BSN3A Pediatric Nursing – Exam Practice Questions & Verified Answers with Explained Rationales (2026
Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. The nurse is assessing a newborn at 1 minute of life. The newborn has a heart rate of 110,
respirations of 20, grimaces to suction, has pink body and blue extremities, and is active. What is the
APGAR score?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Answer C: 7
Rationale: Heart rate 2, respirations 1, grimace 2, color 1, activity 2 = total 7.
2. A normal APGAR score at 5 minutes is:
A) 0-3
B) 4-6
C) 7-10
D) No score needed
Answer C: 7-10
Rationale: APGAR scores of 7-10 indicate that the newborn is in good condition.
3. A newborn presents with a heart rate of 120, strong cry, pink body, active movement, and
respirations of 40. What is the 5-minute APGAR score?
A) 7
B) 8
C) 10
D) 9
Answer C: 10
Rationale: Heart rate 2, respirations 2, color 2, activity 2, tone 2 = total 10.
,4. A 2-year-old is hospitalized. According to Erikson, the child is in which psychosocial stage?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer B: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Toddlers (1-3 years) develop autonomy; shame/doubt arises from lack of independence.
5. A 4-year-old is in Piaget's preoperational stage. Which characteristic is expected?
A) Abstract thinking
B) Magical thinking and egocentrism
C) Conservation
D) Deductive reasoning
Answer B: Magical thinking and egocentrism
Rationale: Preoperational thinking (2-7 years) includes magical thinking and egocentrism.
6. The nurse is caring for a 10-month-old. According to Erikson, the child is in which stage?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer A: Trust vs. Mistrust
Rationale: Infancy (birth to 1 year) focuses on trust vs. mistrust.
7. A 12-year-old is in Piaget's formal operational stage. Which skill is expected?
A) Egocentrism
B) Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking
C) Conservation
D) Magical thinking
Answer B: Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking
Rationale: Formal operational (12+ years) includes abstract and hypothetical reasoning.
,8. Which reflex is expected in a newborn and disappears by 3-4 months?
A) Moro reflex
B) Moro reflex
C) Rooting reflex
D) Babinski reflex
Answer A: Moro reflex
Rationale: Moro reflex is present at birth and disappears by 3-4 months.
9. The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old. Which finding is a developmental milestone?
A) Sitting without support
B) Rolling from front to back
C) Walking
D) Speaking sentences
Answer B: Rolling from front to back
Rationale: Rolling over occurs at approximately 4-6 months of age.
10. A 15-month-old can:
A) Run independently
B) Stand alone and walk with assistance
C) Jump
D) Climb stairs
Answer B: Stand alone and walk with assistance
Rationale: Walking independently occurs around 12-15 months; standing alone is expected.
11. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old. Which language milestone is expected?
A) 2-3 word sentences
B) 50-100 word vocabulary
C) 200-300 word vocabulary
D) 500+ word vocabulary
Answer B: 50-100 word vocabulary
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically has a 50-100 word vocabulary and uses two-word phrases.
, 12. A 4-year-old should be able to:
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A) Tie shoes
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B) Hop on one foot
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C) Ride a bike
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D) Skip rope
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Answer B: Hop on one foot j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
Rationale: A 4-year-old can hop on one foot; shoe tying occurs at 6-7 years.
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13. Which developmental stage is characterized by the child wanting to "do it myself"?
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A) Infancy
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B) Toddler
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C) Preschool
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D) School-age
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Answer B: Toddler j0 j0
Rationale: Toddlers assert autonomy with "doing it myself," aligning with Erikson's autonomy vs.
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14. A 3-year-old is in Erikson's initiative vs. guilt stage. This stage is characterized by:
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A) Learning to trust
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B) Taking initiative and exploring
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C) Developing industry
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D) Forming identity
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Answer B: Taking initiative and exploring
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Rationale: Preschoolers (3-6 years) develop initiative and purpose.
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15. The nurse is caring for a 7-year-old with a chronic illness. According to Erikson, the child is in
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A) Initiative vs. Guilt
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B) Industry vs. Inferiority
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C) Identity vs. Role Confusion
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D) Trust vs. Mistrust
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Latest Update) – Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam
Questions 1–250
1. The nurse is assessing a newborn at 1 minute of life. The newborn has a heart rate of 110,
respirations of 20, grimaces to suction, has pink body and blue extremities, and is active. What is the
APGAR score?
