NSG 3600 EXAM 1 .
Nursing Practice – Children's Health | 2026 Update | Galen College of Nursing
Comprehensive Review with Complete Solutions
Course Context: NSG 3600 – Nursing Practice – Children's Health (3/1/1 Theory/Lab/Clinical)
Prerequisites: NSG 3250; NSG 3280 | Co-requisite: NSG 3500
Exam Focus: Units 1 & 2 – Growth & Development, Immunizations, Infectious Diseases, and
Foundational Pediatric Nursing Concepts
PART A: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT MILESTONE DRILL (Questions 1–15)
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. The nurse expects the infant
to have achieved which of the following physical growth parameters?
A. Birth weight has tripled and birth length has increased by 50%
B. Birth weight has doubled and anterior fontanel is closed
C. Birth weight has doubled and posterior fontanel is closed
D. Birth weight has tripled and posterior fontanel remains open
Answer: C
Rationale: By 6 months of age, an infant's birth weight typically doubles. The posterior fontanel
closes between 2–3 months of age, so by 6 months it should be closed. The anterior fontanel
closes between 12–18 months. Birth weight triples by 12 months, not 6 months. Birth length
increases by 50% at 12 months, not 6 months.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a newborn and strokes the sole of the infant's foot. The nurse observes the
toes fanning out and the big toe dorsiflexing. This is an expected finding known as:
A. Moro reflex
B. Babinski reflex
,C. Rooting reflex
D. Palmar grasp reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex is elicited by stroking the sole of the foot, causing the toes to fan
out and the big toe to dorsiflex. The Moro (startle) reflex is elicited by sudden jarring and causes
head extension with arms abducting upward. The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the cheek
or lip, causing the head to turn toward the stimulus. The palmar grasp reflex is elicited by
stroking the palm, causing the fingers to curl.
Question 3
A nurse is evaluating the developmental milestones of a 4-month-old infant. Which finding
indicates normal development?
A. Sits without support and transfers objects hand-to-hand
B. Holds head steady when upright and brings hands to mouth
C. Walks with support and uses specific words
D. Crawls and has developed a pincer grasp
Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 months, an infant should hold the head steady when upright and bring hands to
the mouth. Sitting without support and transferring objects hand-to-hand are 6-month
milestones. Walking with support and using specific words are 12-month milestones. Crawling
and pincer grasp develop at 8–10 months.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a 9-month-old infant. The infant is playing with a toy, and when the toy is
covered with a blanket, the infant pulls the blanket away to retrieve the toy. This behavior
demonstrates the concept of:
A. Object permanence
B. Egocentrism
C. Conservation
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: A
,Rationale: Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when
they cannot be seen. This develops during Piaget's Sensorimotor Stage (birth to 2 years).
Egocentrism is characteristic of the Preoperational Stage (2–7 years). Conservation develops
during the Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years). Abstract reasoning is characteristic of the
Formal Operational Stage (12+ years).
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler. According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial
development, the nurse expects the toddler to be in which stage, and which behavior is most
characteristic?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust; seeks comfort from familiar caregivers
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt; frequently says "no" and has temper tantrums
C. Initiative vs. Guilt; takes initiative in play and tasks
D. Industry vs. Inferiority; seeks achievement and peer approval
Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers (1–3 years) are in Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage. They
strive for independence, frequently say "no," and may have temper tantrums as they assert
their will. Trust vs. Mistrust is the infancy stage (birth–1 year). Initiative vs. Guilt is the preschool
stage (3–6 years). Industry vs. Inferiority is the school-age stage (6–12 years).
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a parent about language development in a 12-month-old infant. Which
statement by the parent indicates correct understanding?
A. "My baby should be using two-word sentences by now."
B. "My baby should be babbling nonspecific 'mama' and 'dada' sounds."
C. "My baby should be using specific words with meaning."
D. "My baby should have a vocabulary of over 50 words."
Answer: C
Rationale: By 12 months, an infant should be using specific words with meaning. Two-word
sentences and a 50+ word vocabulary are expected by 2 years (toddler stage). Nonspecific
"mama/dada" babbling develops around 9 months.
, Question 7
A nurse is assessing a newborn and gently strokes the infant's cheek. The infant turns the head
toward the stimulus and begins to suck. This is an expected finding known as the:
A. Sucking reflex
B. Rooting reflex
C. Moro reflex
D. Tonic neck reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the cheek or lip, causing the head to turn
toward the stimulus and the infant to begin sucking. The sucking reflex is the actual sucking
motion of the lips, mouth, and tongue. The Moro reflex is a startle response. The tonic neck
reflex (fencing posture) is a different primitive reflex not described here.
Question 8
A nurse is evaluating a 3-year-old preschooler during a well-child visit. Which gross motor skill is
most appropriate for this age?
A. Kicks a ball forward
B. Rides a tricycle and walks stairs with alternating feet
C. Dresses independently (except buttons and shoelaces)
D. Copies a circle and draws simple shapes
Answer: B
Rationale: A 3-year-old should be able to ride a tricycle and walk stairs with alternating feet.
