ATI Pediatrics Proctored Exam
Success: High-Yield Questions with
Evidence-Based Rationales for 2026-
2027
Growth and Development
1. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a toddler
about accidental ingestion. Which instruction is most appropriate?
Answer: Call poison control immediately
Rationale: Poison control should be contacted for immediate
guidance before attempting any interventions. Inducing vomiting is
contraindicated for many substances, and giving milk may interfere
with treatment.
2. A nurse is assessing an 8-year-old child's psychosocial development.
Which finding requires further evaluation?
Answer: The child complains every day about going to school
Rationale: Daily complaints about school may indicate bullying,
anxiety, or other psychosocial issues requiring intervention. Same-sex
playmates and competitiveness are developmentally appropriate for
this age.
3. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old about nutrition.
Which statement indicates need for further teaching?
Answer: "My infant should drink 2 quarts of skim milk per day"
, Rationale: Toddlers need whole milk for brain development; 2 quarts
is excessive and skim milk provides inadequate fat for growth.
4. A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old with cystic fibrosis. Which activity
is most appropriate for the playroom?
Answer: Building block towers
Rationale: At age 2, toddlers engage in parallel play and enjoy
constructive activities like building blocks. Cutting/gluing requires fine
motor skills beyond a toddler's capability, and blowing bubbles could
spread respiratory droplets.
5. When should an infant transition to whole milk?
Answer: 12 months
Rationale: Whole milk provides essential fats for brain development.
Before 12 months, infants require breast milk or formula for adequate
nutrition.
6. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding is
expected?
Answer: Closed posterior fontanel
Rationale: The posterior fontanel typically closes by 6-8 weeks, while
the anterior fontanel closes by 12-18 months.
7. A nurse is assessing a 30-month-old toddler. Which finding requires
further assessment?
Answer: Birth weight is tripled
Rationale: By 30 months, birth weight should be quadrupled
(approximately 30 lbs). Tripled birth weight is expected by 12 months.
,8. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant for developmental
milestones. Which finding indicates developmental delay?
Answer: Inability to vocalize vowel sounds
Rationale: By 6 months, infants should coo and make vowel sounds.
Failure to do so by 9 months requires further evaluation.
9. A 4-year-old asks when parents will return. What is the best
response?
Answer: "They will come after dinner"
Rationale: Preschoolers understand time in concrete terms like
mealtimes, not abstract clock concepts. Telling them when specific
activities occur helps reduce anxiety.
10. A parent reports their toddler wants the same plate and cup at
every meal. How should the nurse respond?
Answer: This is ritualism, an expected behavior at this age
Rationale: Ritualism provides security and control for toddlers during
a period of rapid change. It is developmentally appropriate, not a sign
of being spoiled.
11. A nurse is teaching parents about play activities for a 2-month-old.
Which statement indicates correct understanding?
Answer: "I can use a music box and soft mobiles as appropriate play
activities"
Rationale: At 2 months, infants respond to auditory and visual stimuli.
Mobiles and music boxes are appropriate for sensory development.
12. A nurse is assessing an adolescent's psychosocial development.
Which finding requires evaluation?
, Answer: Lateral curvature of the spine
Rationale: Scoliosis screening is important in adolescents. Lateral
curvature requires further evaluation for idiopathic scoliosis.
13. A nurse is assessing a toddler's development. When does scribbling
spontaneously with a crayon typically begin?
Answer: 18 months
Rationale: By 18 months, toddlers begin spontaneous scribbling as
fine motor skills develop.
14. A nurse is assessing a school-age child's cognitive development.
Which activity is developmentally appropriate?
Answer: Reading adventure books
Rationale: School-age children enjoy reading and complex play
activities that challenge their developing cognitive skills.
15. At what age does a child begin to understand right from wrong?
Answer: Preschool age (3-5 years)
Rationale: Preschoolers develop moral reasoning and understand
basic concepts of right and wrong.
Safety and Injury Prevention
16. What is the leading cause of death for children older than 1 year in
the United States?
Answer: Unintentional injuries
Rationale: Unintentional injuries (accidents) are the leading cause of
death in children over 1 year, with motor vehicle crashes being the
most common.
