NCLEX-RN & ATI Nursing Care of Children Actual Exam
2026/2027 – Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section A: Growth and Development Milestones & Developmental
Theories
Q1: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, which developmental crisis occurs
during infancy (birth to 18 months)?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Trust vs. Mistrust [CORRECT]
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Erikson's first stage, Trust vs. Mistrust (birth to 18 months), focuses on
developing a sense of security through consistent caregiving. Autonomy vs. Shame
occurs in toddlerhood (18 months-3 years). Initiative vs. Guilt occurs in preschool (3-6
years). Industry vs. Inferiority occurs in school age (6-12 years).
Q2: A 6-month-old infant is expected to demonstrate which gross motor milestone?
A. Walking independently
B. Sitting without support [CORRECT]
,C. Running
D. Jumping
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By 6 months, infants typically sit without support. Walking independently
occurs around 12 months. Running occurs around 18-24 months. Jumping occurs
around 2-3 years. Understanding age-appropriate milestones is essential for identifying
developmental delays.
Q3: According to Piaget's cognitive development theory, which stage occurs from birth
to 2 years?
A. Preoperational
B. Concrete operational
C. Sensorimotor [CORRECT]
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Piaget's sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years) involves learning through
sensory experiences and motor actions. Preoperational stage is 2-7 years. Concrete
operational is 7-11 years. Formal operational is 11+ years. The sensorimotor stage ends
with the development of object permanence.
Q4: The cephalocaudal growth pattern means that development proceeds:
A. From the center of the body outward
,B. From the extremities toward the center
C. From head to toe [CORRECT]
D. From toe to head
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cephalocaudal development proceeds from head to toe, meaning infants
gain head control before trunk control, and trunk control before leg control.
Proximodistal development proceeds from the center outward. Understanding growth
patterns helps assess normal development and identify abnormalities.
Q5: A 2-month-old infant demonstrates the Moro reflex when startled. The nurse
understands that this reflex:
A. Should persist throughout childhood
B. Normally disappears by 4-6 months [CORRECT]
C. Is abnormal at this age
D. Indicates neurological damage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Moro reflex (startle reflex) is present at birth and normally disappears by
4-6 months. Persistence beyond this age may indicate neurological dysfunction. It is a
normal primitive reflex in newborns and young infants, not a sign of damage when
present at 2 months.
Q6: According to Freud's psychosexual theory, which stage occurs from 1 to 3 years?
, A. Oral
B. Anal [CORRECT]
C. Phallic
D. Latency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Freud's anal stage (1-3 years) focuses on toilet training and control. The oral
stage is birth to 1 year. The phallic stage is 3-6 years. The latency stage is 6-12 years.
The genital stage is adolescence to adulthood. Freud's theory is less emphasized in
modern nursing but remains relevant for understanding developmental conflicts.
Q7: A 4-year-old child is observed playing alongside other children but not interacting
with them. This type of play is called:
A. Associative play
B. Cooperative play
C. Parallel play [CORRECT]
D. Solitary play
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Parallel play (2-3 years) involves playing alongside others without direct
interaction. Solitary play is alone. Associative play (3-4 years) involves interaction
without organized goals. Cooperative play (4+ years) involves organized group play with
shared goals. This 4-year-old may be transitioning from parallel to associative play.
2026/2027 – Complete Exam-Style Questions with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section A: Growth and Development Milestones & Developmental
Theories
Q1: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, which developmental crisis occurs
during infancy (birth to 18 months)?
A. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Trust vs. Mistrust [CORRECT]
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Erikson's first stage, Trust vs. Mistrust (birth to 18 months), focuses on
developing a sense of security through consistent caregiving. Autonomy vs. Shame
occurs in toddlerhood (18 months-3 years). Initiative vs. Guilt occurs in preschool (3-6
years). Industry vs. Inferiority occurs in school age (6-12 years).
Q2: A 6-month-old infant is expected to demonstrate which gross motor milestone?
A. Walking independently
B. Sitting without support [CORRECT]
,C. Running
D. Jumping
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By 6 months, infants typically sit without support. Walking independently
occurs around 12 months. Running occurs around 18-24 months. Jumping occurs
around 2-3 years. Understanding age-appropriate milestones is essential for identifying
developmental delays.
Q3: According to Piaget's cognitive development theory, which stage occurs from birth
to 2 years?
A. Preoperational
B. Concrete operational
C. Sensorimotor [CORRECT]
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Piaget's sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years) involves learning through
sensory experiences and motor actions. Preoperational stage is 2-7 years. Concrete
operational is 7-11 years. Formal operational is 11+ years. The sensorimotor stage ends
with the development of object permanence.
Q4: The cephalocaudal growth pattern means that development proceeds:
A. From the center of the body outward
,B. From the extremities toward the center
C. From head to toe [CORRECT]
D. From toe to head
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cephalocaudal development proceeds from head to toe, meaning infants
gain head control before trunk control, and trunk control before leg control.
Proximodistal development proceeds from the center outward. Understanding growth
patterns helps assess normal development and identify abnormalities.
Q5: A 2-month-old infant demonstrates the Moro reflex when startled. The nurse
understands that this reflex:
A. Should persist throughout childhood
B. Normally disappears by 4-6 months [CORRECT]
C. Is abnormal at this age
D. Indicates neurological damage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Moro reflex (startle reflex) is present at birth and normally disappears by
4-6 months. Persistence beyond this age may indicate neurological dysfunction. It is a
normal primitive reflex in newborns and young infants, not a sign of damage when
present at 2 months.
Q6: According to Freud's psychosexual theory, which stage occurs from 1 to 3 years?
, A. Oral
B. Anal [CORRECT]
C. Phallic
D. Latency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Freud's anal stage (1-3 years) focuses on toilet training and control. The oral
stage is birth to 1 year. The phallic stage is 3-6 years. The latency stage is 6-12 years.
The genital stage is adolescence to adulthood. Freud's theory is less emphasized in
modern nursing but remains relevant for understanding developmental conflicts.
Q7: A 4-year-old child is observed playing alongside other children but not interacting
with them. This type of play is called:
A. Associative play
B. Cooperative play
C. Parallel play [CORRECT]
D. Solitary play
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Parallel play (2-3 years) involves playing alongside others without direct
interaction. Solitary play is alone. Associative play (3-4 years) involves interaction
without organized goals. Cooperative play (4+ years) involves organized group play with
shared goals. This 4-year-old may be transitioning from parallel to associative play.
