,ATI Pediatrics Proctored Exam: 250 Practice Questions
& Answers Study Guide
Section I: Growth and Development (Questions 1–25)
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect the infant to demonstrate?
• A. Walking independently without support
• B. Sitting without support for brief periods
• C. Speaking two-word sentences clearly
• D. Drawing circles with crayons
Correct Answer: B — Sitting without support for brief periods
Rationale: At 6 months, infants can typically sit without support briefly. Walking occurs around
12 months, two-word sentences around 18–24 months, and drawing circles around 3 years.
Q2. When evaluating a toddler who is 2 years old, the nurse recognizes that negativism and
temper tantrums are expected behaviors related to which developmental characteristic?
• A. Developing autonomy and independence
• B. Cognitive impairment requiring intervention
• C. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• D. Inadequate parental discipline strategies
Correct Answer: A — Developing autonomy and independence
Rationale: Toddlers develop autonomy and test boundaries through negativism. This is normal
Erikson's stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt, not pathology.
Q3. A preschooler aged 4 years demonstrates magical thinking by believing that thoughts can
cause events to happen. This represents what type of cognitive development?
• A. Concrete operational thinking patterns
• B. Preoperational stage characteristics
• C. Formal operational reasoning abilities
• D. Sensorimotor learning experiences
Correct Answer: B — Preoperational stage characteristics
,Rationale: Preschoolers are in Piaget's preoperational stage characterized by magical thinking,
animism, and egocentrism. Concrete operational thinking begins around age 7.
Q4. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect to observe?
• A. Rolling from back to front
• B. Sitting alone without support
• C. Lifting head when prone
• D. Transferring objects hand to hand
Correct Answer: A — Rolling from back to front
Rationale: By 4 months, infants can typically roll from back to front. Sitting alone occurs around
6–8 months, head lifting when prone occurs around 2 months, and transferring objects occurs
around 5–6 months.
Q5. The parent of a 12-month-old child asks the nurse how much the child should have grown
since birth. The nurse should respond that birth weight should have:
• A. Doubled
• B. Tripled
• C. Quadrupled
• D. Increased by 50%
Correct Answer: B — Tripled
Rationale: By 12 months, an infant's birth weight typically triples. Birth weight doubles by 5–6
months and triples by 12 months.
Q6. At what age does the posterior fontanel typically close?
• A. 2–3 months
• B. 6–8 months
• C. 12–18 months
• D. 18–24 months
Correct Answer: A — 2–3 months
Rationale: The posterior fontanel typically closes by 2–3 months of age. The anterior fontanel
closes between 12–18 months.
, Q7. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. Which gross motor milestone should the nurse
expect?
• A. Walking independently
• B. Pulling to stand
• C. Running
• D. Jumping with both feet
Correct Answer: B — Pulling to stand
Rationale: By 10 months, infants typically pull themselves to a standing position. Walking
independently occurs around 12 months, running around 18 months, and jumping around 2
years.
Q8. At what age is peek-a-boo typically an appropriate developmental milestone?
• A. 2–4 months
• B. 6–9 months
• C. 12–15 months
• D. 18–24 months
Correct Answer: B — 6–9 months
Rationale: Infants typically begin to understand object permanence and enjoy peek-a-boo at 6–
9 months.
Q9. A nurse is teaching a parent about growth and development of a 12-year-old child. The
nurse should instruct the parent to expect the child to exhibit which characteristic during early
adolescence?
• A. Emotional separation from parents
• B. Decelerating growth rate
• C. Mood swings
• D. Increased self-esteem
Correct Answer: C — Mood swings
Rationale: Early adolescence is characterized by mood swings due to hormonal changes.
Emotional separation from parents and increased self-esteem are more characteristic of middle
adolescence.
& Answers Study Guide
Section I: Growth and Development (Questions 1–25)
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect the infant to demonstrate?
• A. Walking independently without support
• B. Sitting without support for brief periods
• C. Speaking two-word sentences clearly
• D. Drawing circles with crayons
Correct Answer: B — Sitting without support for brief periods
Rationale: At 6 months, infants can typically sit without support briefly. Walking occurs around
12 months, two-word sentences around 18–24 months, and drawing circles around 3 years.
Q2. When evaluating a toddler who is 2 years old, the nurse recognizes that negativism and
temper tantrums are expected behaviors related to which developmental characteristic?
• A. Developing autonomy and independence
• B. Cognitive impairment requiring intervention
• C. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• D. Inadequate parental discipline strategies
Correct Answer: A — Developing autonomy and independence
Rationale: Toddlers develop autonomy and test boundaries through negativism. This is normal
Erikson's stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt, not pathology.
Q3. A preschooler aged 4 years demonstrates magical thinking by believing that thoughts can
cause events to happen. This represents what type of cognitive development?
• A. Concrete operational thinking patterns
• B. Preoperational stage characteristics
• C. Formal operational reasoning abilities
• D. Sensorimotor learning experiences
Correct Answer: B — Preoperational stage characteristics
,Rationale: Preschoolers are in Piaget's preoperational stage characterized by magical thinking,
animism, and egocentrism. Concrete operational thinking begins around age 7.
Q4. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect to observe?
• A. Rolling from back to front
• B. Sitting alone without support
• C. Lifting head when prone
• D. Transferring objects hand to hand
Correct Answer: A — Rolling from back to front
Rationale: By 4 months, infants can typically roll from back to front. Sitting alone occurs around
6–8 months, head lifting when prone occurs around 2 months, and transferring objects occurs
around 5–6 months.
Q5. The parent of a 12-month-old child asks the nurse how much the child should have grown
since birth. The nurse should respond that birth weight should have:
• A. Doubled
• B. Tripled
• C. Quadrupled
• D. Increased by 50%
Correct Answer: B — Tripled
Rationale: By 12 months, an infant's birth weight typically triples. Birth weight doubles by 5–6
months and triples by 12 months.
Q6. At what age does the posterior fontanel typically close?
• A. 2–3 months
• B. 6–8 months
• C. 12–18 months
• D. 18–24 months
Correct Answer: A — 2–3 months
Rationale: The posterior fontanel typically closes by 2–3 months of age. The anterior fontanel
closes between 12–18 months.
, Q7. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. Which gross motor milestone should the nurse
expect?
• A. Walking independently
• B. Pulling to stand
• C. Running
• D. Jumping with both feet
Correct Answer: B — Pulling to stand
Rationale: By 10 months, infants typically pull themselves to a standing position. Walking
independently occurs around 12 months, running around 18 months, and jumping around 2
years.
Q8. At what age is peek-a-boo typically an appropriate developmental milestone?
• A. 2–4 months
• B. 6–9 months
• C. 12–15 months
• D. 18–24 months
Correct Answer: B — 6–9 months
Rationale: Infants typically begin to understand object permanence and enjoy peek-a-boo at 6–
9 months.
Q9. A nurse is teaching a parent about growth and development of a 12-year-old child. The
nurse should instruct the parent to expect the child to exhibit which characteristic during early
adolescence?
• A. Emotional separation from parents
• B. Decelerating growth rate
• C. Mood swings
• D. Increased self-esteem
Correct Answer: C — Mood swings
Rationale: Early adolescence is characterized by mood swings due to hormonal changes.
Emotional separation from parents and increased self-esteem are more characteristic of middle
adolescence.
