KAPLAN PEDIATRIC NURSING ASSESSMENT EXAM
Complete Practice Examination with Correct Answers
& Detailed Rationales 2026/2027
1. A 4-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect?
A) Sitting without support
B) Rolling from back to front
C) Pincer grasp
D) Walking with assistance
E) Saying "mama" and "dada"
Answer: B
Rationale: Rolling from back to front typically occurs around 4-5 months. Sitting without
support occurs at 6-8 months, pincer grasp at 9-10 months, and walking with assistance
at 10-12 months .
2. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which finding is consistent with normal
development?
A) The child uses 2-3 word sentences
B) The child can tie shoelaces
C) The child can draw a circle
D) The child can hop on one foot
E) The child can brush teeth independently
Answer: A
Rationale: By age 2, children typically use 2-3 word sentences. Tying shoelaces occurs at 5-
6 years, drawing a circle at 3-4 years, and hopping on one foot at 4-5 years .
3. A 6-month-old infant is assessed during a well-child visit. Which reflex should
have disappeared by this age?
,A) Moro reflex
B) Palmar grasp
C) Rooting reflex
D) Babinski reflex
Answer: A
Rationale: The Moro reflex typically disappears by 3-4 months. Palmar grasp and rooting
diminish by 4-6 months, and Babinski may persist until 12 months .
4. Which developmental milestone is expected at 18 months?
A) Throws a ball overhand
B) Builds a tower of 3 to 4 cubes
C) Walks up stairs with alternating feet
D) Copies a circle
Answer: B
Rationale: At 18 months, toddlers can build a tower of 3-4 cubes. Throwing a ball
overhand occurs at 18-24 months, walking up stairs with alternating feet at 24-36
months, and copying a circle at 3-4 years .
5. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 15-month-old child.
Which recommendation is most appropriate for injury prevention?
A) Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
B) Use a forward-facing car seat
C) Allow the child to sleep with soft toys
D) Place the child in a walker for exercise
Answer: A
Rationale: Safety gates at stairs are essential for a toddler learning to walk. Children
should remain rear-facing until age 2, soft toys are a SIDS risk for infants, and walkers are
not recommended due to injury risk .
6. Which developmental milestone is expected at 12 months?
,A) Uses a pincer grasp
B) Walks independently
C) Says 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada"
D) Builds a tower of 2 blocks
Answer: C
Rationale: By 12 months, infants typically say 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada."
Walking independently typically occurs around 15 months. Pincer grasp develops at 9-10
months. Building a tower of 2 blocks occurs at 15-18 months .
7. What is the normal respiratory rate for a newborn?
A) 10-20 breaths/min
B) 20-30 breaths/min
C) 30-60 breaths/min
D) 60-80 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 30-60 breaths per minute. Rates
below 30 or above 60 may indicate respiratory distress or pathology .
8. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which gross motor skill should the nurse
expect?
A) Rides a tricycle
B) Skips on alternate feet
C) Walks down stairs using alternating feet
D) Hops on one foot
Answer: A
Rationale: At age 3, children can ride a tricycle. Skipping on alternate feet occurs at 5
years, walking down stairs using alternating feet at 4 years, and hopping on one foot at 5
years .
9. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which milestone is expected?
, A) Uses a pincer grasp
B) Sits without support
C) Says two-word phrases
D) Hops on one foot
Answer: B
Rationale: Sitting without support is typically achieved around 6 months. The pincer grasp
develops around 9-10 months, two-word phrases around 2 years, and hopping on one foot
around 4-5 years .
10. The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 9-month-old
infant. Which statement indicates understanding?
A) "I will start giving whole milk now."
B) "I will childproof the house by covering electrical outlets."
C) "I will put the baby to sleep on her stomach."
D) "I will start using a forward-facing car seat."
Answer: B
Rationale: At 9 months, infants are mobile and exploring, making childproofing essential.
Whole milk should not be introduced until 12 months, infants should sleep on their backs,
and car seats should remain rear-facing until at least age 2 .
11. Which developmental task is most appropriate for a 7-year-old child according
to Erikson?
A) Developing trust
B) Achieving autonomy
C) Developing industry
D) Establishing identity
Answer: C
Rationale: School-age children (6-12 years) are in Erikson's stage of industry vs. inferiority,
where they develop a sense of competence through learning and accomplishment .
