ATI PN Nursing Care of Children CMS: Question
Section 1: Growth & Development (Q1–Q25)
Q1. A nurse is assessing the pain level of a 3-year-old toddler. Which
of the following assessment scales should the nurse use?
A. FACES scale
B. Numeric scale
C. CRIES scale
D. Visual analog scale
Answer: A
Rationale: The FACES pain rating scale is appropriate for pediatric clients
who are 3 years old and older. This scale allows the toddler to point to the
face that depicts their current level of pain. The Numeric scale is
appropriate for children 5 years and older; CRIES is used for
neonates/infants; Visual analog is used for children 7 years and older.
Q2. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 4-year-old child
about fine motor development. Which of the following tasks should
the nurse expect the child to perform?
A. Tying shoelaces
B. Drawing a circle
C. Cutting with scissors
D. Writing their name
Answer: B
Rationale: At age 4, a child should be able to draw a circle and a square.
Tying shoelaces and cutting with scissors are typically achieved around
age 5–6; writing their name is typically achieved around age 5–6.
Q3. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit.
Which of the following developmental milestones should the nurse
expect the infant to demonstrate?
A. Sitting without support
,B. Rolling from back to front
C. Walking with assistance
D. Pincer grasp
Answer: B
Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically can roll from back to front. Sitting
without support is achieved around 8 months; walking with assistance is
achieved around 11–12 months; pincer grasp is achieved around 9–10
months.
Q4. A nurse is assessing the reflexes of a 6-month-old infant. Which
of the following reflexes should have disappeared by this age?
A. Moro reflex
B. Babinski reflex
C. Rooting reflex
D. Palmar grasp
Answer: A
Rationale: The Moro (startle) reflex should disappear by 3–4 months of
age. The Babinski reflex may persist until 12 months; rooting disappears
around 3–4 months; palmar grasp disappears around 4–6 months.
Q5. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 2-year-old
toddler about expected developmental milestones. Which of the
following statements by the parents indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "My child should be able to ride a tricycle."
B. "My child should be able to build a tower of 6–7 blocks."
C. "My child should be able to jump with both feet."
D. "My child should be able to draw a circle."
Answer: C
Rationale: At age 2, a child should be able to jump with both feet. Riding a
,tricycle is typically achieved around age 3; building a tower of 6–7 blocks is
achieved around age 2–3; drawing a circle is achieved around age 4.
Q6. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit.
Which developmental milestone should the nurse expect the infant to
have achieved?
A. Walking independently
B. Using a pincer grasp
C. Speaking in two-word sentences
D. Drinking from a cup without spilling
Answer: B
Rationale: A pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) is typically achieved by
9–10 months. Walking independently occurs around 12 months; two-word
sentences are expected around 2 years; drinking from a cup without spilling
is expected around 15–18 months.
Q7. According to Erikson, what is the primary developmental task of a
toddler (ages 1–3 years)?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers are in the stage of Autonomy versus Shame and
Doubt. Trust versus Mistrust is infancy (0–1 year); Initiative versus Guilt is
preschool (3–6 years); Industry versus Inferiority is school-age (6–12
years).
Q8. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Rolls from back to side
, B. Sits without support
C. Transfers objects from hand to hand
D. Says "mama" and "dada"
Answer: A
Rationale: At 4 months, an infant can typically roll from back to side. Sitting
without support occurs at 8 months; transferring objects occurs at 7
months; saying "mama" and "dada" occurs at 10–12 months.
Q9. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 10-month-old infant about
developmental milestones. Which statement indicates the parent
understands the teaching?
A. "My baby should be able to walk across the room."
B. "My baby should be able to pull up to a standing position."
C. "My baby should be able to say three-word sentences."
D. "My baby should be able to feed themselves with a spoon."
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulling up to a standing position is a milestone for a 10-month-
old. Walking across a room occurs around 12 months; three-word
sentences occur around 2–3 years; feeding with a spoon occurs around
15–18 months.
Q10. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 2-
year-old. Which statement by the parents indicates understanding of
injury prevention?
A. "We will keep cleaning products in a cabinet low to the ground."
B. "We will use a rear-facing car seat until our child is 2 years old."
C. "We will leave small toys on the floor so our child can play."
D. "We will give our child nuts because they are healthy."
Answer: B
Rationale: Children should ride in a rear-facing car seat until at least 2
years of age or until they reach the maximum weight or height limit for the
Section 1: Growth & Development (Q1–Q25)
Q1. A nurse is assessing the pain level of a 3-year-old toddler. Which
of the following assessment scales should the nurse use?
