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 preschool-age child during a routine health visit. Which finding is
most consistent with expected growth and development for this age group?
A. Uses primarily parallel play with other children
B. Can engage in imaginative play and follow simple rules
C. Demonstrates complete independence with all activities of daily living
D. Has developed the abstract reasoning abilities of an adolescent
Rationale: Preschool children commonly demonstrate imaginative play, increasing
independence, and the ability to follow simple rules. Parallel play is more characteristic of
toddlers, while abstract reasoning develops later.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a 2-year-old child. Which approach is
most appropriate when explaining the procedure?
A. Provide a detailed explanation using medical terminology
B. Ask the child to independently read the medication instructions
C. Explain that the medication is necessary because the child has an illness
D. Use simple words and briefly explain what the child will experience
Rationale: Toddlers understand simple, concrete explanations. The nurse should use age-
appropriate language and prepare the child immediately before the procedure rather than
providing lengthy explanations.
3. A hospitalized toddler becomes upset when the parent leaves the room. Which behavior
should the nurse recognize as a common response to separation?
A. Crying, clinging, and protesting the parent's departure
B. Demonstrating complete emotional independence
C. Immediately accepting unfamiliar caregivers without distress
D. Refusing to recognize the parent when the parent returns
Rationale: Separation anxiety is common during infancy and toddlerhood. Crying, clinging, and
protesting are typical responses when a familiar caregiver leaves.
4. A nurse is assessing pain in a 4-year-old child who is unable to describe the pain clearly.
Which assessment method is most appropriate?
,A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Numeric rating scale from 0 to 100
C. A developmentally appropriate faces pain scale
D. Apgar scoring system
Rationale: Faces pain scales allow young children to indicate the facial expression that best
represents their pain. The tool should match the child's developmental and communication
abilities.
5. A nurse is teaching parents about safe sleep practices for their 2-month-old infant.
Which statement by the parents indicates correct understanding?
A. “We will place the infant on the stomach after feeding.”
B. “We will use a soft pillow to keep the infant comfortable.”
C. “We will place several stuffed animals around the infant.”
D. We will place the infant on the back on a firm, flat sleep surface.
Rationale: Infants should be placed supine on a firm, flat sleep surface without loose bedding,
pillows, or soft objects to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death.
6. A nurse is assessing an infant's anterior fontanel. Which finding requires further
evaluation?
A. Soft and flat fontanel
B. Pulsation that corresponds with the infant's heartbeat
C. Markedly bulging fontanel when the infant is calm and upright
D. Fontanel that gradually becomes smaller as the infant develops
Rationale: A persistently bulging fontanel in a calm infant can indicate increased intracranial
pressure. A soft, flat fontanel is generally expected.
7. A nurse is providing nutritional teaching to the parents of a 6-month-old infant. Which
food is most appropriate to introduce first as a complementary food?
A. Whole grapes
B. Iron-fortified infant cereal
C. Popcorn
D. Unpasteurized honey
Rationale: Iron-fortified infant cereals are commonly introduced as complementary foods
around 6 months of age and provide an important source of iron. Honey should not be given to
infants younger than 12 months because of the risk of botulism.
8. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old child. Which developmental finding should the
nurse expect?
, A. Writes several complete sentences
B. Rides a bicycle independently
C. Pulls to stand and may take a few independent steps
D. Uses abstract reasoning to solve problems
Rationale: Around 12 months, many children can pull to stand, cruise, and may begin walking
independently. More advanced motor and cognitive abilities develop later.
9. A nurse is discussing toilet training with the parents of a 2-year-old child. Which parental
statement demonstrates an appropriate understanding?
A. “We should punish the child whenever an accident occurs.”
B. “The child should be completely toilet trained within one week.”
C. “We should begin training even if the child shows no signs of readiness.”
D. “We should look for signs that the child is developmentally ready.”
Rationale: Toilet training should be based on developmental readiness rather than a rigid age or
deadline. Punishment can increase anxiety and interfere with successful training.
10. A nurse is assessing an adolescent's nutritional habits. Which finding places the
adolescent at increased risk for iron deficiency?
A. Eating fortified breakfast cereal
B. Consuming lean meats regularly
C. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables
D. Following a restrictive diet with inadequate iron-containing foods
Rationale: Adolescents have increased nutritional requirements during rapid growth. Restrictive
diets that provide insufficient iron can increase the risk of iron deficiency.
11. A nurse is caring for a child with an acute respiratory illness. Which assessment finding
should the nurse recognize as an indication of increased respiratory distress?
A. Warm extremities
B. Respiratory rate appropriate for age
C. Nasal flaring and intercostal retractions
D. Clear speech without pauses
Rationale: Nasal flaring and retractions indicate increased work of breathing. Children can
compensate for respiratory compromise initially, so early signs of distress require prompt
attention.
12. A child with asthma develops wheezing and difficulty breathing after exposure to a
known trigger. Which medication should the nurse expect to administer for rapid relief
of acute bronchospasm?
