EVOLVE HESI PEDS 2026 2027 VERSION
EXPERT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS WITH
RATIONALES UPDATED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS HIGH YIELD STUDY GUIDE
PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
PREPA RATION GRADED A+
COMPLETE REVIEW FAST TRACK
SUCCESS MASTER LEVEL PRACTICE
SET
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Milestones & Stages)
Question 1: A 4-month-old infant is at a well-child visit. Which milestone should
the nurse expect to observe?
• A) Sits without support
• B) Pincer grasp
• C) Rolls from back to side
• D) Crawls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rolling from back to side typically occurs at 4 months of age. Sitting
without support (A) occurs at 6-8 months. Pincer grasp (B) develops at 9-10
months. Crawling (D) occurs at 6-10 months .
,Question 2: A 2-year-old child says "no" to everything and has temper tantrums.
The nurse explains this behavior is:
• A) Indicative of oppositional defiant disorder
• B) Normal for a 2-year-old's developmental stage
• C) A sign of giftedness
• D) Related to poor parenting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, toddlers (ages 1-3 years)
are in the autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage. Negativism ("no") and temper tantrums
are normal expressions of developing autonomy, not indicative of mental illness or
parenting deficits .
Question 3: A 9-month-old infant should be able to perform which gross motor
skill?
• A) Walk alone
• B) Stand alone
• C) Sit unsupported
• D) Climb stairs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sitting unsupported is achieved by approximately 8 months of age.
Walking alone (A) typically occurs at 12-15 months. Standing alone (B) occurs at
10-12 months. Climbing stairs (D) is not expected until later in toddlerhood .
,Question 4: A 3-year-old child is asked to draw a picture. Which drawing is
developmentally appropriate for this age?
• A) A square
• B) A triangle
• C) A circle
• D) A person with 10 fingers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At 3 years of age, a child can draw a circle. A square (A) is typically
drawn at 4 years. A triangle (B) is typically drawn at 5 years. A person with fingers
(D) is not expected until much later, typically 6-7 years .
Question 5: A 6-year-old child is in Piaget's preoperational stage. Which
characteristic does the nurse expect?
• A) Abstract thinking
• B) Egocentrism
• C) Conservation of mass
• D) Hypothetical reasoning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preoperational stage (ages 2-7 years) includes egocentrism,
animism, and magical thinking. Abstract thinking (A) and hypothetical reasoning
(D) occur in the formal operational stage (11+ years). Conservation of mass (C)
occurs in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years) .
, Question 6: An 18-month-old toddler is in the ED after a fall. The nurse knows
which reflex should have disappeared by this age?
• A) Moro reflex
• B) Babinski reflex
• C) Stepping reflex
• D) Rooting reflex
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Moro (startle) reflex disappears by 4-6 months of age. Persistence
beyond 6 months may indicate a neurologic issue. The Babinski (B) typically
disappears by 12 months. Stepping (C) and rooting (D) reflexes disappear by 4
months .
Question 7: A 12-month-old infant is not yet walking independently. The parent is
concerned. The nurse's best response is:
• A) "Your child needs immediate developmental evaluation"
• B) "Many children begin walking between 12 and 15 months"
• C) "You should encourage walking by holding your child's hands"
• D) "This indicates a possible neurologic disorder"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Walking independently is expected by 15 months of age. Many
children begin walking between 12-15 months. Reassurance is appropriate at this
time; no intervention is needed until 15-18 months .
EXPERT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS WITH
RATIONALES UPDATED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS HIGH YIELD STUDY GUIDE
PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM
PREPA RATION GRADED A+
COMPLETE REVIEW FAST TRACK
SUCCESS MASTER LEVEL PRACTICE
SET
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Milestones & Stages)
Question 1: A 4-month-old infant is at a well-child visit. Which milestone should
the nurse expect to observe?
• A) Sits without support
• B) Pincer grasp
• C) Rolls from back to side
• D) Crawls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rolling from back to side typically occurs at 4 months of age. Sitting
without support (A) occurs at 6-8 months. Pincer grasp (B) develops at 9-10
months. Crawling (D) occurs at 6-10 months .
,Question 2: A 2-year-old child says "no" to everything and has temper tantrums.
The nurse explains this behavior is:
• A) Indicative of oppositional defiant disorder
• B) Normal for a 2-year-old's developmental stage
• C) A sign of giftedness
• D) Related to poor parenting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Erikson's psychosocial stages, toddlers (ages 1-3 years)
are in the autonomy vs. shame/doubt stage. Negativism ("no") and temper tantrums
are normal expressions of developing autonomy, not indicative of mental illness or
parenting deficits .
Question 3: A 9-month-old infant should be able to perform which gross motor
skill?
• A) Walk alone
• B) Stand alone
• C) Sit unsupported
• D) Climb stairs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sitting unsupported is achieved by approximately 8 months of age.
Walking alone (A) typically occurs at 12-15 months. Standing alone (B) occurs at
10-12 months. Climbing stairs (D) is not expected until later in toddlerhood .
,Question 4: A 3-year-old child is asked to draw a picture. Which drawing is
developmentally appropriate for this age?
• A) A square
• B) A triangle
• C) A circle
• D) A person with 10 fingers
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: At 3 years of age, a child can draw a circle. A square (A) is typically
drawn at 4 years. A triangle (B) is typically drawn at 5 years. A person with fingers
(D) is not expected until much later, typically 6-7 years .
Question 5: A 6-year-old child is in Piaget's preoperational stage. Which
characteristic does the nurse expect?
• A) Abstract thinking
• B) Egocentrism
• C) Conservation of mass
• D) Hypothetical reasoning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preoperational stage (ages 2-7 years) includes egocentrism,
animism, and magical thinking. Abstract thinking (A) and hypothetical reasoning
(D) occur in the formal operational stage (11+ years). Conservation of mass (C)
occurs in the concrete operational stage (7-11 years) .
, Question 6: An 18-month-old toddler is in the ED after a fall. The nurse knows
which reflex should have disappeared by this age?
• A) Moro reflex
• B) Babinski reflex
• C) Stepping reflex
• D) Rooting reflex
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The Moro (startle) reflex disappears by 4-6 months of age. Persistence
beyond 6 months may indicate a neurologic issue. The Babinski (B) typically
disappears by 12 months. Stepping (C) and rooting (D) reflexes disappear by 4
months .
Question 7: A 12-month-old infant is not yet walking independently. The parent is
concerned. The nurse's best response is:
• A) "Your child needs immediate developmental evaluation"
• B) "Many children begin walking between 12 and 15 months"
• C) "You should encourage walking by holding your child's hands"
• D) "This indicates a possible neurologic disorder"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Walking independently is expected by 15 months of age. Many
children begin walking between 12-15 months. Reassurance is appropriate at this
time; no intervention is needed until 15-18 months .
