1
PEDIATRIC NURSING
WEEK 1 — SIMPLE MASTER STUDY GUIDE
MDC ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING | SUMMER B 2026 | EXAM 1 PREP
This guide covers everything from Week 1 in plain English. Each section starts with a simple
explanation of the concept, then gives you the details. NCLEX-style practice questions are at the
end. The green boxes at the bottom of each question explain why the answer is correct — and
why the others are wrong.
Section 1: The 4 Developmental Theorists
■ The big picture:
Four researchers studied how children grow and develop — each focusing on something different. The
exam will describe a child's behavior and ask WHICH theory explains it. Your job: know which guy
studied what.
Step 1 — Memorize this table. Don't mix them up.
FREUD ERIKSON PIAGET KOHLBERG
Psychosexual Psychosocial Cognitive Moral
About the body and About feelings and About thinking and
pleasure identity learning About right and wrong
■ FREUD — Psychosexual Development
Freud believed each age has a body-focused area of pleasure. Sounds strange, but it's simple: baby
sucks → toddler controls bowels → preschooler notices body parts. On the exam: if the behavior is
about the BODY, think Freud.
Stage Age What's happening Exam tip
Oral 0–1 yr Pleasure from sucking and eating Baby refuses bottle = oral stage issue
Anal 1–3 yr Controls bowels — toilet training Toddler resists potty training = anal stage
,2
Stage Age What's happening Exam tip
Phallic 3–6 yr Curious about body differences Preschooler asks about genitals = NORMAL
Latency 6–12 Sexual energy quiet — school/friends Curious about opposite-sex parent =
yr focus NORMAL
Genital 12+ yr Mature sexuality develops Teen develops romantic interest = genital
stage
"The phallic stage — kids start noticing body differences, asking questions. Don't think the kid is losing it —
they're just curious. That's normal." — Professor
■ ERIKSON — Psychosocial Development
Erikson said every age has a challenge — a battle between two opposites. If the child wins the
challenge → healthy development. If they don't → problems later. On the exam: match the child's age
to the right challenge.
Stage Age The question the What you do as a nurse
child asks
Trust vs. Mistrust 0–1 yr Is the world safe? Meet EVERY need. You cannot spoil an infant.
Autonomy vs. 1–3 yr Can I do things Negativism is NORMAL. Don't shame
Shame myself? independence.
Initiative vs. Guilt 3–6 yr Is it okay to try Let them explore. Shutting them down = guilt.
things?
Industry vs. 6–12 Am I good at things? Praise effort. Failure ignored = inferiority.
Inferiority yr
Identity vs. Role 12–20 Who am I? Privacy essential. Let them explore identity.
Confusion yr
■ PIAGET — Cognitive Development
Piaget studied how children THINK. At first, babies only learn by touching. Then they start thinking —
but only about themselves (egocentric). Then logic kicks in. Then finally they think abstractly like
adults. On the exam: how does this child's AGE affect how they process information?
, 3
Stage Age How they think Simple example
Sensorimotor 0–2 yr Learns ONLY through Baby shakes rattle to hear noise = learning
senses and movement
Preoperational 2–7 yr Starts thinking BUT Preschooler thinks the sun follows THEM
egocentric + magical
thinking
Concrete 7–11 Logic develops — but only Understands squishing clay doesn't change its
Operational yr with visible things amount
Formal 12+ yr Abstract and hypothetical Teen imagines 'what would happen IF...'
Operational thinking
Develops at 4–8 months, solid by 8–12 months. If you hide a toy, the baby knows
■ Object
Permanence it's still there. Before this — out of sight, out of mind. Report if NOT present by 12
months.
■ KOHLBERG — Moral Development
Kohlberg only cared about one thing: how do kids understand right and wrong? Young kids think in
black and white — rules are rules, period. Older kids see gray areas. On the exam: if the question is
about right/wrong or ethics, think Kohlberg.
Level Age How they see right and Real example
wrong
Pre-conventional Before 9 Wrong because you get 'I won't steal because I'll get in trouble'
PUNISHED — period
Conventional After 9 Rules benefit everyone; sees 'I won't steal because it hurts people'
others' views
Post-conventiona Teen+ Own moral principles; may 'This rule is unjust — I'll fight to change
l question unfair rules it'
"Anytime the exam talks about stages — try to differentiate between theorists. See what the question is
asking." — Professor
Section 2: Developmental Milestones
PEDIATRIC NURSING
WEEK 1 — SIMPLE MASTER STUDY GUIDE
MDC ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING | SUMMER B 2026 | EXAM 1 PREP
This guide covers everything from Week 1 in plain English. Each section starts with a simple
explanation of the concept, then gives you the details. NCLEX-style practice questions are at the
end. The green boxes at the bottom of each question explain why the answer is correct — and
why the others are wrong.