A) 5
B) 6
C) 7
D) 8
Answer C: 7
Rationale: Heart rate 2, respirations 1, grimace 2, color 1, activity 2 = total 7.
2. A normal APGAR score at 5 minutes is:
A) 0-3
B) 4-6
C) 7-10
D) No score needed
Answer C: 7-10
Rationale: APGAR scores of 7-10 indicate that the newborn is in good condition.
3. A newborn presents with a heart rate of 120, strong cry, pink body, active movement, and
respirations of 40. What is the 5-minute APGAR score?
A) 7
B) 8
C) 10
D) 9
Answer C: 10
Rationale: Heart rate 2, respirations 2, color 2, activity 2, tone 2 = total 10.
,4. A 2-year-old is hospitalized. According to Erikson, the child is in which psychosocial stage?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer B: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Toddlers (1-3 years) develop autonomy; shame/doubt arises from lack of independence.
5. A 4-year-old is in Piaget's preoperational stage. Which characteristic is expected?
A) Abstract thinking
B) Magical thinking and egocentrism
C) Conservation
D) Deductive reasoning
Answer B: Magical thinking and egocentrism
Rationale: Preoperational thinking (2-7 years) includes magical thinking and egocentrism.
6. The nurse is caring for a 10-month-old. According to Erikson, the child is in which stage?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer A: Trust vs. Mistrust
Rationale: Infancy (birth to 1 year) focuses on trust vs. mistrust.
7. A 12-year-old is in Piaget's formal operational stage. Which skill is expected?
A) Egocentrism
B) Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking
C) Conservation
D) Magical thinking
Answer B: Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking
Rationale: Formal operational (12+ years) includes abstract and hypothetical reasoning.
,8. Which reflex is expected in a newborn and disappears by 3-4 months?
A) Moro reflex
B) Moro reflex
C) Rooting reflex
D) Babinski reflex
Answer A: Moro reflex
Rationale: Moro reflex is present at birth and disappears by 3-4 months.
9. The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old. Which finding is a developmental milestone?
A) Sitting without support
B) Rolling from front to back
C) Walking
D) Speaking sentences
Answer B: Rolling from front to back
Rationale: Rolling over occurs at approximately 4-6 months of age.
10. A 15-month-old can:
A) Run independently
B) Stand alone and walk with assistance
C) Jump
D) Climb stairs
Answer B: Stand alone and walk with assistance
Rationale: Walking independently occurs around 12-15 months; standing alone is expected.
11. The nurse is assessing a 2-year-old. Which language milestone is expected?
A) 2-3 word sentences
B) 50-100 word vocabulary
C) 200-300 word vocabulary
D) 500+ word vocabulary
Answer B: 50-100 word vocabulary
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically has a 50-100 word vocabulary and uses two-word phrases.
, 12. A 4-year-old should be able to:
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A) Tie shoes
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B) Hop on one foot
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C) Ride a bike
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D) Skip rope
j0 j0
Answer B: Hop on one foot j0 j0 j0 j0 j0
Rationale: A 4-year-old can hop on one foot; shoe tying occurs at 6-7 years.
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13. Which developmental stage is characterized by the child wanting to "do it myself"?
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A) Infancy
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B) Toddler
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C) Preschool
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D) School-age
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Answer B: Toddler j0 j0
Rationale: Toddlers assert autonomy with "doing it myself," aligning with Erikson's autonomy vs.
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j0 shame/doubt.
14. A 3-year-old is in Erikson's initiative vs. guilt stage. This stage is characterized by:
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A) Learning to trust
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B) Taking initiative and exploring
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C) Developing industry
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D) Forming identity
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Answer B: Taking initiative and exploring
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Rationale: Preschoolers (3-6 years) develop initiative and purpose.
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15. The nurse is caring for a 7-year-old with a chronic illness. According to Erikson, the child is in
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A) Initiative vs. Guilt
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B) Industry vs. Inferiority
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C) Identity vs. Role Confusion
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D) Trust vs. Mistrust
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