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ATI Capstone Pediatrics Study Guide for RN
Exam Preparation Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: Growth & Development — Questions 1-20]
Q1: The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect to find?
A. Sitting alone without support
B. Rolling from back to front
C. Babbling (e.g., "ba-ba", "da-da") [CORRECT]
D. Walking while holding onto furniture
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A 6-month-old infant is typically expected to babble, combining consonants and
vowels. While they may be able to sit with support, sitting alone without support usually occurs
around 8 months. Rolling from back to front is often achieved earlier (by 4-5 months), and
walking while holding onto furniture (cruising) typically occurs around 9-12 months.
Q2: According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, the primary task of a toddler (1-
3 years) is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt [CORRECT]
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Erikson’s stage for toddlers (ages 1 to 3 years) is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt,
where children develop a sense of independence by controlling their bodily functions and
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exploring their environment. Trust vs. Mistrust applies to infants (0-1), Initiative vs. Guilt to
preschoolers (3-6), and Industry vs. Inferiority to school-age children (6-12).
Q3: A 4-year-old preschooler is hospitalized. Which behavior is most characteristic of the
preoperational stage of Piaget’s cognitive development?
A. Understanding the concept of conservation
B. Magical thinking and egocentrism [CORRECT]
C. Abstract reasoning
D. Deductive logic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the preoperational stage (ages 2 to 7 years), children exhibit magical thinking
(believing their thoughts cause events) and egocentrism (inability to see another's perspective).
Conservation of mass/volume is mastered in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years), and
abstract reasoning develops in the formal operational stage (11+ years).
Q4: A parent asks the nurse when their child should start receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine.
According to the CDC immunization schedule, the first dose is recommended at:
A. 2 months
B. Birth [CORRECT]
C. 6 months
D. 12 months
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine is the first vaccine recommended, ideally given
within 24 hours of birth. The subsequent doses are administered at 1-2 months and 6-18 months.
Waiting until 2 months misses the birth dose protection window.
Q5: The nurse is preparing a playroom for hospitalized toddlers. Which type of play is most
appropriate for this developmental age group?
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A. Cooperative play
B. Associative play
C. Parallel play [CORRECT]
D. Solitary play
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Toddlers primarily engage in parallel play, where they play near other children but not
with them, using similar toys. Solitary play is seen in infants, while associative and cooperative
play develop later in the preschool and school-age years.
Q6: Which statement by a parent indicates a need for further teaching regarding injury
prevention for a 5-year-old?
A. "My child wears a helmet when riding a bicycle."
B. "I keep the hot water heater set at 130°F." [CORRECT]
C. "My child sits in the back seat of the car."
D. "We have a fence around our swimming pool."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To prevent scald burns, the hot water heater temperature should be set no higher than
120°F (49°C). A setting of 130°F poses a significant risk of burn injury within seconds. The
other options demonstrate appropriate safety measures for a preschooler.
Q7: The nurse assesses a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor skill is expected?
A. Crawling [CORRECT]
B. Walking independently
C. Standing without assistance
D. Running
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: By 9 months, most infants can crawl. Walking independently typically occurs around
12 months. Standing without assistance may happen near 12 months, and running is a skill
achieved in toddlerhood (around 18-24 months).
Q8: A school-age child is recovering from a fracture of the femur. The nurse recognizes that this
child is in Erikson's stage of Industry vs. Inferiority. Which nursing intervention best supports
this developmental stage?
A. Allowing the child to assist in applying the traction weights
B. Encouraging the child to perform self-care tasks independently [CORRECT]
C. Providing a stuffed animal for comfort
D. Letting the child stay in bed to avoid fatigue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the Industry vs. Inferiority stage (6-12 years), children derive self-esteem from
being productive and mastering skills. Encouraging the child to perform self-care tasks within
their limitations promotes a sense of industry. Allowing assistance with traction is unsafe due to
infection/technical risks, and keeping a child in bed unnecessarily reinforces feelings of
inferiority.
Q9: When assessing a 2-year-old toddler, the nurse expects the child to have a vocabulary of how
many words?
A. 2-3 words
B. 10-20 words
C. 50-100 words, beginning to combine 2-word phrases [CORRECT]
D. Over 1,000 words with complex sentences
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: By 2 years of age, a toddler typically has a vocabulary of at least 50 words and begins
to combine two words into simple phrases (telegraphic speech). A vocabulary of 2-3 words is
expected at 12 months, while 1,000+ words is typical of a preschooler.
