ATI Pediatrics Nursing 2026/2027 | ACTUAL-Style
Practice Questions & Answers, ATI RN Pediatric
Nursing Exam Prep, Pediatric Nursing Test Bank,
Growth and Development, Childhood Illnesses,
Congenital Disorders, Medication Dosage
Calculations, Respiratory Conditions,
Immunizations, Safety, and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is performing a developmental screening on a 10-
month-old infant. Which of the following fine motor skills should the
nurse expect the infant to demonstrate?
A. Build a tower of two cubes
B. Use a crude pincer grasp
C. Turn pages in a book
D. Scribble spontaneously
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Use a crude pincer grasp
Rationale: At 10 months, an infant typically develops a crude pincer grasp,
using the whole hand to pick up small objects. Building a tower of two
cubes is expected at 12–15 months. Turning pages and scribbling are skills
of a toddler (12–18 months) .
Question 2: A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of
a 4-year-old child. Which of the following should the nurse include as
an appropriate disciplinary strategy for this age group?
A. Using time-out for 4 minutes following a misbehavior
B. Encouraging the child to take a nap when misbehaving
C. Implementing a reward system for good behavior
D. Using physical guidance to correct a behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Using time-out for 4 minutes following a
misbehavior
Rationale: The general rule for time-out is 1 minute per year of age; thus, 4
minutes is appropriate for a 4-year-old. This allows the child to understand
the consequence of their behavior. Rewards are a form of positive
reinforcement rather than discipline for misbehavior .
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant during a well-
child visit. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to
the provider?
,A. Closed anterior fontanel
B. Birth weight tripled
C. Unable to walk independently
D. Hand preference is evident
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Hand preference is evident
Rationale: Hand preference is not expected until approximately 2 years of
age. In a 12-month-old, it can be an early indicator of a motor or
developmental delay and should be reported. The anterior fontanel closes
by 12–18 months, and birth weight triples by 12 months. Most infants begin
walking independently between 12–15 months .
Question 4: A nurse is educating the parent of a 2-month-old about
immunizations. Which of the following vaccines should the nurse state
is administered at this age?
A. Rotavirus (RV)
B. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
C. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
D. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
Rationale: The recommended immunizations at 2 months include RV, DTaP,
Hib, PCV, and IPV. MMR is typically given at 12 months. DTaP is one of the
core vaccines administered at this age .
Question 5: A school-age child is brought to the emergency department
with severe facial swelling and respiratory distress after a bee sting.
The child has audible wheezing and hives on the chest. Which of the
following is the priority intervention?
A. Administer an albuterol nebulizer treatment
B. Administer oxygen at 6 L/min via nasal cannula
C. Administer intramuscular epinephrine
D. Start an IV line for corticosteroid administration
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Administer intramuscular epinephrine
Rationale: This child is exhibiting anaphylaxis. The priority intervention is to
administer intramuscular epinephrine to reverse the life-threatening airway
,and cardiovascular compromise. While oxygen, albuterol, and
corticosteroids are important, they are not first-line .
Question 6: A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who was found by his
parents crying and holding a container of toilet bowl cleaner. The
child's lips are edematous and inflamed, and he is drooling. Which of
the following is the priority action by the nurse?
A. Check the child's respiratory status
B. Administer activated charcoal
C. Induce vomiting
D. Perform gastric lavage
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Check the child's respiratory status
Rationale: The child has ingested a caustic substance and is drooling with
edematous lips. The priority is to assess for airway compromise. Inducing
vomiting and gastric lavage are contraindicated with caustic ingestions .
Question 7: A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old child about
development during the toddler years. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include?
A. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at
the age of 15 months."
B. "Your child should be able to build a tower of four cubes by 18 months."
C. "Your child should be able to say 10 words by 18 months."
D. "Your child should be able to walk up stairs by 15 months."
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "Your child should be able to scribble
spontaneously using a crayon at the age of 15 months."
Rationale: Scribbling spontaneously is a fine motor milestone expected at
approximately 15 months. Building a tower of four cubes is expected at 18–
24 months. Saying 10 words is expected at 18 months. Walking up stairs
with alternating feet is a 24-month milestone .
Question 8: A nurse in a pediatric clinic is assessing a toddler at a well-
child visit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Minimize physical contact with the child initially
B. Perform the most invasive procedures first
, C. Use medical terminology when explaining procedures
D. Ask the parent to leave the room during the assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Minimize physical contact with the child initially
Rationale: The nurse should initially minimize physical contact with the
toddler and progress from the least traumatic to the most traumatic
procedures. This approach respects the toddler's developmental stage and
reduces anxiety .
Question 9: A nurse is caring for an 18-year-old adolescent who is up-
to-date on immunizations and is planning to attend college. The nurse
should inform the client that he should receive which of the following
immunizations prior to moving into a campus dormitory?
A. Pneumococcal polysaccharide
B. Meningococcal polysaccharide
C. Rotavirus
D. Herpes zoster
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Meningococcal polysaccharide
Rationale: College freshmen, particularly those living in dormitories, are at
increased risk for meningococcal disease. The meningococcal
immunization is recommended for all incoming college students .
Question 10: A nurse is teaching the parent of a toddler about home
safety. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I lock my medications in the medicine cabinet."
B. "I turn pot handles to the side of my stove while cooking."
C. "I will give my child syrup of ipecac if she swallows something
poisonous."
D. "I keep small objects on the coffee table."
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "I lock my medications in the medicine cabinet."
Rationale: Toddlers have improved motor skills that allow for exploration of
the environment and possible access to hazardous substances. Locking
medications is an appropriate safety measure. Turning pot handles toward
the back of the stove is safer. Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended .
Practice Questions & Answers, ATI RN Pediatric
Nursing Exam Prep, Pediatric Nursing Test Bank,
Growth and Development, Childhood Illnesses,
Congenital Disorders, Medication Dosage
Calculations, Respiratory Conditions,
Immunizations, Safety, and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A nurse is performing a developmental screening on a 10-
month-old infant. Which of the following fine motor skills should the
nurse expect the infant to demonstrate?
A. Build a tower of two cubes
B. Use a crude pincer grasp
C. Turn pages in a book
D. Scribble spontaneously
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Use a crude pincer grasp
Rationale: At 10 months, an infant typically develops a crude pincer grasp,
using the whole hand to pick up small objects. Building a tower of two
cubes is expected at 12–15 months. Turning pages and scribbling are skills
of a toddler (12–18 months) .
Question 2: A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of
a 4-year-old child. Which of the following should the nurse include as
an appropriate disciplinary strategy for this age group?
A. Using time-out for 4 minutes following a misbehavior
B. Encouraging the child to take a nap when misbehaving
C. Implementing a reward system for good behavior
D. Using physical guidance to correct a behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Using time-out for 4 minutes following a
misbehavior
Rationale: The general rule for time-out is 1 minute per year of age; thus, 4
minutes is appropriate for a 4-year-old. This allows the child to understand
the consequence of their behavior. Rewards are a form of positive
reinforcement rather than discipline for misbehavior .
Question 3: A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant during a well-
child visit. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to
the provider?
,A. Closed anterior fontanel
B. Birth weight tripled
C. Unable to walk independently
D. Hand preference is evident
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Hand preference is evident
Rationale: Hand preference is not expected until approximately 2 years of
age. In a 12-month-old, it can be an early indicator of a motor or
developmental delay and should be reported. The anterior fontanel closes
by 12–18 months, and birth weight triples by 12 months. Most infants begin
walking independently between 12–15 months .
Question 4: A nurse is educating the parent of a 2-month-old about
immunizations. Which of the following vaccines should the nurse state
is administered at this age?
A. Rotavirus (RV)
B. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
C. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
D. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
Rationale: The recommended immunizations at 2 months include RV, DTaP,
Hib, PCV, and IPV. MMR is typically given at 12 months. DTaP is one of the
core vaccines administered at this age .
Question 5: A school-age child is brought to the emergency department
with severe facial swelling and respiratory distress after a bee sting.
The child has audible wheezing and hives on the chest. Which of the
following is the priority intervention?
A. Administer an albuterol nebulizer treatment
B. Administer oxygen at 6 L/min via nasal cannula
C. Administer intramuscular epinephrine
D. Start an IV line for corticosteroid administration
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Administer intramuscular epinephrine
Rationale: This child is exhibiting anaphylaxis. The priority intervention is to
administer intramuscular epinephrine to reverse the life-threatening airway
,and cardiovascular compromise. While oxygen, albuterol, and
corticosteroids are important, they are not first-line .
Question 6: A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who was found by his
parents crying and holding a container of toilet bowl cleaner. The
child's lips are edematous and inflamed, and he is drooling. Which of
the following is the priority action by the nurse?
A. Check the child's respiratory status
B. Administer activated charcoal
C. Induce vomiting
D. Perform gastric lavage
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Check the child's respiratory status
Rationale: The child has ingested a caustic substance and is drooling with
edematous lips. The priority is to assess for airway compromise. Inducing
vomiting and gastric lavage are contraindicated with caustic ingestions .
Question 7: A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old child about
development during the toddler years. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include?
A. "Your child should be able to scribble spontaneously using a crayon at
the age of 15 months."
B. "Your child should be able to build a tower of four cubes by 18 months."
C. "Your child should be able to say 10 words by 18 months."
D. "Your child should be able to walk up stairs by 15 months."
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "Your child should be able to scribble
spontaneously using a crayon at the age of 15 months."
Rationale: Scribbling spontaneously is a fine motor milestone expected at
approximately 15 months. Building a tower of four cubes is expected at 18–
24 months. Saying 10 words is expected at 18 months. Walking up stairs
with alternating feet is a 24-month milestone .
Question 8: A nurse in a pediatric clinic is assessing a toddler at a well-
child visit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Minimize physical contact with the child initially
B. Perform the most invasive procedures first
, C. Use medical terminology when explaining procedures
D. Ask the parent to leave the room during the assessment
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Minimize physical contact with the child initially
Rationale: The nurse should initially minimize physical contact with the
toddler and progress from the least traumatic to the most traumatic
procedures. This approach respects the toddler's developmental stage and
reduces anxiety .
Question 9: A nurse is caring for an 18-year-old adolescent who is up-
to-date on immunizations and is planning to attend college. The nurse
should inform the client that he should receive which of the following
immunizations prior to moving into a campus dormitory?
A. Pneumococcal polysaccharide
B. Meningococcal polysaccharide
C. Rotavirus
D. Herpes zoster
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Meningococcal polysaccharide
Rationale: College freshmen, particularly those living in dormitories, are at
increased risk for meningococcal disease. The meningococcal
immunization is recommended for all incoming college students .
Question 10: A nurse is teaching the parent of a toddler about home
safety. Which of the following statements by the parent indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I lock my medications in the medicine cabinet."
B. "I turn pot handles to the side of my stove while cooking."
C. "I will give my child syrup of ipecac if she swallows something
poisonous."
D. "I keep small objects on the coffee table."
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "I lock my medications in the medicine cabinet."
Rationale: Toddlers have improved motor skills that allow for exploration of
the environment and possible access to hazardous substances. Locking
medications is an appropriate safety measure. Turning pot handles toward
the back of the stove is safer. Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended .
