NUR 254 Concepts of Nursing
Childbearing and Child Caring Families
(Galen College of Nursing)
Exam 4 exam study guide 250 Questions, Answers & Rationales
Table of contents
1.Growth & development (22)
2.Pediatric respiratory conditions (27)
3.Pediatric cardiovascular conditions (21)
4.Pediatric gastrointestinal conditions (25)
5.Pediatric neurological conditions (22)
6.Pediatric endocrine & metabolic conditions (18)
7.Pediatric hematology & oncology (17)
8.Pediatric genitourinary & renal conditions (15)
9.Pediatric musculoskeletal & integumentary conditions (19)
10.Pediatric infectious disease & immunizations (24)
11.Pediatric safety, emergencies & poisoning (16)
12.Pediatric mental & behavioral health (13)
13.Family-centered care & hospitalization (13)
1. What is the expected weight gain pattern for a healthy infant during the first year of life?
Correct Answer: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5-6 months and triple it
by 12 months
Rationale: This predictable growth pattern serves as an important benchmark for assessing
adequate nutrition and overall health during infancy, and significant deviation from this pattern
should prompt further nutritional and developmental assessment.
1
,2. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of infancy
(birth to 18 months)?
Correct Answer: Trust versus mistrust
Rationale: During this stage, consistent, responsive caregiving helps the infant develop a
fundamental sense of trust in their caregivers and environment, which Erikson theorized forms
the foundation for healthy psychosocial development throughout life.
3. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of the
toddler period (18 months to 3 years)?
Correct Answer: Autonomy versus shame and doubt
Rationale: Toddlers are developing independence and self-control during this stage, and
supporting appropriate autonomy (while maintaining safety) helps the child develop confidence
in their own abilities rather than shame or self-doubt.
4. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of the
preschool period (3-6 years)?
Correct Answer: Initiative versus guilt
Rationale: Preschoolers are developing the ability to initiate activities and assert control over
their environment, and supporting this initiative (while providing appropriate guidance) helps
the child develop a sense of purpose rather than excessive guilt about their own desires and
actions.
5. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of the
school-age period (6-12 years)?
Correct Answer: Industry versus inferiority
Rationale: School-age children are developing competence through mastering skills and tasks,
and success in this area, supported by encouragement from parents and teachers, fosters a sense
of industry and accomplishment rather than feelings of inferiority.
6. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of
adolescence?
Correct Answer: Identity versus role confusion
Rationale: Adolescents are working to establish a coherent sense of personal identity, and this
developmental process, while sometimes challenging for families, is a normal and essential part of
the transition toward adult independence and self-understanding.
2
,7. What is the expected age range for an infant to begin sitting without support?
Correct Answer: Approximately 6 months
Rationale: This gross motor milestone reflects developing trunk control and core strength, and
the nurse should be familiar with expected milestone timing to appropriately assess development
and identify potential delays warranting further evaluation.
8. What is the expected age for an infant to demonstrate a pincer grasp?
Correct Answer: Approximately 9-10 months
Rationale: The development of the pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) represents an
important fine motor milestone that allows infants to pick up small objects, and its emergence at
this age reflects expected neurological and motor development.
9. What is the expected age for a toddler to begin walking independently?
Correct Answer: Approximately 12-15 months
Rationale: This major gross motor milestone marks a significant developmental transition, and
while there is a normal range of variation, significant delay beyond 18 months without walking
should prompt further developmental evaluation.
10. What is the significance of 'stranger anxiety' typically emerging around 6-8 months of age?
Correct Answer: It reflects normal cognitive development, specifically the infant's
growing ability to distinguish familiar from unfamiliar people, and indicates healthy
attachment to primary caregivers
Rationale: Understanding this as a normal developmental milestone, rather than a behavioral
problem, helps parents and nurses appropriately support the infant during this phase, which
typically peaks around 8-10 months and gradually decreases.
