ATI RN Pediatric Exam (2023–2026) Questions
Bank – Actual Questions & Answers (ATI Pediatric
NGN Questions) | 100% Verified Graded A+
Section 1: Growth and Development
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Birth weight has doubled.
B. Can sit without support.
C. Has a pincer grasp.
D. Rolls from abdomen to back.
D. Rolls from abdomen to back.
Rationale: Rolling from abdomen to back is a major gross motor milestone
typically achieved by 6 months. Birth weight should double by 5-6 months and
triple by 12 months. Sitting without support is expected at 8 months. A pincer
grasp is a fine motor skill expected at 9-10 months.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 2-year-old
toddler. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates a need for
further teaching?
A. "I will offer my child a choice between two outfits."
B. "I will use a time-out for 2 minutes if my child has a tantrum."
C. "I should expect my child to have a vocabulary of about 50 words."
D. "I will give my child a small toy to hold during a procedure."
C. "I should expect my child to have a vocabulary of about 50 words."
Rationale: A 2-year-old is expected to have a vocabulary of 300 words and
be able to speak in two- to three-word sentences. A 50-word vocabulary is more
characteristic of an 18-month-old. Offering choices, using time-out (1 minute per
year of age), and providing comfort items are all appropriate strategies for
toddlers.
3. A nurse is caring for an adolescent client. According to Piaget, which of the
following stages of cognitive development should the nurse expect the client to
be in?
,A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
D. Formal operational
Rationale: The formal operational stage (typically ages 11 to adulthood) is
characterized by the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and use deductive
reasoning. This is the stage of cognitive development for adolescents. The
sensorimotor stage is birth to 2 years, preoperational is 2-7 years, and concrete
operational is 7-11 years.
4. A nurse is teaching a parent about the developmental milestones of a 4-
month-old infant. Which of the following should the nurse include? (Select all
that apply.)
A. The infant should be able to hold a rattle.
B. The infant should be able to sit alone.
C. The infant should be able to laugh out loud.
D. The infant should be able to roll from back to side.
E. The infant should be able to say "mama" and "dada" specifically.
A. The infant should be able to hold a rattle.
C. The infant should be able to laugh out loud.
D. The infant should be able to roll from back to side.
Rationale: A 4-month-old infant is expected to have a social smile, laugh
out loud, hold a rattle, and begin to roll from back to side. Sitting alone is a 7-8
month milestone. Saying "mama" and "dada" specifically is a 10-12 month
milestone.
5. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which of the following findings should
the nurse report to the provider as a potential delay?
A. The child can build a tower of 6 blocks.
B. The child uses a spoon to feed themselves.
C. The child cannot pedal a tricycle.
D. The child engages in parallel play.
C. The child cannot pedal a tricycle.
Rationale: Pedaling a tricycle is a gross motor milestone typically achieved
,by 3 years of age. The inability to do so at age 3 could indicate a developmental
delay. Building a tower of 6 blocks and using a spoon are fine motor milestones
for a 2-3 year old. Parallel play is characteristic of a toddler (2-3 years).
6. A nurse is discussing the psychosocial development of a 9-month-old infant
with the parents. According to Erikson, which of the following stages is the
infant in?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
Rationale: The Trust vs. Mistrust stage occurs from birth to 12-18 months.
The infant's primary task is to develop a sense of trust in their caregivers and the
world. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is for toddlers (1-3 years). Initiative vs.
Guilt is for preschoolers (3-6 years). Industry vs. Inferiority is for school-age
children (6-12 years).
7. A nurse is observing a 5-year-old child in a playroom. Which of the following
behaviors indicates the child is in the expected stage of play development?
A. The child is playing a board game with rules.
B. The child is playing dress-up with a friend.
C. The child is playing with blocks next to another child.
D. The child is watching other children play.
B. The child is playing dress-up with a friend.
Rationale: A 5-year-old is in the associative/dramatic play stage, where
they engage in role-playing (dress-up) with other children. Playing board games
with rules is more characteristic of school-age children (cooperative play). Playing
next to another child is parallel play (toddler). Watching others play is onlooker
play (toddler).
8. A nurse is assessing a 7-month-old infant's fine motor skills. Which of the
following actions should the nurse expect the infant to perform?
A. Transfer an object from one hand to the other.
B. Scribble with a crayon.
C. Build a tower of two blocks.
, D. Use a pincer grasp to pick up a small object.
A. Transfer an object from one hand to the other.
Rationale: Transferring objects from hand to hand is a fine motor
milestone typically achieved by 7 months. Scribbling is a 15-month milestone.
Building a tower of two blocks is a 15-18 month milestone. A pincer grasp is a 9-
10 month milestone.
9. A nurse is providing education to the parent of a 4-year-old child. Which of
the following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the child's
language development?
A. "My child should be able to tell a long story."
B. "My child should be able to follow simple commands."
C. "My child should be able to speak in full, complex sentences."
D. "My child should be able to understand the concept of time."
B. "My child should be able to follow simple commands."
Rationale: A 4-year-old can follow simple commands and understands
most of what is said to them. They speak in sentences of 4-5 words. Telling long
stories, speaking in complex sentences, and understanding abstract concepts like
time are more advanced skills for older children.
10. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. The infant has a positive Babinski reflex.
B. The infant can walk independently.
C. The infant's anterior fontanel is closed.
D. The infant has a heart rate of 150/min.
B. The infant can walk independently.
Rationale: Most infants can walk independently by 12 months, though
some may take a few more months. A positive Babinski reflex disappears by 12-24
months. The anterior fontanel typically closes between 12-18 months. A heart
rate of 150/min is more typical of a newborn; a 12-month-old's heart rate is
typically 80-130/min.
11. A nurse is teaching a parent about the psychosocial development of their 2-
year-old. The nurse should explain that the child is in which of Erikson's stages?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
Bank – Actual Questions & Answers (ATI Pediatric
NGN Questions) | 100% Verified Graded A+
Section 1: Growth and Development
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Birth weight has doubled.
B. Can sit without support.
C. Has a pincer grasp.
D. Rolls from abdomen to back.
D. Rolls from abdomen to back.
Rationale: Rolling from abdomen to back is a major gross motor milestone
typically achieved by 6 months. Birth weight should double by 5-6 months and
triple by 12 months. Sitting without support is expected at 8 months. A pincer
grasp is a fine motor skill expected at 9-10 months.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 2-year-old
toddler. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates a need for
further teaching?
A. "I will offer my child a choice between two outfits."
B. "I will use a time-out for 2 minutes if my child has a tantrum."
C. "I should expect my child to have a vocabulary of about 50 words."
D. "I will give my child a small toy to hold during a procedure."
C. "I should expect my child to have a vocabulary of about 50 words."
Rationale: A 2-year-old is expected to have a vocabulary of 300 words and
be able to speak in two- to three-word sentences. A 50-word vocabulary is more
characteristic of an 18-month-old. Offering choices, using time-out (1 minute per
year of age), and providing comfort items are all appropriate strategies for
toddlers.
3. A nurse is caring for an adolescent client. According to Piaget, which of the
following stages of cognitive development should the nurse expect the client to
be in?
,A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
D. Formal operational
Rationale: The formal operational stage (typically ages 11 to adulthood) is
characterized by the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and use deductive
reasoning. This is the stage of cognitive development for adolescents. The
sensorimotor stage is birth to 2 years, preoperational is 2-7 years, and concrete
operational is 7-11 years.
4. A nurse is teaching a parent about the developmental milestones of a 4-
month-old infant. Which of the following should the nurse include? (Select all
that apply.)
