NUR 203 /NUR203 Exam 1 Pediatric Nursing
2026/2027/2028 Testing Cycle | Newly Released
50 Questions With Answers & Expert Rationales
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A+ | Fortis College
Growth, Development, Health Promotion, Safety & Dosage Calculations
Q1: A 4-year-old child is hospitalized for surgery. The child believes the hospital bed caused the
illness and tells the nurse, "The bed made me sick." The nurse recognizes this as characteristic of
which developmental stage?
A. Concrete operational
B. Preoperational
C. Sensorimotor
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the preoperational stage, occurring from ages 2 to 7 years, is
characterized by animism, magical thinking, and egocentrism, which explains why the child
believes an inanimate object like the bed caused their illness. In this stage, children cannot
logically separate themselves from their environment and often attribute lifelike qualities to
objects. The nurse should use simple, concrete language and avoid abstract explanations when
communicating with a child in this developmental stage.
Q2: A nurse is educating parents about reliable resources for car seat safety and installation
checks. Which resources should the nurse recommend? Select all that apply.
A. Parenting blogs with user-submitted installation photos
B. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
C. The Department of Transportation (DOT)
D. Local fire and rescue stations with certified child passenger safety technicians
E. Social media influencer car seat review channels
,Correct Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: Correct because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department
of Transportation, and local fire and rescue stations employ certified child passenger safety
technicians who provide evidence-based car seat installation guidance. These organizations
maintain current safety standards and recall information that protect pediatric passengers during
motor vehicle travel. Parenting blogs and social media influencers lack standardized certification
and may disseminate inaccurate or outdated information that compromises child safety.
Q3: A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which gross motor
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Pulls to stand and crawls
B. Walks independently
C. Rolls front to back only
D. Sits unsupported without assistance
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because by 9 months of age, infants typically achieve the gross motor
milestones of pulling to stand and crawling as they develop trunk control and lower extremity
strength. Rolling front to back is expected at 4 months, sitting unsupported occurs at 7 to 8
months, and walking independently is a 15-month milestone. Accurate milestone assessment
allows the nurse to identify developmental delays early and initiate appropriate referrals for early
intervention services.
Q4: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, which crisis is most relevant when caring for a
hospitalized toddler who repeatedly says "No" to procedures and insists on doing tasks
independently?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Erikson's stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt occurs between
1 and 3 years of age, during which toddlers assert independence through negativism and self-
directed behavior. Hospitalization threatens this developmental need by imposing restrictions and
unfamiliar routines, potentially causing shame if caregivers are overly controlling. The nurse
should offer limited choices and encourage self-care activities to support the toddler's emerging
sense of autonomy within the healthcare setting.
, Q5: The nurse is teaching parents about introducing solid foods to their 6-month-old infant.
Which statement by the parents indicates correct understanding?
A. "I should add honey to the cereal to help with acceptance."
B. "I can start with mashed peanuts for protein."
C. "Iron-fortified rice cereal is the first solid food I should introduce."
D. "Cow's milk is appropriate to mix with the cereal at this age."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends iron-fortified
single-grain rice cereal as the first solid food introduced between 4 and 6 months of age to meet
the infant's increasing iron requirements. Honey should be avoided before 12 months due to the
risk of infant botulism, and cow's milk is not recommended as a primary drink until 12 months
because it lacks sufficient iron and may cause intestinal microbleeding. Peanuts and other
common allergens should only be introduced in appropriate forms when developmentally ready
and under guidance.
Q6: A school-age child is admitted to the pediatric unit. The child expresses fear about losing
control and asks detailed questions about every procedure. Based on developmental
understanding, which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide magical explanations to reduce anxiety
B. Offer concrete, simple explanations and allow the child to participate in care decisions when
possible
C. Avoid discussing procedures to prevent increased anxiety
D. Use abstract medical terminology to demonstrate respect for the child's intelligence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because school-age children operate in Piaget's concrete operational stage,
where they develop logical thinking about concrete objects and understand cause-and-effect
relationships. These children experience fear of loss of control during hospitalization and benefit
from concrete, age-appropriate explanations and opportunities to participate in care decisions.
Magical explanations are inappropriate for this age group, while abstract medical terminology
exceeds their cognitive capacity and increases anxiety.
Q7: A nurse measures the vital signs of a sleeping 2-month-old infant. Which assessment
sequence is most appropriate?
2026/2027/2028 Testing Cycle | Newly Released
50 Questions With Answers & Expert Rationales
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A+ | Fortis College
Growth, Development, Health Promotion, Safety & Dosage Calculations
Q1: A 4-year-old child is hospitalized for surgery. The child believes the hospital bed caused the
illness and tells the nurse, "The bed made me sick." The nurse recognizes this as characteristic of
which developmental stage?
A. Concrete operational
B. Preoperational
C. Sensorimotor
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the preoperational stage, occurring from ages 2 to 7 years, is
characterized by animism, magical thinking, and egocentrism, which explains why the child
believes an inanimate object like the bed caused their illness. In this stage, children cannot
logically separate themselves from their environment and often attribute lifelike qualities to
objects. The nurse should use simple, concrete language and avoid abstract explanations when
communicating with a child in this developmental stage.
Q2: A nurse is educating parents about reliable resources for car seat safety and installation
checks. Which resources should the nurse recommend? Select all that apply.
A. Parenting blogs with user-submitted installation photos
B. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
C. The Department of Transportation (DOT)
D. Local fire and rescue stations with certified child passenger safety technicians
E. Social media influencer car seat review channels
,Correct Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: Correct because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department
of Transportation, and local fire and rescue stations employ certified child passenger safety
technicians who provide evidence-based car seat installation guidance. These organizations
maintain current safety standards and recall information that protect pediatric passengers during
motor vehicle travel. Parenting blogs and social media influencers lack standardized certification
and may disseminate inaccurate or outdated information that compromises child safety.
Q3: A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which gross motor
milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Pulls to stand and crawls
B. Walks independently
C. Rolls front to back only
D. Sits unsupported without assistance
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Correct because by 9 months of age, infants typically achieve the gross motor
milestones of pulling to stand and crawling as they develop trunk control and lower extremity
strength. Rolling front to back is expected at 4 months, sitting unsupported occurs at 7 to 8
months, and walking independently is a 15-month milestone. Accurate milestone assessment
allows the nurse to identify developmental delays early and initiate appropriate referrals for early
intervention services.
Q4: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, which crisis is most relevant when caring for a
hospitalized toddler who repeatedly says "No" to procedures and insists on doing tasks
independently?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because Erikson's stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt occurs between
1 and 3 years of age, during which toddlers assert independence through negativism and self-
directed behavior. Hospitalization threatens this developmental need by imposing restrictions and
unfamiliar routines, potentially causing shame if caregivers are overly controlling. The nurse
should offer limited choices and encourage self-care activities to support the toddler's emerging
sense of autonomy within the healthcare setting.
, Q5: The nurse is teaching parents about introducing solid foods to their 6-month-old infant.
Which statement by the parents indicates correct understanding?
A. "I should add honey to the cereal to help with acceptance."
B. "I can start with mashed peanuts for protein."
C. "Iron-fortified rice cereal is the first solid food I should introduce."
D. "Cow's milk is appropriate to mix with the cereal at this age."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends iron-fortified
single-grain rice cereal as the first solid food introduced between 4 and 6 months of age to meet
the infant's increasing iron requirements. Honey should be avoided before 12 months due to the
risk of infant botulism, and cow's milk is not recommended as a primary drink until 12 months
because it lacks sufficient iron and may cause intestinal microbleeding. Peanuts and other
common allergens should only be introduced in appropriate forms when developmentally ready
and under guidance.
Q6: A school-age child is admitted to the pediatric unit. The child expresses fear about losing
control and asks detailed questions about every procedure. Based on developmental
understanding, which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide magical explanations to reduce anxiety
B. Offer concrete, simple explanations and allow the child to participate in care decisions when
possible
C. Avoid discussing procedures to prevent increased anxiety
D. Use abstract medical terminology to demonstrate respect for the child's intelligence
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because school-age children operate in Piaget's concrete operational stage,
where they develop logical thinking about concrete objects and understand cause-and-effect
relationships. These children experience fear of loss of control during hospitalization and benefit
from concrete, age-appropriate explanations and opportunities to participate in care decisions.
Magical explanations are inappropriate for this age group, while abstract medical terminology
exceeds their cognitive capacity and increases anxiety.
Q7: A nurse measures the vital signs of a sleeping 2-month-old infant. Which assessment
sequence is most appropriate?