11. What is the significance of 'object permanence' development in infancy, per Piaget's theory?
Correct Answer: It represents the infant's understanding that objects continue to exist
even when they cannot be seen, typically developing around 8-9 months
Rationale: This cognitive milestone, part of Piaget's sensorimotor stage, explains behaviors such
as the infant searching for a hidden object and relates to the emergence of stranger and
separation anxiety around this same developmental period.
12. What is the expected vocabulary size for a typically developing 2-year-old?
3
, Correct Answer: Approximately 200-300 words, with the ability to combine 2-3 words
into simple phrases
Rationale: This language milestone provides an important benchmark for assessing typical
language development, and significant delay from this expectation should prompt further
evaluation, including hearing assessment and consideration of speech-language referral.
13. What type of play is characteristic of toddlers, involving playing alongside but not directly
interacting with other children?
Correct Answer: Parallel play
Rationale: This developmentally appropriate play pattern for toddlers reflects their still-
developing social skills, and understanding this normal pattern helps caregivers and nurses set
appropriate expectations for toddler social interaction, distinct from the more interactive
cooperative play seen in older preschoolers.
14. What is the significance of 'magical thinking' as a characteristic of preschool-age cognitive
development?
Correct Answer: Preschoolers may believe their thoughts or wishes can cause events to
occur, which is important to understand when explaining illness, hospitalization, or
death to this age group
Rationale: This cognitive characteristic explains why preschoolers may develop guilt related to
illness or hospitalization (believing they caused it through misbehavior or bad thoughts), making
clear, reassuring, age-appropriate communication especially important when discussing these
topics with children in this developmental stage.
15. What is the appropriate approach to preparing a preschool-age child for a medical procedure,
given their developmental stage?
Correct Answer: Provide simple, concrete explanations immediately before the
procedure, using age-appropriate language and, when possible, allowing the child to
handle equipment or engage in medical play
Rationale: Preschoolers have limited ability to understand abstract concepts or time, so
explanations should be simple, concrete, and given shortly before the procedure (rather than far
in advance, which can increase anxiety), with medical play helping the child process and gain a
sense of control over the experience.
16. What is the significance of understanding a school-age child's developing concept of death,
compared to a preschooler's understanding?
4
Childbearing and Child Caring Families
(Galen College of Nursing)
Exam 4 exam study guide 250 Questions, Answers & Rationales
Table of contents
1.Growth & development (22)
2.Pediatric respiratory conditions (27)
3.Pediatric cardiovascular conditions (21)
4.Pediatric gastrointestinal conditions (25)
5.Pediatric neurological conditions (22)
6.Pediatric endocrine & metabolic conditions (18)
7.Pediatric hematology & oncology (17)
8.Pediatric genitourinary & renal conditions (15)
9.Pediatric musculoskeletal & integumentary conditions (19)
10.Pediatric infectious disease & immunizations (24)
11.Pediatric safety, emergencies & poisoning (16)
12.Pediatric mental & behavioral health (13)
13.Family-centered care & hospitalization (13)
1. What is the expected weight gain pattern for a healthy infant during the first year of life?
Correct Answer: Infants typically double their birth weight by 5-6 months and triple it
by 12 months
Rationale: This predictable growth pattern serves as an important benchmark for assessing
adequate nutrition and overall health during infancy, and significant deviation from this pattern
should prompt further nutritional and developmental assessment.
1
,2. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of infancy
(birth to 18 months)?
Correct Answer: Trust versus mistrust
Rationale: During this stage, consistent, responsive caregiving helps the infant develop a
fundamental sense of trust in their caregivers and environment, which Erikson theorized forms
the foundation for healthy psychosocial development throughout life.
3. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of the
toddler period (18 months to 3 years)?
Correct Answer: Autonomy versus shame and doubt
Rationale: Toddlers are developing independence and self-control during this stage, and
supporting appropriate autonomy (while maintaining safety) helps the child develop confidence
in their own abilities rather than shame or self-doubt.
4. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of the
preschool period (3-6 years)?
Correct Answer: Initiative versus guilt
Rationale: Preschoolers are developing the ability to initiate activities and assert control over
their environment, and supporting this initiative (while providing appropriate guidance) helps
the child develop a sense of purpose rather than excessive guilt about their own desires and
actions.
5. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of the
school-age period (6-12 years)?
Correct Answer: Industry versus inferiority
Rationale: School-age children are developing competence through mastering skills and tasks,
and success in this area, supported by encouragement from parents and teachers, fosters a sense
of industry and accomplishment rather than feelings of inferiority.
6. According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, what is the primary developmental task of
adolescence?
Correct Answer: Identity versus role confusion
Rationale: Adolescents are working to establish a coherent sense of personal identity, and this
developmental process, while sometimes challenging for families, is a normal and essential part of
the transition toward adult independence and self-understanding.
2
,7. What is the expected age range for an infant to begin sitting without support?
Correct Answer: Approximately 6 months
Rationale: This gross motor milestone reflects developing trunk control and core strength, and
the nurse should be familiar with expected milestone timing to appropriately assess development
and identify potential delays warranting further evaluation.
8. What is the expected age for an infant to demonstrate a pincer grasp?
Correct Answer: Approximately 9-10 months
Rationale: The development of the pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) represents an
important fine motor milestone that allows infants to pick up small objects, and its emergence at
this age reflects expected neurological and motor development.
9. What is the expected age for a toddler to begin walking independently?
Correct Answer: Approximately 12-15 months
Rationale: This major gross motor milestone marks a significant developmental transition, and
while there is a normal range of variation, significant delay beyond 18 months without walking
should prompt further developmental evaluation.
10. What is the significance of 'stranger anxiety' typically emerging around 6-8 months of age?
Correct Answer: It reflects normal cognitive development, specifically the infant's
growing ability to distinguish familiar from unfamiliar people, and indicates healthy
attachment to primary caregivers
Rationale: Understanding this as a normal developmental milestone, rather than a behavioral
problem, helps parents and nurses appropriately support the infant during this phase, which
typically peaks around 8-10 months and gradually decreases.
11. What is the significance of 'object permanence' development in infancy, per Piaget's theory?
Correct Answer: It represents the infant's understanding that objects continue to exist
even when they cannot be seen, typically developing around 8-9 months
Rationale: This cognitive milestone, part of Piaget's sensorimotor stage, explains behaviors such
as the infant searching for a hidden object and relates to the emergence of stranger and
separation anxiety around this same developmental period.
12. What is the expected vocabulary size for a typically developing 2-year-old?
3
, Correct Answer: Approximately 200-300 words, with the ability to combine 2-3 words
into simple phrases
Rationale: This language milestone provides an important benchmark for assessing typical
language development, and significant delay from this expectation should prompt further
evaluation, including hearing assessment and consideration of speech-language referral.
13. What type of play is characteristic of toddlers, involving playing alongside but not directly
interacting with other children?
Correct Answer: Parallel play
Rationale: This developmentally appropriate play pattern for toddlers reflects their still-
developing social skills, and understanding this normal pattern helps caregivers and nurses set
appropriate expectations for toddler social interaction, distinct from the more interactive
cooperative play seen in older preschoolers.
14. What is the significance of 'magical thinking' as a characteristic of preschool-age cognitive
development?
Correct Answer: Preschoolers may believe their thoughts or wishes can cause events to
occur, which is important to understand when explaining illness, hospitalization, or
death to this age group
Rationale: This cognitive characteristic explains why preschoolers may develop guilt related to
illness or hospitalization (believing they caused it through misbehavior or bad thoughts), making
clear, reassuring, age-appropriate communication especially important when discussing these
topics with children in this developmental stage.
15. What is the appropriate approach to preparing a preschool-age child for a medical procedure,
given their developmental stage?
Correct Answer: Provide simple, concrete explanations immediately before the
procedure, using age-appropriate language and, when possible, allowing the child to
handle equipment or engage in medical play
Rationale: Preschoolers have limited ability to understand abstract concepts or time, so
explanations should be simple, concrete, and given shortly before the procedure (rather than far
in advance, which can increase anxiety), with medical play helping the child process and gain a
sense of control over the experience.
16. What is the significance of understanding a school-age child's developing concept of death,
compared to a preschooler's understanding?
4
