ATI PEDIATRICS CONTENT MASTERY SERIES
(CMS) EXAM 300 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
ASSURED PASS
The ATI Pediatrics Content Mastery Series (CMS) exam is a standardized
assessment designed to evaluate a nursing student's comprehension of pediatric
nursing concepts. This comprehensive test covers the full developmental spectrum,
from infancy through adolescence, focusing on growth milestones, health
promotion, and the management of common childhood illnesses. It challenges
students to apply clinical judgment in prioritizing care, performing accurate
medication calculations, and implementing family-centered safety protocols.
Success on this exam requires a deep understanding of pathophysiology,
pharmacology, and evidence-based nursing interventions. The results help identify
knowledge gaps and predict readiness for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.
Section 1: Growth and Development Milestones (Questions 1-30)
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which milestone should the nurse
expect to observe?
A) Sitting without support
B) Grasping a rattle voluntarily
C) Rolling from back to abdomen
D) Displaying stranger anxiety
Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 months, infants typically can grasp objects voluntarily. Sitting
without support occurs around 8 months, rolling from back to abdomen is a 6-
month milestone, and stranger anxiety is common around 8 months.
,2. The parent of a 2-year-old toddler asks about expected language development.
Which finding is consistent with this age?
A) Speaking in two-word phrases
B) Using complete sentences of five words
C) Reciting the alphabet
D) Asking many "why" questions
Answer: A
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically uses two- to three-word phrases. Complete
sentences and "why" questions are more common in preschoolers, and reciting the
alphabet is a school-age skill.
3. A nurse is evaluating a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor skill should be
present?
A) Crawling on hands and knees
B) Walking independently
C) Standing on one foot
D) Jumping in place
Answer: A
Rationale: By 9 months, most infants crawl. Walking independently occurs around
12 months, standing on one foot is a preschool skill, and jumping in place is seen
in toddlers.
4. A 7-year-old child is in the hospital. Which activity is most developmentally
appropriate for this age?
A) Playing with a jack-in-the-box
B) Building models or collecting cards
C) Playing peek-a-boo
D) Engaging in parallel play
Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children enjoy collecting items and building models. Jack-
in-the-box is for infants, peek-a-boo is for infants, and parallel play is for toddlers.
5. A nurse is teaching parents about growth spurts in adolescents. Which finding is
typical?
A) Slow and steady weight gain
B) Rapid increase in height
C) Decreased appetite
D) Completion of brain growth
Answer: B
,Rationale: Adolescents experience rapid height increases during growth spurts.
Weight gain is not slow, appetite increases, and brain growth is not complete until
early adulthood.
6. A 15-month-old toddler is in the clinic. Which fine motor skill should the nurse
assess?
A) Stacking two blocks
B) Drawing a circle
C) Using a spoon without spilling
D) Tying shoelaces
Answer: A
Rationale: At 15 months, a toddler can stack two blocks. Drawing a circle is a
preschool skill, using a spoon without spilling occurs around 4 years, and tying
shoelaces is a school-age skill.
7. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler. Which behavior reflects Erikson's
stage of initiative versus guilt?
A) The child says "look at me" while jumping
B) The child cries when the parent leaves
C) The child refuses to share toys
D) The child imitates a parent's actions
Answer: A
Rationale: The initiative stage involves assertiveness and showing off skills, such
as saying "look at me." Crying when a parent leaves is separation anxiety, refusing
to share is typical in toddlers, and imitating is seen in younger children.
8. The parent of a 6-month-old infant asks about oral health. What guidance should
the nurse provide?
A) Start brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste
B) Clean gums with a soft cloth after feedings
C) Schedule a dental visit immediately
D) Give a bottle of juice at bedtime
Answer: B
Rationale: At 6 months, teeth may not be erupted, so cleaning gums with a soft
cloth is appropriate. Fluoride toothpaste is not recommended until age 2-3, dental
visits start around age 1, and bedtime juice promotes caries.
9. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which language milestone is expected?
A) Uses sentences of four to five words
B) Speaks in simple two-word phrases
, C) Understands complex instructions
D) Uses past tense correctly
Answer: A
Rationale: A 4-year-old uses sentences with four to five words. Two-word phrases
are for 2-year-olds, complex instructions are for older children, and correct past
tense is a school-age skill.
10. A 12-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. Which fine motor skill
should the nurse look for?
A) Pincer grasp
B) Palmar grasp
C) Holding a crayon to draw lines
D) Using a fork
Answer: A
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and finger) develops by 12 months. The
palmar grasp is present in newborns, holding a crayon to draw lines occurs at 15-
18 months, and using a fork is a preschool skill.
11. A nurse is teaching a parent about sleep patterns in a 3-month-old. Which
statement indicates understanding?
A) My baby sleeps through the night every night
B) My baby sleeps about 15 hours total per day
C) My baby takes one long nap each day
D) My baby stays awake for 6 hours at a time
Answer: B
Rationale: A 3-month-old sleeps about 15 hours total daily, often in multiple naps.
Sleeping through the night is not consistent, one nap is for toddlers, and staying
awake for 6 hours is too long for this age.
12. A 5-year-old child is in the hospital. Which nursing action supports the child's
sense of industry?
A) Allow the child to perform self-care like dressing
B) Provide an unstructured play area
C) Keep the child in bed to prevent injury
D) Restrict visitors to reduce overstimulation
Answer: A
Rationale: Allowing a preschooler to perform self-care tasks fosters a sense of
industry and accomplishment. Unstructured play does not specifically target
industry, bedrest hinders development, and restricting visitors is not supportive.