Complete Practice Examination with Correct Answers
& Detailed Rationales 2026/2027
1. A 4-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse expect?
A) Sitting without support
B) Rolling from back to front
C) Pincer grasp
D) Walking with assistance
E) Saying "mama" and "dada"
Answer: B
Rationale: Rolling from back to front typically occurs around 4-5 months. Sitting without
support occurs at 6-8 months, pincer grasp at 9-10 months, and walking with assistance
at 10-12 months .
2. A nurse is assessing a 2-year-old child. Which finding is consistent with normal
development?
A) The child uses 2-3 word sentences
B) The child can tie shoelaces
C) The child can draw a circle
D) The child can hop on one foot
E) The child can brush teeth independently
Answer: A
Rationale: By age 2, children typically use 2-3 word sentences. Tying shoelaces occurs at 5-
6 years, drawing a circle at 3-4 years, and hopping on one foot at 4-5 years .
3. A 6-month-old infant is assessed during a well-child visit. Which reflex should
have disappeared by this age?
,A) Moro reflex
B) Palmar grasp
C) Rooting reflex
D) Babinski reflex
Answer: A
Rationale: The Moro reflex typically disappears by 3-4 months. Palmar grasp and rooting
diminish by 4-6 months, and Babinski may persist until 12 months .
4. Which developmental milestone is expected at 18 months?
A) Throws a ball overhand
B) Builds a tower of 3 to 4 cubes
C) Walks up stairs with alternating feet
D) Copies a circle
Answer: B
Rationale: At 18 months, toddlers can build a tower of 3-4 cubes. Throwing a ball
overhand occurs at 18-24 months, walking up stairs with alternating feet at 24-36
months, and copying a circle at 3-4 years .
5. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 15-month-old child.
Which recommendation is most appropriate for injury prevention?
A) Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs
B) Use a forward-facing car seat
C) Allow the child to sleep with soft toys
D) Place the child in a walker for exercise
Answer: A
Rationale: Safety gates at stairs are essential for a toddler learning to walk. Children
should remain rear-facing until age 2, soft toys are a SIDS risk for infants, and walkers are
not recommended due to injury risk .
6. Which developmental milestone is expected at 12 months?
,A) Uses a pincer grasp
B) Walks independently
C) Says 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada"
D) Builds a tower of 2 blocks
Answer: C
Rationale: By 12 months, infants typically say 2-3 words besides "mama" and "dada."
Walking independently typically occurs around 15 months. Pincer grasp develops at 9-10
months. Building a tower of 2 blocks occurs at 15-18 months .
7. What is the normal respiratory rate for a newborn?
A) 10-20 breaths/min
B) 20-30 breaths/min
C) 30-60 breaths/min
D) 60-80 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for a newborn is 30-60 breaths per minute. Rates
below 30 or above 60 may indicate respiratory distress or pathology .
8. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which gross motor skill should the nurse
expect?
A) Rides a tricycle
B) Skips on alternate feet
C) Walks down stairs using alternating feet
D) Hops on one foot
Answer: A
Rationale: At age 3, children can ride a tricycle. Skipping on alternate feet occurs at 5
years, walking down stairs using alternating feet at 4 years, and hopping on one foot at 5
years .
9. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which milestone is expected?
, A) Uses a pincer grasp
B) Sits without support
C) Says two-word phrases
D) Hops on one foot
Answer: B
Rationale: Sitting without support is typically achieved around 6 months. The pincer grasp
develops around 9-10 months, two-word phrases around 2 years, and hopping on one foot
around 4-5 years .
10. The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 9-month-old
infant. Which statement indicates understanding?
A) "I will start giving whole milk now."
B) "I will childproof the house by covering electrical outlets."
C) "I will put the baby to sleep on her stomach."
D) "I will start using a forward-facing car seat."
Answer: B
Rationale: At 9 months, infants are mobile and exploring, making childproofing essential.
Whole milk should not be introduced until 12 months, infants should sleep on their backs,
and car seats should remain rear-facing until at least age 2 .
11. Which developmental task is most appropriate for a 7-year-old child according
to Erikson?
A) Developing trust
B) Achieving autonomy
C) Developing industry
D) Establishing identity
Answer: C
Rationale: School-age children (6-12 years) are in Erikson's stage of industry vs. inferiority,
where they develop a sense of competence through learning and accomplishment .
