NR 222 Final Exam Review Pack 2026 | Complete
Developmental Theories Breakdown, Nursing Concepts
Practice Questions, Detailed Explanations, and High-Yield
Study सामग्री for Top Scores
1. A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who is hospitalized. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory,
which developmental task is the priority for this child?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Erikson's stage for toddlers (1-3 years) is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. During this stage,
children develop independence and self-control. Hospitalization can threaten autonomy due to loss of
control over environment and routines. Trust vs. Mistrust applies to infants (0-18 months), Initiative vs.
Guilt to preschoolers (3-6 years), and Industry vs. Inferiority to school-age children (6-12 years).
2. An 80-year-old client reflects on life accomplishments and expresses satisfaction. According to
Erikson, which developmental stage is this client successfully navigating?
A) Generativity vs. Stagnation
B) Integrity vs. Despair
C) Identity vs. Role Confusion
D) Intimacy vs. Isolation
Correct Answer: B) Integrity vs. Despair
,Rationale: Integrity vs. Despair is Erikson's final stage (65+ years), where individuals reflect on life.
Successful resolution leads to wisdom and acceptance; failure results in regret and despair. Generativity
vs. Stagnation applies to middle adulthood (40-65 years), Identity vs. Role Confusion to adolescence (12-
18 years), and Intimacy vs. Isolation to young adulthood (18-40 years).
3. A nurse is teaching parents of a preschooler about developmental expectations. Which behavior
indicates the child is successfully achieving Erikson's stage of Initiative vs. Guilt?
A) The child insists on dressing independently
B) The child asks "why" questions and engages in pretend play
C) The child completes homework without reminders
D) The child forms close friendships with peers
Correct Answer: B) The child asks "why" questions and engages in pretend play
Rationale: Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years) involves developing purpose, curiosity, and leadership through
play and exploration. Asking questions and pretend play demonstrate initiative. Insisting on dressing
independently reflects Autonomy vs. Shame (toddler stage). Completing homework reflects Industry vs.
Inferiority (school-age). Forming close friendships relates to Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adulthood).
Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory
4. A nurse observes a 4-year-old child who believes that a tall, narrow glass holds more water than a
short, wide glass, even when both contain the same amount. According to Piaget, which cognitive
characteristic is demonstrated?
A) Object permanence
B) Egocentrism
C) Lack of conservation
D) Abstract reasoning
Correct Answer: C) Lack of conservation
Rationale: Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape
or appearance. Preoperational children (2-7 years) typically lack this ability. Object permanence
,develops in the sensorimotor stage (0-2 years). Egocentrism (inability to see others' perspectives) is also
preoperational but not specifically demonstrated here. Abstract reasoning emerges in the formal
operational stage (12+ years).
5. According to Piaget, a child who can think logically about concrete events and understand cause-and-
effect relationships is in which stage of cognitive development?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Correct Answer: C) Concrete operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage (7-11 years) is characterized by logical thinking about
concrete events, understanding conservation, reversibility, and cause-and-effect. Sensorimotor (0-2
years) focuses on sensory/motor exploration. Preoperational (2-7 years) involves symbolic thinking but
lacks logic. Formal operational (12+ years) includes abstract and hypothetical reasoning.
6. A nurse is caring for an infant who searches for a toy that has been hidden under a blanket. This
behavior indicates the infant has achieved:
A) Conservation
B) Object permanence
C) Egocentrism
D) Reversibility
Correct Answer: B) Object permanence
Rationale: Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of
sight, typically achieved around 8-12 months in Piaget's sensorimotor stage. Conservation, egocentrism,
and reversibility are concepts associated with later cognitive stages.
Freud's Psychosexual Theory & Other Theories
, 7. According to Freud, which psychosexual stage is characterized by the child's focus on toilet training
and control of bodily functions?
A) Oral stage
B) Anal stage
C) Phallic stage
D) Latency stage
Correct Answer: B) Anal stage
Rationale: Freud's anal stage (18 months-3 years) centers on bowel and bladder control. Successful
navigation leads to competence; fixation may result in obsessive cleanliness or messiness. The oral stage
(0-18 months) focuses on mouth-related activities. The phallic stage (3-6 years) involves genital
awareness. The latency stage (6-puberty) involves suppressed sexual feelings.
8. A nurse is using Kohlberg's theory of moral development to assess a school-age child. Which
statement indicates the child is at the conventional level of moral reasoning?
A) "I won't cheat because I might get caught."
B) "I follow the rules because it's the right thing to do."
C) "I help others because I want them to help me."
D) "Rules are unfair and should be changed if they hurt people."
Correct Answer: B) "I follow the rules because it's the right thing to do."
Rationale: Kohlberg's conventional level (typically school-age to adolescence) involves conforming to
societal rules and expectations to maintain order and gain approval. Option A reflects preconventional
reasoning (avoiding punishment). Option C reflects preconventional exchange. Option D reflects
postconventional reasoning (principled conscience).
9. A nurse is caring for an adolescent who is exploring different identities, values, and career choices.
According to developmental theory, which task is this adolescent primarily working on?