(CMS) EXAM 300 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE
LATEST UPDATE ALREADY GRADED A+
ASSURED PASS
The ATI Pediatrics Content Mastery Series (CMS) exam is a standardized
assessment designed to evaluate a nursing student's comprehension of pediatric
nursing concepts. This comprehensive test covers the full developmental spectrum,
from infancy through adolescence, focusing on growth milestones, health
promotion, and the management of common childhood illnesses. It challenges
students to apply clinical judgment in prioritizing care, performing accurate
medication calculations, and implementing family-centered safety protocols.
Success on this exam requires a deep understanding of pathophysiology,
pharmacology, and evidence-based nursing interventions. The results help identify
knowledge gaps and predict readiness for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.
Section 1: Growth and Development Milestones (Questions 1-30)
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which milestone should the nurse
expect to observe?
A) Sitting without support
B) Grasping a rattle voluntarily
C) Rolling from back to abdomen
D) Displaying stranger anxiety
Answer: B
Rationale: At 4 months, infants typically can grasp objects voluntarily. Sitting
without support occurs around 8 months, rolling from back to abdomen is a 6-
month milestone, and stranger anxiety is common around 8 months.
,2. The parent of a 2-year-old toddler asks about expected language development.
Which finding is consistent with this age?
A) Speaking in two-word phrases
B) Using complete sentences of five words
C) Reciting the alphabet
D) Asking many "why" questions
Answer: A
Rationale: A 2-year-old typically uses two- to three-word phrases. Complete
sentences and "why" questions are more common in preschoolers, and reciting the
alphabet is a school-age skill.
3. A nurse is evaluating a 9-month-old infant. Which gross motor skill should be
present?
A) Crawling on hands and knees
B) Walking independently
C) Standing on one foot
D) Jumping in place
Answer: A
Rationale: By 9 months, most infants crawl. Walking independently occurs around
12 months, standing on one foot is a preschool skill, and jumping in place is seen
in toddlers.
4. A 7-year-old child is in the hospital. Which activity is most developmentally
appropriate for this age?
A) Playing with a jack-in-the-box
B) Building models or collecting cards
C) Playing peek-a-boo
D) Engaging in parallel play
Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children enjoy collecting items and building models. Jack-
in-the-box is for infants, peek-a-boo is for infants, and parallel play is for toddlers.
5. A nurse is teaching parents about growth spurts in adolescents. Which finding is
typical?
A) Slow and steady weight gain
B) Rapid increase in height
C) Decreased appetite
D) Completion of brain growth
Answer: B
,Rationale: Adolescents experience rapid height increases during growth spurts.
Weight gain is not slow, appetite increases, and brain growth is not complete until
early adulthood.
6. A 15-month-old toddler is in the clinic. Which fine motor skill should the nurse
assess?
A) Stacking two blocks
B) Drawing a circle
C) Using a spoon without spilling
D) Tying shoelaces
Answer: A
Rationale: At 15 months, a toddler can stack two blocks. Drawing a circle is a
preschool skill, using a spoon without spilling occurs around 4 years, and tying
shoelaces is a school-age skill.
7. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler. Which behavior reflects Erikson's
stage of initiative versus guilt?
A) The child says "look at me" while jumping
B) The child cries when the parent leaves
C) The child refuses to share toys
D) The child imitates a parent's actions
Answer: A
Rationale: The initiative stage involves assertiveness and showing off skills, such
as saying "look at me." Crying when a parent leaves is separation anxiety, refusing
to share is typical in toddlers, and imitating is seen in younger children.
8. The parent of a 6-month-old infant asks about oral health. What guidance should
the nurse provide?
A) Start brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste
B) Clean gums with a soft cloth after feedings
C) Schedule a dental visit immediately
D) Give a bottle of juice at bedtime
Answer: B
Rationale: At 6 months, teeth may not be erupted, so cleaning gums with a soft
cloth is appropriate. Fluoride toothpaste is not recommended until age 2-3, dental
visits start around age 1, and bedtime juice promotes caries.
9. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which language milestone is expected?
A) Uses sentences of four to five words
B) Speaks in simple two-word phrases
, C) Understands complex instructions
D) Uses past tense correctly
Answer: A
Rationale: A 4-year-old uses sentences with four to five words. Two-word phrases
are for 2-year-olds, complex instructions are for older children, and correct past
tense is a school-age skill.
10. A 12-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. Which fine motor skill
should the nurse look for?
A) Pincer grasp
B) Palmar grasp
C) Holding a crayon to draw lines
D) Using a fork
Answer: A
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and finger) develops by 12 months. The
palmar grasp is present in newborns, holding a crayon to draw lines occurs at 15-
18 months, and using a fork is a preschool skill.
11. A nurse is teaching a parent about sleep patterns in a 3-month-old. Which
statement indicates understanding?
A) My baby sleeps through the night every night
B) My baby sleeps about 15 hours total per day
C) My baby takes one long nap each day
D) My baby stays awake for 6 hours at a time
Answer: B
Rationale: A 3-month-old sleeps about 15 hours total daily, often in multiple naps.
Sleeping through the night is not consistent, one nap is for toddlers, and staying
awake for 6 hours is too long for this age.
12. A 5-year-old child is in the hospital. Which nursing action supports the child's
sense of industry?
A) Allow the child to perform self-care like dressing
B) Provide an unstructured play area
C) Keep the child in bed to prevent injury
D) Restrict visitors to reduce overstimulation
Answer: A
Rationale: Allowing a preschooler to perform self-care tasks fosters a sense of
industry and accomplishment. Unstructured play does not specifically target
industry, bedrest hinders development, and restricting visitors is not supportive.