A. The infant should be able to hold a rattle.
B. The infant should be able to sit alone.
C. The infant should be able to laugh out loud.
D. The infant should be able to roll from back to side.
E. The infant should be able to say "mama" and "dada" specifically.
A. The infant should be able to hold a rattle.
C. The infant should be able to laugh out loud.
D. The infant should be able to roll from back to side.
Rationale: A 4-month-old infant is expected to have a social smile, laugh
out loud, hold a rattle, and begin to roll from back to side. Sitting alone is a 7-8
month milestone. Saying "mama" and "dada" specifically is a 10-12 month
milestone.
5. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which of the following findings should
the nurse report to the provider as a potential delay?
A. The child can build a tower of 6 blocks.
B. The child uses a spoon to feed themselves.
C. The child cannot pedal a tricycle.
D. The child engages in parallel play.
C. The child cannot pedal a tricycle.
Rationale: Pedaling a tricycle is a gross motor milestone typically achieved
,by 3 years of age. The inability to do so at age 3 could indicate a developmental
delay. Building a tower of 6 blocks and using a spoon are fine motor milestones
for a 2-3 year old. Parallel play is characteristic of a toddler (2-3 years).
6. A nurse is discussing the psychosocial development of a 9-month-old infant
with the parents. According to Erikson, which of the following stages is the
infant in?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
Rationale: The Trust vs. Mistrust stage occurs from birth to 12-18 months.
The infant's primary task is to develop a sense of trust in their caregivers and the
world. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt is for toddlers (1-3 years). Initiative vs.
Guilt is for preschoolers (3-6 years). Industry vs. Inferiority is for school-age
children (6-12 years).
7. A nurse is observing a 5-year-old child in a playroom. Which of the following
behaviors indicates the child is in the expected stage of play development?
A. The child is playing a board game with rules.
B. The child is playing dress-up with a friend.
C. The child is playing with blocks next to another child.
D. The child is watching other children play.
B. The child is playing dress-up with a friend.
Rationale: A 5-year-old is in the associative/dramatic play stage, where
they engage in role-playing (dress-up) with other children. Playing board games
with rules is more characteristic of school-age children (cooperative play). Playing
next to another child is parallel play (toddler). Watching others play is onlooker
play (toddler).
8. A nurse is assessing a 7-month-old infant's fine motor skills. Which of the
following actions should the nurse expect the infant to perform?
A. Transfer an object from one hand to the other.
B. Scribble with a crayon.
C. Build a tower of two blocks.
, D. Use a pincer grasp to pick up a small object.
A. Transfer an object from one hand to the other.
Rationale: Transferring objects from hand to hand is a fine motor
milestone typically achieved by 7 months. Scribbling is a 15-month milestone.
Building a tower of two blocks is a 15-18 month milestone. A pincer grasp is a 9-
10 month milestone.
9. A nurse is providing education to the parent of a 4-year-old child. Which of
the following statements by the parent indicates an understanding of the child's
language development?
A. "My child should be able to tell a long story."
B. "My child should be able to follow simple commands."
C. "My child should be able to speak in full, complex sentences."
D. "My child should be able to understand the concept of time."
B. "My child should be able to follow simple commands."
Rationale: A 4-year-old can follow simple commands and understands
most of what is said to them. They speak in sentences of 4-5 words. Telling long
stories, speaking in complex sentences, and understanding abstract concepts like
time are more advanced skills for older children.
10. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. The infant has a positive Babinski reflex.
B. The infant can walk independently.
C. The infant's anterior fontanel is closed.
D. The infant has a heart rate of 150/min.
B. The infant can walk independently.
Rationale: Most infants can walk independently by 12 months, though
some may take a few more months. A positive Babinski reflex disappears by 12-24
months. The anterior fontanel typically closes between 12-18 months. A heart
rate of 150/min is more typical of a newborn; a 12-month-old's heart rate is
typically 80-130/min.
11. A nurse is teaching a parent about the psychosocial development of their 2-
year-old. The nurse should explain that the child is in which of Erikson's stages?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