A) Developing intimate relationships
Developmental Theories Breakdown, Nursing Concepts
Practice Questions, Detailed Explanations, and High-Yield
Study सामग्री for Top Scores
1. A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who is hospitalized. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory,
which developmental task is the priority for this child?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Erikson's stage for toddlers (1-3 years) is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. During this stage,
children develop independence and self-control. Hospitalization can threaten autonomy due to loss of
control over environment and routines. Trust vs. Mistrust applies to infants (0-18 months), Initiative vs.
Guilt to preschoolers (3-6 years), and Industry vs. Inferiority to school-age children (6-12 years).
2. An 80-year-old client reflects on life accomplishments and expresses satisfaction. According to
Erikson, which developmental stage is this client successfully navigating?
A) Generativity vs. Stagnation
B) Integrity vs. Despair
C) Identity vs. Role Confusion
D) Intimacy vs. Isolation
Correct Answer: B) Integrity vs. Despair
,Rationale: Integrity vs. Despair is Erikson's final stage (65+ years), where individuals reflect on life.
Successful resolution leads to wisdom and acceptance; failure results in regret and despair. Generativity
vs. Stagnation applies to middle adulthood (40-65 years), Identity vs. Role Confusion to adolescence (12-
18 years), and Intimacy vs. Isolation to young adulthood (18-40 years).
3. A nurse is teaching parents of a preschooler about developmental expectations. Which behavior
indicates the child is successfully achieving Erikson's stage of Initiative vs. Guilt?
A) The child insists on dressing independently
B) The child asks "why" questions and engages in pretend play
C) The child completes homework without reminders
D) The child forms close friendships with peers
Correct Answer: B) The child asks "why" questions and engages in pretend play
Rationale: Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years) involves developing purpose, curiosity, and leadership through
play and exploration. Asking questions and pretend play demonstrate initiative. Insisting on dressing
independently reflects Autonomy vs. Shame (toddler stage). Completing homework reflects Industry vs.
Inferiority (school-age). Forming close friendships relates to Intimacy vs. Isolation (young adulthood).
Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory
4. A nurse observes a 4-year-old child who believes that a tall, narrow glass holds more water than a
short, wide glass, even when both contain the same amount. According to Piaget, which cognitive
characteristic is demonstrated?
A) Object permanence
B) Egocentrism
C) Lack of conservation
D) Abstract reasoning
Correct Answer: C) Lack of conservation
Rationale: Conservation is the understanding that quantity remains the same despite changes in shape
or appearance. Preoperational children (2-7 years) typically lack this ability. Object permanence
,develops in the sensorimotor stage (0-2 years). Egocentrism (inability to see others' perspectives) is also
preoperational but not specifically demonstrated here. Abstract reasoning emerges in the formal
operational stage (12+ years).
5. According to Piaget, a child who can think logically about concrete events and understand cause-and-
effect relationships is in which stage of cognitive development?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete operational
D) Formal operational
Correct Answer: C) Concrete operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage (7-11 years) is characterized by logical thinking about
concrete events, understanding conservation, reversibility, and cause-and-effect. Sensorimotor (0-2
years) focuses on sensory/motor exploration. Preoperational (2-7 years) involves symbolic thinking but
lacks logic. Formal operational (12+ years) includes abstract and hypothetical reasoning.
6. A nurse is caring for an infant who searches for a toy that has been hidden under a blanket. This
behavior indicates the infant has achieved:
A) Conservation
B) Object permanence
C) Egocentrism
D) Reversibility
Correct Answer: B) Object permanence
Rationale: Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of
sight, typically achieved around 8-12 months in Piaget's sensorimotor stage. Conservation, egocentrism,
and reversibility are concepts associated with later cognitive stages.
Freud's Psychosexual Theory & Other Theories
, 7. According to Freud, which psychosexual stage is characterized by the child's focus on toilet training
and control of bodily functions?
A) Oral stage
B) Anal stage
C) Phallic stage
D) Latency stage
Correct Answer: B) Anal stage
Rationale: Freud's anal stage (18 months-3 years) centers on bowel and bladder control. Successful
navigation leads to competence; fixation may result in obsessive cleanliness or messiness. The oral stage
(0-18 months) focuses on mouth-related activities. The phallic stage (3-6 years) involves genital
awareness. The latency stage (6-puberty) involves suppressed sexual feelings.
8. A nurse is using Kohlberg's theory of moral development to assess a school-age child. Which
statement indicates the child is at the conventional level of moral reasoning?
A) "I won't cheat because I might get caught."
B) "I follow the rules because it's the right thing to do."
C) "I help others because I want them to help me."
D) "Rules are unfair and should be changed if they hurt people."
Correct Answer: B) "I follow the rules because it's the right thing to do."
Rationale: Kohlberg's conventional level (typically school-age to adolescence) involves conforming to
societal rules and expectations to maintain order and gain approval. Option A reflects preconventional
reasoning (avoiding punishment). Option C reflects preconventional exchange. Option D reflects
postconventional reasoning (principled conscience).
9. A nurse is caring for an adolescent who is exploring different identities, values, and career choices.
According to developmental theory, which task is this adolescent primarily working on?
A) Developing intimate relationships