Kicking a ball forward is a 2-year-old milestone. Dressing independently (except
buttons/shoelaces) and copying a circle/drawing simple shapes are fine motor skills, not gross
motor skills, though they are also appropriate for a 3-year-old.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant. When the infant's palm is stroked, the fingers curl
around the nurse's finger. The nurse recognizes this as the:
A. Palmar grasp reflex
B. Plantar grasp reflex
Nursing Practice – Children's Health | 2026 Update | Galen College of Nursing
Comprehensive Review with Complete Solutions
Course Context: NSG 3600 – Nursing Practice – Children's Health (3/1/1 Theory/Lab/Clinical)
Prerequisites: NSG 3250; NSG 3280 | Co-requisite: NSG 3500
Exam Focus: Units 1 & 2 – Growth & Development, Immunizations, Infectious Diseases, and
Foundational Pediatric Nursing Concepts
PART A: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT MILESTONE DRILL (Questions 1–15)
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. The nurse expects the infant
to have achieved which of the following physical growth parameters?
A. Birth weight has tripled and birth length has increased by 50%
B. Birth weight has doubled and anterior fontanel is closed
C. Birth weight has doubled and posterior fontanel is closed
D. Birth weight has tripled and posterior fontanel remains open
Answer: C
Rationale: By 6 months of age, an infant's birth weight typically doubles. The posterior fontanel
closes between 2–3 months of age, so by 6 months it should be closed. The anterior fontanel
closes between 12–18 months. Birth weight triples by 12 months, not 6 months. Birth length
increases by 50% at 12 months, not 6 months.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a newborn and strokes the sole of the infant's foot. The nurse observes the
toes fanning out and the big toe dorsiflexing. This is an expected finding known as:
A. Moro reflex
B. Babinski reflex
,C. Rooting reflex
D. Palmar grasp reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: The Babinski reflex is elicited by stroking the sole of the foot, causing the toes to fan
out and the big toe to dorsiflex. The Moro (startle) reflex is elicited by sudden jarring and causes
head extension with arms abducting upward. The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the cheek
or lip, causing the head to turn toward the stimulus. The palmar grasp reflex is elicited by
stroking the palm, causing the fingers to curl.
Question 3
A nurse is evaluating the developmental milestones of a 4-month-old infant. Which finding
indicates normal development?
A. Sits without support and transfers objects hand-to-hand
B. Holds head steady when upright and brings hands to mouth
C. Walks with support and uses specific words
D. Crawls and has developed a pincer grasp
Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 months, an infant should hold the head steady when upright and bring hands to
the mouth. Sitting without support and transferring objects hand-to-hand are 6-month
milestones. Walking with support and using specific words are 12-month milestones. Crawling
and pincer grasp develop at 8–10 months.
Question 4
A nurse is caring for a 9-month-old infant. The infant is playing with a toy, and when the toy is
covered with a blanket, the infant pulls the blanket away to retrieve the toy. This behavior
demonstrates the concept of:
A. Object permanence
B. Egocentrism
C. Conservation
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: A
,Rationale: Object permanence is the understanding that objects continue to exist even when
they cannot be seen. This develops during Piaget's Sensorimotor Stage (birth to 2 years).
Egocentrism is characteristic of the Preoperational Stage (2–7 years). Conservation develops
during the Concrete Operational Stage (7–11 years). Abstract reasoning is characteristic of the
Formal Operational Stage (12+ years).
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old toddler. According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial
development, the nurse expects the toddler to be in which stage, and which behavior is most
characteristic?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust; seeks comfort from familiar caregivers
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt; frequently says "no" and has temper tantrums
C. Initiative vs. Guilt; takes initiative in play and tasks
D. Industry vs. Inferiority; seeks achievement and peer approval
Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers (1–3 years) are in Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage. They
strive for independence, frequently say "no," and may have temper tantrums as they assert
their will. Trust vs. Mistrust is the infancy stage (birth–1 year). Initiative vs. Guilt is the preschool
stage (3–6 years). Industry vs. Inferiority is the school-age stage (6–12 years).
Question 6
A nurse is teaching a parent about language development in a 12-month-old infant. Which
statement by the parent indicates correct understanding?
A. "My baby should be using two-word sentences by now."
B. "My baby should be babbling nonspecific 'mama' and 'dada' sounds."
C. "My baby should be using specific words with meaning."
D. "My baby should have a vocabulary of over 50 words."
Answer: C
Rationale: By 12 months, an infant should be using specific words with meaning. Two-word
sentences and a 50+ word vocabulary are expected by 2 years (toddler stage). Nonspecific
"mama/dada" babbling develops around 9 months.
, Question 7
A nurse is assessing a newborn and gently strokes the infant's cheek. The infant turns the head
toward the stimulus and begins to suck. This is an expected finding known as the:
A. Sucking reflex
B. Rooting reflex
C. Moro reflex
D. Tonic neck reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the cheek or lip, causing the head to turn
toward the stimulus and the infant to begin sucking. The sucking reflex is the actual sucking
motion of the lips, mouth, and tongue. The Moro reflex is a startle response. The tonic neck
reflex (fencing posture) is a different primitive reflex not described here.
Question 8
A nurse is evaluating a 3-year-old preschooler during a well-child visit. Which gross motor skill is
most appropriate for this age?
A. Kicks a ball forward
B. Rides a tricycle and walks stairs with alternating feet
C. Dresses independently (except buttons and shoelaces)
D. Copies a circle and draws simple shapes
Answer: B
Rationale: A 3-year-old should be able to ride a tricycle and walk stairs with alternating feet.
Kicking a ball forward is a 2-year-old milestone. Dressing independently (except
buttons/shoelaces) and copying a circle/drawing simple shapes are fine motor skills, not gross
motor skills, though they are also appropriate for a 3-year-old.
Question 9
A nurse is caring for a 6-month-old infant. When the infant's palm is stroked, the fingers curl
around the nurse's finger. The nurse recognizes this as the:
A. Palmar grasp reflex
B. Plantar grasp reflex
