ATI RN Nursing Care of Children Proctored Exam
Comprehensive Practice Test & Study Guide
This exam is designed to prepare you for the ATI RN Nursing Care of Children
Proctored Exam and NCLEX-RN. The questions cover growth and development,
pediatric disorders, medication administration, emergency care, and family-
centered nursing.
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. The correct answer is in
bold with the rationale in italics.
PART 1: Growth & Development
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone
should the nurse expect?
• A) Rolls from back to side
• B) Sits without support
• C) Crawls
• D) Walks with assistance
Rationale: At 4 months, infants typically roll from back to side. Sitting without
support occurs at 6–8 months, crawling at 6–10 months, and walking with
assistance at 9–12 months .
2. A nurse is teaching parents about infant teething. At what age do primary
teeth typically begin to erupt?
, • A) 4–7 months
• B) 8–12 months
• C) 12–16 months
• D) 16–20 months
Rationale: Primary teeth (deciduous teeth) typically begin to erupt between 4–7
months of age, with the lower central incisors appearing first. Teething can cause
irritability, drooling, and mild discomfort .
3. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of the preschooler (ages
3–6) is:
• A) Initiative vs. guilt
• B) Trust vs. mistrust
• C) Autonomy vs. shame/doubt
• D) Industry vs. inferiority
*Rationale: Preschoolers develop initiative by planning activities and asserting
control over their environment. Trust vs. mistrust is infancy (0–12 months),
autonomy vs. shame/doubt is toddlerhood (1–3 years), and industry vs. inferiority
is school age (6–12 years) .*
4. A nurse is assessing a 15-month-old toddler. Which fine motor skill should the
nurse expect?
• A) Uses a cup well
• B) Builds a tower of 6 blocks
• C) Draws a circle
• D) Uses scissors
Rationale: By 15 months, toddlers can use a cup well with minimal spilling.
Building a tower of 6 blocks occurs at 2–3 years, drawing a circle at 3 years, and
using scissors at 4 years .
,5. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor milestone
should the nurse expect?
• A) Sits unsupported
• B) Walks independently
• C) Stands on one foot
• D) Crawls up stairs
Rationale: By 9 months, most infants can sit unsupported for extended periods.
Walking independently occurs around 12–15 months. Crawling up stairs typically
develops between 9–12 months but sitting unsupported is the expected milestone
at this age .
6. A nurse is teaching parents about the psychosocial development of a 6-year-
old child according to Erikson. The nurse should identify that this child is in
which stage?
• A) Industry vs. inferiority
• B) Initiative vs. guilt
• C) Autonomy vs. shame/doubt
• D) Trust vs. mistrust
*Rationale: School-age children (6–12 years) are in the industry vs. inferiority
stage, focusing on developing competence and skills through achievement. Failure
to master tasks leads to feelings of inferiority .*
7. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler. Which gross motor skill should
the nurse expect?
• A) Rides a tricycle
• B) Skips on alternate feet
• C) Walks up and down stairs with alternating feet
• D) Hops on one foot
, Rationale: By age 3, children can ride a tricycle using pedals. Skipping and hopping
on one foot typically develop at 4–5 years, and walking up stairs with alternating
feet occurs around age 4 .
8. At what age does an infant typically triple their birth weight?
• A) 12 months
• B) 6 months
• C) 9 months
• D) 15 months
Rationale: By 12 months (1 year), infants typically triple their birth weight. Birth
weight doubles by 5–6 months of age .
9. According to Piaget, the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development occurs
from:
• A) Birth to 2 years
• B) 2 to 7 years
• C) 7 to 11 years
• D) 11 years to adulthood
*Rationale: The sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years) is characterized by learning
through senses and motor activity. Infants develop object permanence and goal-
directed behavior during this stage .*
10. A nurse is teaching parents about infant sleep safety. Which
recommendation is most important to prevent sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS)?