Success: High-Yield Questions with
Evidence-Based Rationales for 2026-
2027
Growth and Development
1. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a toddler
about accidental ingestion. Which instruction is most appropriate?
Answer: Call poison control immediately
Rationale: Poison control should be contacted for immediate
guidance before attempting any interventions. Inducing vomiting is
contraindicated for many substances, and giving milk may interfere
with treatment.
2. A nurse is assessing an 8-year-old child's psychosocial development.
Which finding requires further evaluation?
Answer: The child complains every day about going to school
Rationale: Daily complaints about school may indicate bullying,
anxiety, or other psychosocial issues requiring intervention. Same-sex
playmates and competitiveness are developmentally appropriate for
this age.
3. A nurse is teaching a parent of a 12-month-old about nutrition.
Which statement indicates need for further teaching?
Answer: "My infant should drink 2 quarts of skim milk per day"
, Rationale: Toddlers need whole milk for brain development; 2 quarts
is excessive and skim milk provides inadequate fat for growth.
4. A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old with cystic fibrosis. Which activity
is most appropriate for the playroom?
Answer: Building block towers
Rationale: At age 2, toddlers engage in parallel play and enjoy
constructive activities like building blocks. Cutting/gluing requires fine
motor skills beyond a toddler's capability, and blowing bubbles could
spread respiratory droplets.
5. When should an infant transition to whole milk?
Answer: 12 months
Rationale: Whole milk provides essential fats for brain development.
Before 12 months, infants require breast milk or formula for adequate
nutrition.
6. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding is
expected?
Answer: Closed posterior fontanel
Rationale: The posterior fontanel typically closes by 6-8 weeks, while
the anterior fontanel closes by 12-18 months.
7. A nurse is assessing a 30-month-old toddler. Which finding requires
further assessment?
Answer: Birth weight is tripled
Rationale: By 30 months, birth weight should be quadrupled
(approximately 30 lbs). Tripled birth weight is expected by 12 months.
,8. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant for developmental
milestones. Which finding indicates developmental delay?
Answer: Inability to vocalize vowel sounds
Rationale: By 6 months, infants should coo and make vowel sounds.
Failure to do so by 9 months requires further evaluation.
9. A 4-year-old asks when parents will return. What is the best
response?
Answer: "They will come after dinner"
Rationale: Preschoolers understand time in concrete terms like
mealtimes, not abstract clock concepts. Telling them when specific
activities occur helps reduce anxiety.
10. A parent reports their toddler wants the same plate and cup at
every meal. How should the nurse respond?
Answer: This is ritualism, an expected behavior at this age
Rationale: Ritualism provides security and control for toddlers during
a period of rapid change. It is developmentally appropriate, not a sign
of being spoiled.
11. A nurse is teaching parents about play activities for a 2-month-old.
Which statement indicates correct understanding?
Answer: "I can use a music box and soft mobiles as appropriate play
activities"
Rationale: At 2 months, infants respond to auditory and visual stimuli.
Mobiles and music boxes are appropriate for sensory development.
12. A nurse is assessing an adolescent's psychosocial development.
Which finding requires evaluation?
, Answer: Lateral curvature of the spine
Rationale: Scoliosis screening is important in adolescents. Lateral
curvature requires further evaluation for idiopathic scoliosis.
13. A nurse is assessing a toddler's development. When does scribbling
spontaneously with a crayon typically begin?
Answer: 18 months
Rationale: By 18 months, toddlers begin spontaneous scribbling as
fine motor skills develop.
14. A nurse is assessing a school-age child's cognitive development.
Which activity is developmentally appropriate?
Answer: Reading adventure books
Rationale: School-age children enjoy reading and complex play
activities that challenge their developing cognitive skills.
15. At what age does a child begin to understand right from wrong?
Answer: Preschool age (3-5 years)
Rationale: Preschoolers develop moral reasoning and understand
basic concepts of right and wrong.
Safety and Injury Prevention
16. What is the leading cause of death for children older than 1 year in
the United States?
Answer: Unintentional injuries
Rationale: Unintentional injuries (accidents) are the leading cause of
death in children over 1 year, with motor vehicle crashes being the
most common.
