ATI RN Pediatrics 2026/2027 | ACTUAL-Style Practice Questions &
Answers, ATI Pediatric Nursing Exam Prep, Child Growth and
Development, Pediatric Disorders, Medication Safety, Respiratory and
Cardiac Conditions, Emergency Nursing, and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-
child visit. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from abdomen to back
C. Transferring objects from hand to hand
D. Using a pincer grasp
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Rolling from abdomen to back
Rationale: Rolling from abdomen to back is typically achieved by 6 months
of age. Sitting without support is expected at approximately 8 months,
transferring objects emerges around 7 months, and pincer grasp develops
at 9 to 10 months.
Question 2: A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old toddler. Which finding
indicates a need for further evaluation?
A. The toddler can say 2 to 3 words
B. The toddler can walk independently
C. The toddler cannot sit without support
D. The toddler can feed themselves with fingers
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The toddler cannot sit without support
Rationale: Independent sitting should be achieved by 8 months of age. A
12-month-old who cannot sit without support demonstrates a significant
developmental delay requiring further evaluation.
Question 3: According to Piaget, a 4-year-old child is in which stage of
cognitive development?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Preoperational
Rationale: The preoperational stage spans ages 2 to 7 years and is
characterized by egocentrism, magical thinking, and symbolic play. The
,sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to 2 years, and concrete operational
thinking emerges from 7 to 11 years.
Question 4: A nurse is teaching a parent about age-appropriate toys for
a 3-year-old. Which toy is most appropriate?
A. Small building blocks
B. Video game console
C. Large puzzle with knobs
D. Marbles
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Large puzzle with knobs
Rationale: A 3-year-old requires toys that are safe and promote fine motor
and cognitive development. Large puzzles with knobs are appropriate.
Small blocks and marbles pose choking hazards due to their size.
Question 5: Which finding indicates a 2-month-old infant is developing
appropriately?
A. Social smile
B. Rolling over
C. Sitting with support
D. Transferring objects
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Social smile
Rationale: A social smile is a 2-month developmental milestone. Rolling
over typically occurs at 5 to 6 months, sitting with support at 6 to 8 months,
and transferring objects at 7 months.
Question 6: A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which
developmental task is most appropriate for this age?
A. Parallel play
B. Cooperative play
C. Solitary play
D. Onlooker play
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Cooperative play
Rationale: Preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years engage in cooperative play.
Parallel play is typical of toddlers aged 2 to 3 years, while solitary and
onlooker play are seen in infancy and toddlerhood.
,Question 7: Which statement by a parent indicates understanding of
toilet training readiness?
A. "My 12-month-old is ready for toilet training."
B. "My 18-month-old can tell me when they need to go."
C. "My 2-year-old stays dry for 2 hours at a time."
D. "My 3-year-old has no interest in the toilet."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "My 2-year-old stays dry for 2 hours at a time."
Rationale: Staying dry for at least 2 hours indicates bladder control, which
is a key readiness sign for toilet training. Most children achieve readiness
between 18 and 24 months. A 12-month-old is typically not
developmentally ready, and lack of interest at age 3 warrants further
discussion.
Question 8: A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which milestone
should the nurse expect?
A. Head control when supported
B. Rolling from back to abdomen
C. Sitting without support
D. Crawling on hands and knees
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Head control when supported
Rationale: At 4 months, an infant should hold the head steady when
supported. Rolling from back to abdomen typically occurs at 5 to 6 months,
sitting without support at 8 months, and crawling at 8 to 10 months.
Question 9: An infant's anterior fontanel should close by what age?
A. 2 months
B. 6 months
C. 12 to 18 months
D. 24 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 12 to 18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel typically closes between 12 and 18 months
of age. The posterior fontanel closes earlier, by 2 to 3 months.
Question 10: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant and notes the
posterior fontanel is still palpable. What action should the nurse take?
, A. Document as a normal finding
B. Report to the provider for further evaluation
C. Apply gentle pressure to encourage closure
D. Reassess in 6 months
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Report to the provider for further evaluation
Rationale: The posterior fontanel typically closes by 2 to 3 months of age.
Persistence at 6 months may indicate increased intracranial pressure or
hypothyroidism and warrants further evaluation.
Question 11: A 10-month-old infant is in which of Erikson's stages of
psychosocial development?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Trust versus mistrust
Rationale: Erikson's trust versus mistrust stage spans from birth to
approximately 1 year of age. Autonomy versus shame and doubt occurs
during toddlerhood (1 to 3 years), and initiative versus guilt occurs during
preschool years (3 to 5 years).
Question 12: A toddler is in which of Erikson's stages of psychosocial
development?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
Rationale: Toddlerhood, ages 1 to 3 years, corresponds to Erikson's
autonomy versus shame and doubt stage. Offering limited choices
promotes independence during this stage.
Question 13: A 10-year-old child is in which of Piaget's stages of
cognitive development?
Answers, ATI Pediatric Nursing Exam Prep, Child Growth and
Development, Pediatric Disorders, Medication Safety, Respiratory and
Cardiac Conditions, Emergency Nursing, and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-
child visit. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Sitting without support
B. Rolling from abdomen to back
C. Transferring objects from hand to hand
D. Using a pincer grasp
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Rolling from abdomen to back
Rationale: Rolling from abdomen to back is typically achieved by 6 months
of age. Sitting without support is expected at approximately 8 months,
transferring objects emerges around 7 months, and pincer grasp develops
at 9 to 10 months.
Question 2: A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old toddler. Which finding
indicates a need for further evaluation?
A. The toddler can say 2 to 3 words
B. The toddler can walk independently
C. The toddler cannot sit without support
D. The toddler can feed themselves with fingers
CORRECT ANSWER: C. The toddler cannot sit without support
Rationale: Independent sitting should be achieved by 8 months of age. A
12-month-old who cannot sit without support demonstrates a significant
developmental delay requiring further evaluation.
Question 3: According to Piaget, a 4-year-old child is in which stage of
cognitive development?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Preoperational
Rationale: The preoperational stage spans ages 2 to 7 years and is
characterized by egocentrism, magical thinking, and symbolic play. The
,sensorimotor stage occurs from birth to 2 years, and concrete operational
thinking emerges from 7 to 11 years.
Question 4: A nurse is teaching a parent about age-appropriate toys for
a 3-year-old. Which toy is most appropriate?
A. Small building blocks
B. Video game console
C. Large puzzle with knobs
D. Marbles
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Large puzzle with knobs
Rationale: A 3-year-old requires toys that are safe and promote fine motor
and cognitive development. Large puzzles with knobs are appropriate.
Small blocks and marbles pose choking hazards due to their size.
Question 5: Which finding indicates a 2-month-old infant is developing
appropriately?
A. Social smile
B. Rolling over
C. Sitting with support
D. Transferring objects
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Social smile
Rationale: A social smile is a 2-month developmental milestone. Rolling
over typically occurs at 5 to 6 months, sitting with support at 6 to 8 months,
and transferring objects at 7 months.
Question 6: A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which
developmental task is most appropriate for this age?
A. Parallel play
B. Cooperative play
C. Solitary play
D. Onlooker play
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Cooperative play
Rationale: Preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years engage in cooperative play.
Parallel play is typical of toddlers aged 2 to 3 years, while solitary and
onlooker play are seen in infancy and toddlerhood.
,Question 7: Which statement by a parent indicates understanding of
toilet training readiness?
A. "My 12-month-old is ready for toilet training."
B. "My 18-month-old can tell me when they need to go."
C. "My 2-year-old stays dry for 2 hours at a time."
D. "My 3-year-old has no interest in the toilet."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "My 2-year-old stays dry for 2 hours at a time."
Rationale: Staying dry for at least 2 hours indicates bladder control, which
is a key readiness sign for toilet training. Most children achieve readiness
between 18 and 24 months. A 12-month-old is typically not
developmentally ready, and lack of interest at age 3 warrants further
discussion.
Question 8: A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which milestone
should the nurse expect?
A. Head control when supported
B. Rolling from back to abdomen
C. Sitting without support
D. Crawling on hands and knees
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Head control when supported
Rationale: At 4 months, an infant should hold the head steady when
supported. Rolling from back to abdomen typically occurs at 5 to 6 months,
sitting without support at 8 months, and crawling at 8 to 10 months.
Question 9: An infant's anterior fontanel should close by what age?
A. 2 months
B. 6 months
C. 12 to 18 months
D. 24 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 12 to 18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel typically closes between 12 and 18 months
of age. The posterior fontanel closes earlier, by 2 to 3 months.
Question 10: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant and notes the
posterior fontanel is still palpable. What action should the nurse take?
, A. Document as a normal finding
B. Report to the provider for further evaluation
C. Apply gentle pressure to encourage closure
D. Reassess in 6 months
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Report to the provider for further evaluation
Rationale: The posterior fontanel typically closes by 2 to 3 months of age.
Persistence at 6 months may indicate increased intracranial pressure or
hypothyroidism and warrants further evaluation.
Question 11: A 10-month-old infant is in which of Erikson's stages of
psychosocial development?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Trust versus mistrust
Rationale: Erikson's trust versus mistrust stage spans from birth to
approximately 1 year of age. Autonomy versus shame and doubt occurs
during toddlerhood (1 to 3 years), and initiative versus guilt occurs during
preschool years (3 to 5 years).
Question 12: A toddler is in which of Erikson's stages of psychosocial
development?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
Rationale: Toddlerhood, ages 1 to 3 years, corresponds to Erikson's
autonomy versus shame and doubt stage. Offering limited choices
promotes independence during this stage.
Question 13: A 10-year-old child is in which of Piaget's stages of
cognitive development?
