Page 1 of 38
PEDIATRIC EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
NEWEST 2026 EXAM VERIFIED 100%
While in the pediatrician's office for their child's 12-month well-child exam, the
parents ask the nurse for advice on age-appropriate toys for their child. Based
on the child's developmental level, which types of toys would the nurse
suggest? Select all that apply.
1. Soft toys that can be manipulated
2. Small toys that can pop apart and go back together
3. Jack-in-the-box toys
4. Toys with black and white patterns
5. Push-and-pull toys
Answer: 1, 3, 5
A mother of a school-age client who recently had surgery for the removal of
tonsils and adenoids complains that the child has begun sucking his thumb
again. Which coping mechanisms is the child using to cope with the surgery
and hospitalization?
1. Repression
2. Rationalization
3. Regression
4. Fantasy
3. Regression
While being comforted in the emergency department, a young school-age
sibling of a pediatric trauma victim blurts out to the nurse, "It's my fault! When
we were fighting yesterday, I told him I wished he was dead!" Which response
is most appropriate by the nurse?
, Page 2 of 38
1. Asking the child if she would like to sit down and drink some water
2. Sitting the child down in an empty room with markers and paper so that she
can draw a picture
3. Calmly discussing the catheters, tubes, and equipment that the patient
requires and explaining to the sibling why the patient needs them
4. Reassuring the child that it is normal to get angry and say things that we do
not mean but that we have no control over whether or not an accident happens
4. Reassuring the child that it is normal to get angry and say things that we do not
mean but that we have no control over whether or not an accident happens
While assessing the development of a 9-month-old infant, the nurse asks the
mother if the child actively looks for toys when they are placed out of sight.
Which developmental task is the nurse assessing this infant for?
1. Object permanence
2. Centration
3. Transductive reasoning
4. Conservation
1. Object permanence
The nurse is counseling the parents of a 6-1/2-month-old infant. Which age-
appropriate toy is most appropriate for the nurse to suggest to these parents?
1. Soft, fluid-filled ring that can be chilled in the refrigerator
2. Colorful rattle
3. Jack-in-the-box toy
4. Push-and-pull toy
1. Soft, fluid-filled ring that can be chilled in the refrigerator
Rationale: 1. Teething toys would be appropriate for this age. The rattle might be
better enjoyed by a 3- to 6-month-old infant, and the jack-in-the-box and push-and-
pull toys are better suited for a 9- to 12-month-old child.
A nurse is assessing language development in all the infants presenting at the
doctor's office for well-child visits. At which age range would the nurse expect
a child to verbalize the words "dada" and "mama"?
1. 3 and 5 months
2. 6 and 8 months
3. 9 and 12 months
4. 13 and 18 months
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3. 9 and 12 months
The parents of an 8-year-old state that their son seems very interested in
trying new activities. When the parents ask for suggested activities for this age
child, the nurse recommends scouts as an activity that will foster growth and
development. In which stage of Erikson's "psychosocial stages of
development" is this child?
1. Trust versus mistrust
2. Initiative versus guilt
3. Industry versus inferiority
4. Identity versus role confusion
3. Industry versus inferiority
Two 3-year-olds are playing in a hospital playroom together. One is working on
a puzzle while the other is stacking blocks. Which type of play are these
children exhibiting?
1. Cooperative play
2. Associative play
3. Parallel play
4. Solitary play
3. Parallel play
Rationale: Parallel play describes when two or more children play together, each
engaging in their own activities. Cooperative play happens when children
demonstrate the ability to cooperate with others and play a part in order to contribute
to a unified whole. Associative play is characterized by children interacting in groups
and participating in similar activities. In solitary play, a child plays alone.
The nurse, talking with the parents of a toddler who is struggling with toilet
training, reassures them that their child is demonstrating a typical
developmental stage. According to Erikson, which developmental stage will
the nurse document in the medical record for this toddler?
1. Trust versus mistrust
2. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
3. Initiative versus guilt
4. Industry versus inferiority
2. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
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A new parent group inquires about the stages through which their children will
progress as they grow older. The nurse is discussing Piaget's developmental
stages. In what order would the nurse expect the child to progress through
Piaget's stages of development?
1. Sensorimotor
2. Formal operational
3. Preoperational
4. Concrete operational
Answer: 1, 3, 4, 2
While trying to inform a young school-age client about what will occur during
an upcoming CT scan, the nurse notices that the child is engaged in a
collective monologue, talking about a new puppy. Which response by the
nurse is the most appropriate in this situation?
1. "Please stop talking about your puppy. I need to tell you about your CT
scan."
2. Ignore the child's responses and continue discussing the procedure.
3. "I'll come back when you are ready to talk with me more about your CT
scan."
4. "You must be so excited to have a new puppy! They are so much fun. Now,
let me tell you again about going downstairs in a wheelchair to a special
room."
4. "You must be so excited to have a new puppy! They are so much fun. Now, let me
tell you again about going downstairs in a wheelchair to a special room."
An adolescent client with cystic fibrosis suddenly becomes noncompliant with
the medication regime. Which intervention by the nurse will most likely
improve compliance for this client?
1. Give the child a computer-animated game that presents information on the
management of cystic fibrosis.
2. Arrange for the physician to sit down and talk to the child about the risks
related to noncompliance with medications.
3. Set up a meeting with some older teens with cystic fibrosis who have been
managing their disease effectively.