2026/2027 – EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALE | 2027 Q&A |
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse is assessing a preschool-age child during a routine health visit. Which finding is
most consistent with expected growth and development for this age group?
A. Uses primarily parallel play with other children
B. Can engage in imaginative play and follow simple rules
C. Demonstrates complete independence with all activities of daily living
D. Has developed the abstract reasoning abilities of an adolescent
Rationale: Preschool children commonly demonstrate imaginative play, increasing
independence, and the ability to follow simple rules. Parallel play is more characteristic of
toddlers, while abstract reasoning develops later.
2. A nurse is preparing to administer medication to a 2-year-old child. Which approach is
most appropriate when explaining the procedure?
A. Provide a detailed explanation using medical terminology
B. Ask the child to independently read the medication instructions
C. Explain that the medication is necessary because the child has an illness
D. Use simple words and briefly explain what the child will experience
Rationale: Toddlers understand simple, concrete explanations. The nurse should use age-
appropriate language and prepare the child immediately before the procedure rather than
providing lengthy explanations.
3. A hospitalized toddler becomes upset when the parent leaves the room. Which behavior
should the nurse recognize as a common response to separation?
A. Crying, clinging, and protesting the parent's departure
B. Demonstrating complete emotional independence
C. Immediately accepting unfamiliar caregivers without distress
D. Refusing to recognize the parent when the parent returns
Rationale: Separation anxiety is common during infancy and toddlerhood. Crying, clinging, and
protesting are typical responses when a familiar caregiver leaves.
4. A nurse is assessing pain in a 4-year-old child who is unable to describe the pain clearly.
Which assessment method is most appropriate?
,A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Numeric rating scale from 0 to 100
C. A developmentally appropriate faces pain scale
D. Apgar scoring system
Rationale: Faces pain scales allow young children to indicate the facial expression that best
represents their pain. The tool should match the child's developmental and communication
abilities.
5. A nurse is teaching parents about safe sleep practices for their 2-month-old infant.
Which statement by the parents indicates correct understanding?
A. “We will place the infant on the stomach after feeding.”
B. “We will use a soft pillow to keep the infant comfortable.”
C. “We will place several stuffed animals around the infant.”
D. We will place the infant on the back on a firm, flat sleep surface.
Rationale: Infants should be placed supine on a firm, flat sleep surface without loose bedding,
pillows, or soft objects to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death.
6. A nurse is assessing an infant's anterior fontanel. Which finding requires further
evaluation?
A. Soft and flat fontanel
B. Pulsation that corresponds with the infant's heartbeat
C. Markedly bulging fontanel when the infant is calm and upright
D. Fontanel that gradually becomes smaller as the infant develops
Rationale: A persistently bulging fontanel in a calm infant can indicate increased intracranial
pressure. A soft, flat fontanel is generally expected.
7. A nurse is providing nutritional teaching to the parents of a 6-month-old infant. Which
food is most appropriate to introduce first as a complementary food?
A. Whole grapes
B. Iron-fortified infant cereal
C. Popcorn
D. Unpasteurized honey
Rationale: Iron-fortified infant cereals are commonly introduced as complementary foods
around 6 months of age and provide an important source of iron. Honey should not be given to
infants younger than 12 months because of the risk of botulism.
8. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old child. Which developmental finding should the
nurse expect?
, A. Writes several complete sentences
B. Rides a bicycle independently
C. Pulls to stand and may take a few independent steps
D. Uses abstract reasoning to solve problems
Rationale: Around 12 months, many children can pull to stand, cruise, and may begin walking
independently. More advanced motor and cognitive abilities develop later.
9. A nurse is discussing toilet training with the parents of a 2-year-old child. Which parental
statement demonstrates an appropriate understanding?
A. “We should punish the child whenever an accident occurs.”
B. “The child should be completely toilet trained within one week.”
C. “We should begin training even if the child shows no signs of readiness.”
D. “We should look for signs that the child is developmentally ready.”
Rationale: Toilet training should be based on developmental readiness rather than a rigid age or
deadline. Punishment can increase anxiety and interfere with successful training.
10. A nurse is assessing an adolescent's nutritional habits. Which finding places the
adolescent at increased risk for iron deficiency?
A. Eating fortified breakfast cereal
B. Consuming lean meats regularly
C. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables
D. Following a restrictive diet with inadequate iron-containing foods
Rationale: Adolescents have increased nutritional requirements during rapid growth. Restrictive
diets that provide insufficient iron can increase the risk of iron deficiency.
11. A nurse is caring for a child with an acute respiratory illness. Which assessment finding
should the nurse recognize as an indication of increased respiratory distress?
A. Warm extremities
B. Respiratory rate appropriate for age
C. Nasal flaring and intercostal retractions
D. Clear speech without pauses
Rationale: Nasal flaring and retractions indicate increased work of breathing. Children can
compensate for respiratory compromise initially, so early signs of distress require prompt
attention.
12. A child with asthma develops wheezing and difficulty breathing after exposure to a
known trigger. Which medication should the nurse expect to administer for rapid relief
of acute bronchospasm?