A. FACES scale
B. Numeric scale
C. CRIES scale
D. Visual analog scale
Answer: A
Rationale: The FACES pain rating scale is appropriate for pediatric clients
who are 3 years old and older. This scale allows the toddler to point to the
face that depicts their current level of pain. The Numeric scale is
appropriate for children 5 years and older; CRIES is used for
neonates/infants; Visual analog is used for children 7 years and older.
Q2. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 4-year-old child
about fine motor development. Which of the following tasks should
the nurse expect the child to perform?
A. Tying shoelaces
B. Drawing a circle
C. Cutting with scissors
D. Writing their name
Answer: B
Rationale: At age 4, a child should be able to draw a circle and a square.
Tying shoelaces and cutting with scissors are typically achieved around
age 5–6; writing their name is typically achieved around age 5–6.
Q3. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit.
Which of the following developmental milestones should the nurse
expect the infant to demonstrate?
A. Sitting without support
,B. Rolling from back to front
C. Walking with assistance
D. Pincer grasp
Answer: B
Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically can roll from back to front. Sitting
without support is achieved around 8 months; walking with assistance is
achieved around 11–12 months; pincer grasp is achieved around 9–10
months.
Q4. A nurse is assessing the reflexes of a 6-month-old infant. Which
of the following reflexes should have disappeared by this age?
A. Moro reflex
B. Babinski reflex
C. Rooting reflex
D. Palmar grasp
Answer: A
Rationale: The Moro (startle) reflex should disappear by 3–4 months of
age. The Babinski reflex may persist until 12 months; rooting disappears
around 3–4 months; palmar grasp disappears around 4–6 months.
Q5. A nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a 2-year-old
toddler about expected developmental milestones. Which of the
following statements by the parents indicates an understanding of the
teaching?
A. "My child should be able to ride a tricycle."
B. "My child should be able to build a tower of 6–7 blocks."
C. "My child should be able to jump with both feet."
D. "My child should be able to draw a circle."
Answer: C
Rationale: At age 2, a child should be able to jump with both feet. Riding a
,tricycle is typically achieved around age 3; building a tower of 6–7 blocks is
achieved around age 2–3; drawing a circle is achieved around age 4.
Q6. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit.
Which developmental milestone should the nurse expect the infant to
have achieved?
A. Walking independently
B. Using a pincer grasp
C. Speaking in two-word sentences
D. Drinking from a cup without spilling
Answer: B
Rationale: A pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) is typically achieved by
9–10 months. Walking independently occurs around 12 months; two-word
sentences are expected around 2 years; drinking from a cup without spilling
is expected around 15–18 months.
Q7. According to Erikson, what is the primary developmental task of a
toddler (ages 1–3 years)?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers are in the stage of Autonomy versus Shame and
Doubt. Trust versus Mistrust is infancy (0–1 year); Initiative versus Guilt is
preschool (3–6 years); Industry versus Inferiority is school-age (6–12
years).
Q8. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Rolls from back to side
, B. Sits without support
C. Transfers objects from hand to hand
D. Says "mama" and "dada"
Answer: A
Rationale: At 4 months, an infant can typically roll from back to side. Sitting
without support occurs at 8 months; transferring objects occurs at 7
months; saying "mama" and "dada" occurs at 10–12 months.
Q9. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 10-month-old infant about
developmental milestones. Which statement indicates the parent
understands the teaching?
A. "My baby should be able to walk across the room."
B. "My baby should be able to pull up to a standing position."
C. "My baby should be able to say three-word sentences."
D. "My baby should be able to feed themselves with a spoon."
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulling up to a standing position is a milestone for a 10-month-
old. Walking across a room occurs around 12 months; three-word
sentences occur around 2–3 years; feeding with a spoon occurs around
15–18 months.
Q10. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 2-
year-old. Which statement by the parents indicates understanding of
injury prevention?
A. "We will keep cleaning products in a cabinet low to the ground."
B. "We will use a rear-facing car seat until our child is 2 years old."
C. "We will leave small toys on the floor so our child can play."
D. "We will give our child nuts because they are healthy."
Answer: B
Rationale: Children should ride in a rear-facing car seat until at least 2
years of age or until they reach the maximum weight or height limit for the
