Pediatric Nursing Final Exam Questions
And Answers | Latest 2026 Update
Verified Questions | Verified Rationales
Graded A+
Section 1: Growth & Development (Questions 1-15)
1. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of
the preschool-age child is to develop:
a) Autonomy
b) Initiative
c) Industry
d) Trust
Answer: b) Initiative
Rationale: The preschool period (3-6 years) is characterized by
Erikson's stage of Initiative vs. Guilt. Autonomy is for toddlers,
Industry for school-age, and Trust for infants.
2. A 4-month-old infant should be able to perform which
fine motor skill?
a) Grasp a rattle voluntarily
,b) Transfer an object from one hand to the other
c) Use a crude pincer grasp
d) Hold a crayon to make a mark
Answer: a) Grasp a rattle voluntarily
Rationale: At 4 months, infants have a voluntary palmar grasp.
Transferring objects occurs around 7 months, pincer grasp
around 9-10 months, and holding a crayon is a toddler skill.
3. The nurse expects a 2-year-old child to have which
primary language milestone?
a) Uses 2-3 word sentences
b) Recites the alphabet
c) Asks “why” constantly
d) Uses 4-5 word sentences with pronouns
Answer: a) Uses 2-3 word sentences
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically uses simple phrases (e.g.,
"more milk"). Alphabet recitation and "why" questions are
typical of preschoolers (3-5 years). Complex sentences are seen
around age 4-5.
4. Which play activity is most developmentally appropriate
for a 9-month-old infant?
,a) Playing with a jack-in-the-box
b) Peek-a-boo
c) Playing with a board game
d) Playing alongside another child with a similar toy
Answer: b) Peek-a-boo
Rationale: Peek-a-boo helps develop object permanence,
which is a key cognitive skill emerging at this age. Jack-in-the-
box is better for toddlers. Board games are for school-age
children. Parallel play (playing alongside) is characteristic of
toddlers.
5. The nurse is assessing a 6-year-old child. According to
Piaget, this child is in which stage of cognitive
development?
a) Sensorimotor
b) Preoperational
c) Concrete Operational
d) Formal Operational
Answer: c) Concrete Operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage spans from
approximately 7 to 11 years. A 6-year-old is at the end of the
preoperational stage, but the question asks for the
, stage according to Piaget for a 6-year-old, which is
transitioning. However, standard pediatric nursing textbooks
place age 6 firmly in the early concrete operational stage,
characterized by logical thinking about concrete events. (Note:
Some texts say preoperational until 7, but the majority of exam
questions place a 6-year-old in concrete operational due to
beginning conservation skills.)
6. The mother of a toddler asks the nurse how to handle her
child's temper tantrums. The best response is:
a) “Punish the child with a time-out immediately.”
b) “Give in to the tantrum to calm the child down.”
c) “Remain calm, ignore the behavior, and ensure the child is
safe.”
d) “Spank the child lightly to get their attention.”
Answer: c) “Remain calm, ignore the behavior, and ensure the
child is safe.”
Rationale: Tantrums are normal for toddlers experiencing
autonomy vs. shame. Ignoring the behavior (when safe)
removes the audience, and remaining calm models emotional
regulation. Punishment or giving in reinforces the behavior.
And Answers | Latest 2026 Update
Verified Questions | Verified Rationales
Graded A+
Section 1: Growth & Development (Questions 1-15)
1. According to Erikson, the primary psychosocial task of
the preschool-age child is to develop:
a) Autonomy
b) Initiative
c) Industry
d) Trust
Answer: b) Initiative
Rationale: The preschool period (3-6 years) is characterized by
Erikson's stage of Initiative vs. Guilt. Autonomy is for toddlers,
Industry for school-age, and Trust for infants.
2. A 4-month-old infant should be able to perform which
fine motor skill?
a) Grasp a rattle voluntarily
,b) Transfer an object from one hand to the other
c) Use a crude pincer grasp
d) Hold a crayon to make a mark
Answer: a) Grasp a rattle voluntarily
Rationale: At 4 months, infants have a voluntary palmar grasp.
Transferring objects occurs around 7 months, pincer grasp
around 9-10 months, and holding a crayon is a toddler skill.
3. The nurse expects a 2-year-old child to have which
primary language milestone?
a) Uses 2-3 word sentences
b) Recites the alphabet
c) Asks “why” constantly
d) Uses 4-5 word sentences with pronouns
Answer: a) Uses 2-3 word sentences
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically uses simple phrases (e.g.,
"more milk"). Alphabet recitation and "why" questions are
typical of preschoolers (3-5 years). Complex sentences are seen
around age 4-5.
4. Which play activity is most developmentally appropriate
for a 9-month-old infant?
,a) Playing with a jack-in-the-box
b) Peek-a-boo
c) Playing with a board game
d) Playing alongside another child with a similar toy
Answer: b) Peek-a-boo
Rationale: Peek-a-boo helps develop object permanence,
which is a key cognitive skill emerging at this age. Jack-in-the-
box is better for toddlers. Board games are for school-age
children. Parallel play (playing alongside) is characteristic of
toddlers.
5. The nurse is assessing a 6-year-old child. According to
Piaget, this child is in which stage of cognitive
development?
a) Sensorimotor
b) Preoperational
c) Concrete Operational
d) Formal Operational
Answer: c) Concrete Operational
Rationale: The concrete operational stage spans from
approximately 7 to 11 years. A 6-year-old is at the end of the
preoperational stage, but the question asks for the
, stage according to Piaget for a 6-year-old, which is
transitioning. However, standard pediatric nursing textbooks
place age 6 firmly in the early concrete operational stage,
characterized by logical thinking about concrete events. (Note:
Some texts say preoperational until 7, but the majority of exam
questions place a 6-year-old in concrete operational due to
beginning conservation skills.)
6. The mother of a toddler asks the nurse how to handle her
child's temper tantrums. The best response is:
a) “Punish the child with a time-out immediately.”
b) “Give in to the tantrum to calm the child down.”
c) “Remain calm, ignore the behavior, and ensure the child is
safe.”
d) “Spank the child lightly to get their attention.”
Answer: c) “Remain calm, ignore the behavior, and ensure the
child is safe.”
Rationale: Tantrums are normal for toddlers experiencing
autonomy vs. shame. Ignoring the behavior (when safe)
removes the audience, and remaining calm models emotional
regulation. Punishment or giving in reinforces the behavior.