Section 1: The 4 Developmental Theorists
■ The big picture:
Four researchers studied how children grow and develop — each focusing on something different. The
exam will describe a child's behavior and ask WHICH theory explains it. Your job: know which guy
studied what.
Step 1 — Memorize this table. Don't mix them up.
FREUD ERIKSON PIAGET KOHLBERG
Psychosexual Psychosocial Cognitive Moral
About the body and About feelings and About thinking and
pleasure identity learning About right and wrong
■ FREUD — Psychosexual Development
Freud believed each age has a body-focused area of pleasure. Sounds strange, but it's simple: baby
sucks → toddler controls bowels → preschooler notices body parts. On the exam: if the behavior is
about the BODY, think Freud.
Stage Age What's happening Exam tip
Oral 0–1 yr Pleasure from sucking and eating Baby refuses bottle = oral stage issue
Anal 1–3 yr Controls bowels — toilet training Toddler resists potty training = anal stage
,2
Stage Age What's happening Exam tip
Phallic 3–6 yr Curious about body differences Preschooler asks about genitals = NORMAL
Latency 6–12 Sexual energy quiet — school/friends Curious about opposite-sex parent =
yr focus NORMAL
Genital 12+ yr Mature sexuality develops Teen develops romantic interest = genital
stage
"The phallic stage — kids start noticing body differences, asking questions. Don't think the kid is losing it —
they're just curious. That's normal." — Professor
■ ERIKSON — Psychosocial Development
Erikson said every age has a challenge — a battle between two opposites. If the child wins the
challenge → healthy development. If they don't → problems later. On the exam: match the child's age
to the right challenge.
Stage Age The question the What you do as a nurse
child asks
Trust vs. Mistrust 0–1 yr Is the world safe? Meet EVERY need. You cannot spoil an infant.
Autonomy vs. 1–3 yr Can I do things Negativism is NORMAL. Don't shame
Shame myself? independence.
Initiative vs. Guilt 3–6 yr Is it okay to try Let them explore. Shutting them down = guilt.
things?
Industry vs. 6–12 Am I good at things? Praise effort. Failure ignored = inferiority.
Inferiority yr
Identity vs. Role 12–20 Who am I? Privacy essential. Let them explore identity.
Confusion yr
■ PIAGET — Cognitive Development
Piaget studied how children THINK. At first, babies only learn by touching. Then they start thinking —
but only about themselves (egocentric). Then logic kicks in. Then finally they think abstractly like
adults. On the exam: how does this child's AGE affect how they process information?
, 3
Stage Age How they think Simple example
Sensorimotor 0–2 yr Learns ONLY through Baby shakes rattle to hear noise = learning
senses and movement
Preoperational 2–7 yr Starts thinking BUT Preschooler thinks the sun follows THEM
egocentric + magical
thinking
Concrete 7–11 Logic develops — but only Understands squishing clay doesn't change its
Operational yr with visible things amount
Formal 12+ yr Abstract and hypothetical Teen imagines 'what would happen IF...'
Operational thinking
Develops at 4–8 months, solid by 8–12 months. If you hide a toy, the baby knows
■ Object
Permanence it's still there. Before this — out of sight, out of mind. Report if NOT present by 12
months.
■ KOHLBERG — Moral Development
Kohlberg only cared about one thing: how do kids understand right and wrong? Young kids think in
black and white — rules are rules, period. Older kids see gray areas. On the exam: if the question is
about right/wrong or ethics, think Kohlberg.
Level Age How they see right and Real example
wrong
Pre-conventional Before 9 Wrong because you get 'I won't steal because I'll get in trouble'
PUNISHED — period
Conventional After 9 Rules benefit everyone; sees 'I won't steal because it hurts people'
others' views
Post-conventiona Teen+ Own moral principles; may 'This rule is unjust — I'll fight to change
l question unfair rules it'
"Anytime the exam talks about stages — try to differentiate between theorists. See what the question is
asking." — Professor
Section 2: Developmental Milestones
