ATI NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN PROCTORED EXAM
2026/2027 – EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A |
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child during a routine health visit. Which finding is most
consistent with expected toddler development?
A. Uses four-word sentences consistently
B. Walks up and down stairs using both feet on each step
C. Copies a triangle accurately
D. Plays cooperatively with other children
Rationale: Toddlers commonly develop gross-motor skills such as walking up and down stairs
with both feet on each step. Four-word sentences, copying complex shapes, and cooperative play
are generally associated with later developmental stages.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to a 6-month-old infant. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Mix the medication in a full bottle of formula
B. Place the medication toward the back of the infant's throat
C. Use an oral syringe to administer the medication slowly along the inside of the cheek
D. Have the parent hold the infant's nose closed during administration
Rationale: An oral syringe allows accurate dosing and controlled administration. Placing
medication along the inside of the cheek reduces the risk of aspiration. Medication should not be
mixed with a full bottle because the infant might not consume the entire dose.
3. A nurse is assessing a preschooler who is hospitalized for the first time. Which behavior
is most likely?
A. Concern about loss of peer relationships
B. Complete understanding of the reason for hospitalization
C. Indifference to separation from parents
D. Fear that the illness or hospitalization is punishment for misbehavior
Rationale: Preschoolers often use magical thinking and may believe illness occurs because they
did something wrong. They also commonly experience separation anxiety and fear invasive
procedures.
4. A nurse is discussing family-centered care with the parents of a hospitalized child. Which
statement best reflects this approach?
,A. “The health care team should make decisions without parental involvement.”
B. “Parents should visit only during designated hours.”
C. “The child should be protected from parental participation in care.”
D. “We will involve you in decisions and encourage you to participate in your child’s care.”
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes parents and caregivers as important members of the
health care team. Collaboration, respect, communication, and participation in decision-making
are central principles.
5. When assessing a school-age child, which finding should the nurse recognize as an
expected developmental characteristic?
A. Increasing ability to reason logically about concrete situations
B. Reliance primarily on magical thinking
C. Inability to understand rules
D. Complete dependence on parents for decision-making
Rationale: School-age children increasingly develop concrete logical reasoning and can
understand rules, categories, and cause-and-effect relationships involving concrete situations.
6. A nurse is calculating a medication dose for a child. Which information is most important
for determining a safe weight-based dose?
A. Height in centimeters only
B. Age without current weight
C. Current weight in kilograms
D. Previous medication dose
Rationale: Pediatric medications are frequently prescribed according to weight in kilograms.
Using an inaccurate weight or pounds instead of kilograms can result in a potentially dangerous
dosing error.
7. A nurse is teaching parents about preventing medication errors at home. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
A. Store medications in an unlocked cabinet for easy access.
B. Use household teaspoons to measure liquid medications.
C. Save leftover antibiotics for future illnesses.
D. Use an oral syringe or other calibrated medication device to measure liquid medications.
Rationale: Calibrated devices provide more accurate medication measurements than household
spoons. Medications should be secured, and leftover prescriptions should not be saved for future
illnesses.
8. A hospitalized 4-year-old begins crying when the parent leaves the room. Which nursing
intervention is most appropriate?
, A. Tell the child that crying is inappropriate.
B. Allow the child to keep a familiar toy or comfort object nearby.
C. Restrict parental visits to prevent dependence.
D. Explain that the parent will return when the treatment is complete.
Rationale: Familiar objects can provide comfort and decrease anxiety during separation.
Preschool children often benefit from consistent routines, parental presence, and therapeutic
play.
9. A nurse is assessing pain in a 5-year-old child who can communicate verbally. Which tool
is most appropriate?
A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Braden Scale
C. FACES pain-rating scale
D. Apgar score
Rationale: The FACES pain-rating scale is useful for children who can understand and select a
facial representation corresponding to their pain intensity. The other tools assess different
clinical conditions.
10. A nurse is preparing to assess a crying infant. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Perform the most invasive portion of the examination.
B. Separate the infant from the parent immediately.
C. Restrain the infant to complete the examination quickly.
D. Observe the infant while being held by the parent before beginning hands-on
assessment.
Rationale: Infants are often less distressed when allowed to remain with a caregiver.
Observation can provide useful assessment information before disturbing the child.
11. A nurse is teaching parents about nutritional needs for a toddler. Which
recommendation is appropriate?
A. Require the child to finish every meal.
B. Offer only low-fat foods regardless of age.
C. Offer small portions and allow the child to decide how much to eat.
D. Replace meals with fruit juice if the child refuses solid food.
Rationale: Toddlers have small stomachs and variable appetites. Parents should provide
nutritious choices and appropriate portions while allowing the child to regulate intake.
12. A nurse is assessing a child for dehydration. Which finding is most concerning?
2026/2027 – EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A |
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child during a routine health visit. Which finding is most
consistent with expected toddler development?