PEDIATRIC EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
NEWEST 2026 EXAM VERIFIED 100%
While in the pediatrician's office for their child's 12-month well-child exam, the
parents ask the nurse for advice on age-appropriate toys for their child. Based
on the child's developmental level, which types of toys would the nurse
suggest? Select all that apply.
1. Soft toys that can be manipulated
2. Small toys that can pop apart and go back together
3. Jack-in-the-box toys
4. Toys with black and white patterns
5. Push-and-pull toys
Answer: 1, 3, 5
A mother of a school-age client who recently had surgery for the removal of
tonsils and adenoids complains that the child has begun sucking his thumb
again. Which coping mechanisms is the child using to cope with the surgery
and hospitalization?
1. Repression
2. Rationalization
3. Regression
4. Fantasy
3. Regression
While being comforted in the emergency department, a young school-age
sibling of a pediatric trauma victim blurts out to the nurse, "It's my fault! When
we were fighting yesterday, I told him I wished he was dead!" Which response
is most appropriate by the nurse?
, Page 2 of 38
1. Asking the child if she would like to sit down and drink some water
2. Sitting the child down in an empty room with markers and paper so that she
can draw a picture
3. Calmly discussing the catheters, tubes, and equipment that the patient
requires and explaining to the sibling why the patient needs them
4. Reassuring the child that it is normal to get angry and say things that we do
not mean but that we have no control over whether or not an accident happens
4. Reassuring the child that it is normal to get angry and say things that we do not
mean but that we have no control over whether or not an accident happens
While assessing the development of a 9-month-old infant, the nurse asks the
mother if the child actively looks for toys when they are placed out of sight.
Which developmental task is the nurse assessing this infant for?
1. Object permanence
2. Centration
3. Transductive reasoning
4. Conservation
1. Object permanence
The nurse is counseling the parents of a 6-1/2-month-old infant. Which age-
appropriate toy is most appropriate for the nurse to suggest to these parents?
1. Soft, fluid-filled ring that can be chilled in the refrigerator
2. Colorful rattle
3. Jack-in-the-box toy
4. Push-and-pull toy
1. Soft, fluid-filled ring that can be chilled in the refrigerator
Rationale: 1. Teething toys would be appropriate for this age. The rattle might be
better enjoyed by a 3- to 6-month-old infant, and the jack-in-the-box and push-and-
pull toys are better suited for a 9- to 12-month-old child.
A nurse is assessing language development in all the infants presenting at the
doctor's office for well-child visits. At which age range would the nurse expect
a child to verbalize the words "dada" and "mama"?
1. 3 and 5 months
2. 6 and 8 months
3. 9 and 12 months
4. 13 and 18 months
, Page 3 of 38
3. 9 and 12 months
The parents of an 8-year-old state that their son seems very interested in
trying new activities. When the parents ask for suggested activities for this age
child, the nurse recommends scouts as an activity that will foster growth and
development. In which stage of Erikson's "psychosocial stages of
development" is this child?
1. Trust versus mistrust
2. Initiative versus guilt
3. Industry versus inferiority
4. Identity versus role confusion
3. Industry versus inferiority
Two 3-year-olds are playing in a hospital playroom together. One is working on
a puzzle while the other is stacking blocks. Which type of play are these
children exhibiting?
1. Cooperative play
2. Associative play
3. Parallel play
4. Solitary play
3. Parallel play
Rationale: Parallel play describes when two or more children play together, each
engaging in their own activities. Cooperative play happens when children
demonstrate the ability to cooperate with others and play a part in order to contribute
to a unified whole. Associative play is characterized by children interacting in groups
and participating in similar activities. In solitary play, a child plays alone.
The nurse, talking with the parents of a toddler who is struggling with toilet
training, reassures them that their child is demonstrating a typical
developmental stage. According to Erikson, which developmental stage will
the nurse document in the medical record for this toddler?
1. Trust versus mistrust
2. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
3. Initiative versus guilt
4. Industry versus inferiority
2. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
, Page 4 of 38
A new parent group inquires about the stages through which their children will
progress as they grow older. The nurse is discussing Piaget's developmental
stages. In what order would the nurse expect the child to progress through
Piaget's stages of development?
1. Sensorimotor
2. Formal operational
3. Preoperational
4. Concrete operational
Answer: 1, 3, 4, 2
While trying to inform a young school-age client about what will occur during
an upcoming CT scan, the nurse notices that the child is engaged in a
collective monologue, talking about a new puppy. Which response by the
nurse is the most appropriate in this situation?
1. "Please stop talking about your puppy. I need to tell you about your CT
scan."
2. Ignore the child's responses and continue discussing the procedure.
3. "I'll come back when you are ready to talk with me more about your CT
scan."
4. "You must be so excited to have a new puppy! They are so much fun. Now,
let me tell you again about going downstairs in a wheelchair to a special
room."
4. "You must be so excited to have a new puppy! They are so much fun. Now, let me
tell you again about going downstairs in a wheelchair to a special room."
An adolescent client with cystic fibrosis suddenly becomes noncompliant with
the medication regime. Which intervention by the nurse will most likely
improve compliance for this client?
1. Give the child a computer-animated game that presents information on the
management of cystic fibrosis.
2. Arrange for the physician to sit down and talk to the child about the risks
related to noncompliance with medications.
3. Set up a meeting with some older teens with cystic fibrosis who have been
managing their disease effectively.