• A) Place the infant on the back to sleep
• B) Place the infant on the side to sleep
• C) Place the infant on the stomach to sleep
• D) Use a soft mattress with pillows
Comprehensive Practice Test & Study Guide
This exam is designed to prepare you for the ATI RN Nursing Care of Children
Proctored Exam and NCLEX-RN. The questions cover growth and development,
pediatric disorders, medication administration, emergency care, and family-
centered nursing.
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. The correct answer is in
bold with the rationale in italics.
PART 1: Growth & Development
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone
should the nurse expect?
• A) Rolls from back to side
• B) Sits without support
• C) Crawls
• D) Walks with assistance
Rationale: At 4 months, infants typically roll from back to side. Sitting without
support occurs at 6–8 months, crawling at 6–10 months, and walking with
assistance at 9–12 months .
2. A nurse is teaching parents about infant teething. At what age do primary
teeth typically begin to erupt?
, • A) 4–7 months
• B) 8–12 months
• C) 12–16 months
• D) 16–20 months
Rationale: Primary teeth (deciduous teeth) typically begin to erupt between 4–7
months of age, with the lower central incisors appearing first. Teething can cause
irritability, drooling, and mild discomfort .
3. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of the preschooler (ages
3–6) is:
• A) Initiative vs. guilt
• B) Trust vs. mistrust
• C) Autonomy vs. shame/doubt
• D) Industry vs. inferiority
*Rationale: Preschoolers develop initiative by planning activities and asserting
control over their environment. Trust vs. mistrust is infancy (0–12 months),
autonomy vs. shame/doubt is toddlerhood (1–3 years), and industry vs. inferiority
is school age (6–12 years) .*
4. A nurse is assessing a 15-month-old toddler. Which fine motor skill should the
nurse expect?
• A) Uses a cup well
• B) Builds a tower of 6 blocks
• C) Draws a circle
• D) Uses scissors
Rationale: By 15 months, toddlers can use a cup well with minimal spilling.
Building a tower of 6 blocks occurs at 2–3 years, drawing a circle at 3 years, and
using scissors at 4 years .
,5. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor milestone
should the nurse expect?
• A) Sits unsupported
• B) Walks independently
• C) Stands on one foot
• D) Crawls up stairs
Rationale: By 9 months, most infants can sit unsupported for extended periods.
Walking independently occurs around 12–15 months. Crawling up stairs typically
develops between 9–12 months but sitting unsupported is the expected milestone
at this age .
6. A nurse is teaching parents about the psychosocial development of a 6-year-
old child according to Erikson. The nurse should identify that this child is in
which stage?
• A) Industry vs. inferiority
• B) Initiative vs. guilt
• C) Autonomy vs. shame/doubt
• D) Trust vs. mistrust
*Rationale: School-age children (6–12 years) are in the industry vs. inferiority
stage, focusing on developing competence and skills through achievement. Failure
to master tasks leads to feelings of inferiority .*
7. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler. Which gross motor skill should
the nurse expect?
• A) Rides a tricycle
• B) Skips on alternate feet
• C) Walks up and down stairs with alternating feet
• D) Hops on one foot
, Rationale: By age 3, children can ride a tricycle using pedals. Skipping and hopping
on one foot typically develop at 4–5 years, and walking up stairs with alternating
feet occurs around age 4 .
8. At what age does an infant typically triple their birth weight?
• A) 12 months
• B) 6 months
• C) 9 months
• D) 15 months
Rationale: By 12 months (1 year), infants typically triple their birth weight. Birth
weight doubles by 5–6 months of age .
9. According to Piaget, the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development occurs
from:
• A) Birth to 2 years
• B) 2 to 7 years
• C) 7 to 11 years
• D) 11 years to adulthood
*Rationale: The sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years) is characterized by learning
through senses and motor activity. Infants develop object permanence and goal-
directed behavior during this stage .*
10. A nurse is teaching parents about infant sleep safety. Which
recommendation is most important to prevent sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS)?
• A) Place the infant on the back to sleep
• B) Place the infant on the side to sleep
• C) Place the infant on the stomach to sleep
• D) Use a soft mattress with pillows