ATI Capstone Pediatrics Study Guide for RN
Exam Preparation Actual Exam 2026/2027 –
Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: Growth & Development — Questions 1-20]
Q1: The nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect to find?
A. Sitting alone without support
B. Rolling from back to front
C. Babbling (e.g., "ba-ba", "da-da") [CORRECT]
D. Walking while holding onto furniture
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A 6-month-old infant is typically expected to babble, combining consonants and
vowels. While they may be able to sit with support, sitting alone without support usually occurs
around 8 months. Rolling from back to front is often achieved earlier (by 4-5 months), and
walking while holding onto furniture (cruising) typically occurs around 9-12 months.
Q2: According to Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, the primary task of a toddler (1-
3 years) is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt [CORRECT]
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Erikson’s stage for toddlers (ages 1 to 3 years) is Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt,
where children develop a sense of independence by controlling their bodily functions and
,2
exploring their environment. Trust vs. Mistrust applies to infants (0-1), Initiative vs. Guilt to
preschoolers (3-6), and Industry vs. Inferiority to school-age children (6-12).
Q3: A 4-year-old preschooler is hospitalized. Which behavior is most characteristic of the
preoperational stage of Piaget’s cognitive development?
A. Understanding the concept of conservation
B. Magical thinking and egocentrism [CORRECT]
C. Abstract reasoning
D. Deductive logic
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the preoperational stage (ages 2 to 7 years), children exhibit magical thinking
(believing their thoughts cause events) and egocentrism (inability to see another's perspective).
Conservation of mass/volume is mastered in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years), and
abstract reasoning develops in the formal operational stage (11+ years).
Q4: A parent asks the nurse when their child should start receiving the Hepatitis B vaccine.
According to the CDC immunization schedule, the first dose is recommended at:
A. 2 months
B. Birth [CORRECT]
C. 6 months
D. 12 months
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine is the first vaccine recommended, ideally given
within 24 hours of birth. The subsequent doses are administered at 1-2 months and 6-18 months.
Waiting until 2 months misses the birth dose protection window.
Q5: The nurse is preparing a playroom for hospitalized toddlers. Which type of play is most
appropriate for this developmental age group?
,3
A. Cooperative play
B. Associative play
C. Parallel play [CORRECT]
D. Solitary play
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Toddlers primarily engage in parallel play, where they play near other children but not
with them, using similar toys. Solitary play is seen in infants, while associative and cooperative
play develop later in the preschool and school-age years.
Q6: Which statement by a parent indicates a need for further teaching regarding injury
prevention for a 5-year-old?
A. "My child wears a helmet when riding a bicycle."
B. "I keep the hot water heater set at 130°F." [CORRECT]
C. "My child sits in the back seat of the car."
D. "We have a fence around our swimming pool."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To prevent scald burns, the hot water heater temperature should be set no higher than
120°F (49°C). A setting of 130°F poses a significant risk of burn injury within seconds. The
other options demonstrate appropriate safety measures for a preschooler.
Q7: The nurse assesses a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor skill is expected?
A. Crawling [CORRECT]
B. Walking independently
C. Standing without assistance
D. Running
Correct Answer: A
, 4
Rationale: By 9 months, most infants can crawl. Walking independently typically occurs around
12 months. Standing without assistance may happen near 12 months, and running is a skill
achieved in toddlerhood (around 18-24 months).
Q8: A school-age child is recovering from a fracture of the femur. The nurse recognizes that this
child is in Erikson's stage of Industry vs. Inferiority. Which nursing intervention best supports
this developmental stage?
A. Allowing the child to assist in applying the traction weights
B. Encouraging the child to perform self-care tasks independently [CORRECT]
C. Providing a stuffed animal for comfort
D. Letting the child stay in bed to avoid fatigue
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the Industry vs. Inferiority stage (6-12 years), children derive self-esteem from
being productive and mastering skills. Encouraging the child to perform self-care tasks within
their limitations promotes a sense of industry. Allowing assistance with traction is unsafe due to
infection/technical risks, and keeping a child in bed unnecessarily reinforces feelings of
inferiority.
Q9: When assessing a 2-year-old toddler, the nurse expects the child to have a vocabulary of how
many words?
A. 2-3 words
B. 10-20 words
C. 50-100 words, beginning to combine 2-word phrases [CORRECT]
D. Over 1,000 words with complex sentences
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: By 2 years of age, a toddler typically has a vocabulary of at least 50 words and begins
to combine two words into simple phrases (telegraphic speech). A vocabulary of 2-3 words is
expected at 12 months, while 1,000+ words is typical of a preschooler.