A. Uses four-word sentences consistently
B. Walks up and down stairs using both feet on each step
C. Copies a triangle accurately
D. Plays cooperatively with other children
Rationale: Toddlers commonly develop gross-motor skills such as walking up and down stairs
with both feet on each step. Four-word sentences, copying complex shapes, and cooperative play
are generally associated with later developmental stages.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer an oral medication to a 6-month-old infant. Which
action is most appropriate?
A. Mix the medication in a full bottle of formula
B. Place the medication toward the back of the infant's throat
C. Use an oral syringe to administer the medication slowly along the inside of the cheek
D. Have the parent hold the infant's nose closed during administration
Rationale: An oral syringe allows accurate dosing and controlled administration. Placing
medication along the inside of the cheek reduces the risk of aspiration. Medication should not be
mixed with a full bottle because the infant might not consume the entire dose.
3. A nurse is assessing a preschooler who is hospitalized for the first time. Which behavior
is most likely?
A. Concern about loss of peer relationships
B. Complete understanding of the reason for hospitalization
C. Indifference to separation from parents
D. Fear that the illness or hospitalization is punishment for misbehavior
Rationale: Preschoolers often use magical thinking and may believe illness occurs because they
did something wrong. They also commonly experience separation anxiety and fear invasive
procedures.
4. A nurse is discussing family-centered care with the parents of a hospitalized child. Which
statement best reflects this approach?
,A. “The health care team should make decisions without parental involvement.”
B. “Parents should visit only during designated hours.”
C. “The child should be protected from parental participation in care.”
D. “We will involve you in decisions and encourage you to participate in your child’s care.”
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes parents and caregivers as important members of the
health care team. Collaboration, respect, communication, and participation in decision-making
are central principles.
5. When assessing a school-age child, which finding should the nurse recognize as an
expected developmental characteristic?
A. Increasing ability to reason logically about concrete situations
B. Reliance primarily on magical thinking
C. Inability to understand rules
D. Complete dependence on parents for decision-making
Rationale: School-age children increasingly develop concrete logical reasoning and can
understand rules, categories, and cause-and-effect relationships involving concrete situations.
6. A nurse is calculating a medication dose for a child. Which information is most important
for determining a safe weight-based dose?
A. Height in centimeters only
B. Age without current weight
C. Current weight in kilograms
D. Previous medication dose
Rationale: Pediatric medications are frequently prescribed according to weight in kilograms.
Using an inaccurate weight or pounds instead of kilograms can result in a potentially dangerous
dosing error.
7. A nurse is teaching parents about preventing medication errors at home. Which
instruction is most appropriate?
A. Store medications in an unlocked cabinet for easy access.
B. Use household teaspoons to measure liquid medications.
C. Save leftover antibiotics for future illnesses.
D. Use an oral syringe or other calibrated medication device to measure liquid medications.
Rationale: Calibrated devices provide more accurate medication measurements than household
spoons. Medications should be secured, and leftover prescriptions should not be saved for future
illnesses.
8. A hospitalized 4-year-old begins crying when the parent leaves the room. Which nursing
intervention is most appropriate?
, A. Tell the child that crying is inappropriate.
B. Allow the child to keep a familiar toy or comfort object nearby.
C. Restrict parental visits to prevent dependence.
D. Explain that the parent will return when the treatment is complete.
Rationale: Familiar objects can provide comfort and decrease anxiety during separation.
Preschool children often benefit from consistent routines, parental presence, and therapeutic
play.
9. A nurse is assessing pain in a 5-year-old child who can communicate verbally. Which tool
is most appropriate?
A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Braden Scale
C. FACES pain-rating scale
D. Apgar score
Rationale: The FACES pain-rating scale is useful for children who can understand and select a
facial representation corresponding to their pain intensity. The other tools assess different
clinical conditions.
10. A nurse is preparing to assess a crying infant. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Perform the most invasive portion of the examination.
B. Separate the infant from the parent immediately.
C. Restrain the infant to complete the examination quickly.
D. Observe the infant while being held by the parent before beginning hands-on
assessment.
Rationale: Infants are often less distressed when allowed to remain with a caregiver.
Observation can provide useful assessment information before disturbing the child.
11. A nurse is teaching parents about nutritional needs for a toddler. Which
recommendation is appropriate?
A. Require the child to finish every meal.
B. Offer only low-fat foods regardless of age.
C. Offer small portions and allow the child to decide how much to eat.
D. Replace meals with fruit juice if the child refuses solid food.
Rationale: Toddlers have small stomachs and variable appetites. Parents should provide
nutritious choices and appropriate portions while allowing the child to regulate intake.
12. A nurse is assessing a child for dehydration. Which finding is most concerning?
