mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
C) Initiative vs. guilt
D) Industry vs. inferiority
Answer: B. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
Explanation: Toddlers develop a sense of personal control and
independence. Trust vs. mistrust is infancy; initiative vs. guilt is
preschool; industry vs. inferiority is school age.
3. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which fine motor skill
should be present?
A) Copies a square
B) Draws a cross
C) Uses scissors to cut out a circle
D) Prints a few letters
Answer: B. Draws a cross
Explanation: At age 4, children can draw a cross and a circle.
Copying a square and using scissors to cut a circle typically develop
at age 5.
4. The nurse is teaching parents about normal sleep patterns in a
2-month-old infant. Which statement is accurate?
A) Most infants sleep through the night by 2 months
B) Infants at this age sleep about 16-18 hours per day
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C) Sleep cycles are adult-like with 90-minute cycles
D) REM sleep accounts for only 20% of sleep time
Answer: B. Infants at this age sleep about 16-18 hours per day
Explanation: Newborns sleep 16-18 hours in total, waking every 2-4
hours for feedings. Sleeping through the night usually occurs around
4-6 months.
5. A 9-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit.
Which finding would the nurse expect?
A) Absence of the Moro reflex
B) Presence of the plantar grasp reflex
C) Inability to sit without support
D) Lack of stranger anxiety
Answer: A. Absence of the Moro reflex
Explanation: The Moro reflex disappears by 4-6 months. At 9
months, infants can sit without support, and stranger anxiety is
present.
6. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which language
milestone is developmentally appropriate?
A) Uses two- to three-word phrases
B) Recites the alphabet
C) Tells a simple story
D) Uses pronouns correctly
Answer: A. Uses two- to three-word phrases
Explanation: At 2 years, toddlers typically combine two to three
words into short phrases. Alphabet recitation and storytelling are
seen in older preschoolers.
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7. A mother asks the nurse when her child will be able to hop on one
foot. The nurse responds that this skill typically develops around:
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C. 4 years
Explanation: Hopping on one foot is a gross motor skill expected at
4 years of age. At 3 years, children can stand on one foot briefly.
8. The nurse is educating parents of an 8-month-old about safety.
Which injury prevention measure is most important at this age?
A) Using a rear-facing car seat
B) Locking cabinets with poisons
C) Supervising bath time to prevent drowning
D) All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: All are important: rear-facing car seats reduce injury;
poisoning risk increases with mobility; drowning risk exists even in
small amounts of water.
9. According to Piaget, a 6-year-old child is in which cognitive stage?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Answer: B. Preoperational
Explanation: The preoperational stage spans ages 2-7 years and is
characterized by egocentrism, magical thinking, and centration.
GCU – NSG 434 – NURSING CARE OF
CHILDREN – 2026 EXAM 1 COMPLETE (160)
CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES|GRADED A+.
NSG
Below are 160- practice questions for GCU NSG 434 Exam 1 – Nursing
Care of Children (multiple-choice A-D, correct answer with letter and text,
and explanation). The exam covers growth and development, pediatric
assessment, common acute and chronic conditions, immunizations,
family-centered care, and pediatric nursing interventions.
Multiple choice.
Section 1: Growth & Development (Questions 1–30)
1. Which of the following developmental milestones is expected in a
12-month-old infant?
A) Walks independently
B) Builds a tower of two cubes
C) Uses a spoon without spilling
D) Rides a tricycle
Answer: A. Walks independently
Explanation: Most infants begin walking independently between 12
and 15 months. Building a tower of two cubes is typical at 15-18
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months. Spoon use develops around 18-24 months, and tricycle
riding at 3-4 years.
2. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of the toddler
(ages 1-3 years) is:
A) Trust vs. mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
C) Initiative vs. guilt
D) Industry vs. inferiority
Answer: B. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
Explanation: Toddlers develop a sense of personal control and
independence. Trust vs. mistrust is infancy; initiative vs. guilt is
preschool; industry vs. inferiority is school age.
3. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which fine motor skill
should be present?
A) Copies a square
B) Draws a cross
C) Uses scissors to cut out a circle
D) Prints a few letters
Answer: B. Draws a cross
Explanation: At age 4, children can draw a cross and a circle.
Copying a square and using scissors to cut a circle typically develop
at age 5.
4. The nurse is teaching parents about normal sleep patterns in a
2-month-old infant. Which statement is accurate?
A) Most infants sleep through the night by 2 months
B) Infants at this age sleep about 16-18 hours per day
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C) Sleep cycles are adult-like with 90-minute cycles
D) REM sleep accounts for only 20% of sleep time
Answer: B. Infants at this age sleep about 16-18 hours per day
Explanation: Newborns sleep 16-18 hours in total, waking every 2-4
hours for feedings. Sleeping through the night usually occurs around
4-6 months.
5. A 9-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit.
Which finding would the nurse expect?
A) Absence of the Moro reflex
B) Presence of the plantar grasp reflex
C) Inability to sit without support
D) Lack of stranger anxiety
Answer: A. Absence of the Moro reflex
Explanation: The Moro reflex disappears by 4-6 months. At 9
months, infants can sit without support, and stranger anxiety is
present.
6. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which language
milestone is developmentally appropriate?
A) Uses two- to three-word phrases
B) Recites the alphabet
C) Tells a simple story
D) Uses pronouns correctly
Answer: A. Uses two- to three-word phrases
Explanation: At 2 years, toddlers typically combine two to three
words into short phrases. Alphabet recitation and storytelling are
seen in older preschoolers.
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7. A mother asks the nurse when her child will be able to hop on one
foot. The nurse responds that this skill typically develops around:
A) 2 years
B) 3 years
C) 4 years
D) 5 years
Answer: C. 4 years
Explanation: Hopping on one foot is a gross motor skill expected at
4 years of age. At 3 years, children can stand on one foot briefly.
8. The nurse is educating parents of an 8-month-old about safety.
Which injury prevention measure is most important at this age?
A) Using a rear-facing car seat
B) Locking cabinets with poisons
C) Supervising bath time to prevent drowning
D) All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: All are important: rear-facing car seats reduce injury;
poisoning risk increases with mobility; drowning risk exists even in
small amounts of water.
9. According to Piaget, a 6-year-old child is in which cognitive stage?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Answer: B. Preoperational
Explanation: The preoperational stage spans ages 2-7 years and is
characterized by egocentrism, magical thinking, and centration.
