BSN3A Pediatric Nursing – Exam Practice
Questions & Verified Answers with Explained
Rationales 2026/2027 Latest Update |
Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam |
Study Guide & Exam Preparation
1. The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A) Sits without support
B) Rolls from back to side
C) Transfers objects from hand to hand
D) Walks with assistance
Answer: B) Rolls from back to side
Rationale: At 4 months, infants typically roll from back to side, have good head control,
and begin to reach for objects. Sitting without support occurs around 6-8 months.
Transferring objects occurs around 7 months. Walking with assistance occurs around 11-
12 months .
2. A 2-year-old child is in the Erikson stage of:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: The toddler stage (ages 1-3) corresponds to Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame
and Doubt. During this stage, children develop independence by mastering skills like
toileting, feeding, and dressing. Erikson's stages relevant to this age group: Trust vs.
Mistrust (infancy), Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (toddler), Initiative vs. Guilt
(preschool), and Industry vs. Inferiority (school-age) .
,3. The anterior fontanelle typically closes by what age?
A) 2-3 months
B) 6-8 months
C) 12-18 months
D) 24 months
Answer: C) 12-18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanelle typically closes between 12 and 18 months. The
posterior fontanelle closes earlier, around 2-3 months. Delayed closure may indicate
conditions such as increased intracranial pressure or hypothyroidism .
4. The nurse is assessing a newborn's reflexes. Which reflex is expected to
disappear by 4 months of age?
A) Babinski reflex
B) Moro reflex
C) Palmar grasp
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Primitive reflexes that are present at birth typically disappear during the first
year: Moro reflex (birth-4 months), Babinski reflex (birth-1 year), and Palmar grasp
(birth-3 months). Persistence of primitive reflexes beyond expected timeframes may
indicate neurological impairment .
5. A 3-year-old child is expected to exhibit which type of play?
A) Solitary play
B) Parallel play
C) Associative play
D) Cooperative play
Answer: C) Associative play
,Rationale: Play development follows a predictable sequence: solitary play (infants),
parallel play (toddlers), associative play (preschoolers), and cooperative play (older
preschoolers and school-age). A 3-year-old is in the preschool stage and engages in
associative play, where children play with similar toys but without organization .
6. The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which finding is consistent with
normal development?
A) Unable to sit without support
B) Absence of stranger anxiety
C) Says "Mama" and "Dada" specifically
D) Unable to grasp small objects
Answer: C) Says "Mama" and "Dada" specifically
Rationale: By 12 months, infants typically say "Mama" and "Dada" specifically, wave bye-
bye, and follow simple commands. They also sit without support, crawl, and may pull to
stand. Stranger anxiety peaks around 7-9 months .
7. A 7-year-old child is in Piaget's stage of:
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete Operational
D) Formal Operational
Answer: C) Concrete Operational
Rationale: Piaget's stages include: Sensorimotor (birth-2 years), Preoperational (2-7
years), Concrete Operational (7-11 years), and Formal Operational (11 years and older).
A 7-year-old child is in the Concrete Operational stage, characterized by logical thinking,
conservation, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships .
8. "Telegraphic speech" (two-word sentences) is common at what age?
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
, C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C) 24 months
Rationale: By 24 months, toddlers typically combine two words into simple phrases (e.g.,
"me go," "more milk"). This represents a significant language milestone. By 12 months,
children say 1-2 words; by 18 months, they have a 10-20 word vocabulary .
9. Tummy time is essential for infants to prevent:
A) Hip dysplasia
B) Plagiocephaly (flat head)
C) SIDS
D) Failure to thrive
Answer: B) Plagiocephaly (flat head)
Rationale: Tummy time encourages muscle development and prevents the skull from
flattening due to constant supine positioning (positional plagiocephaly). It is
recommended to start tummy time from birth, beginning with short sessions .
10. A 10-year-old child with asthma is using a peak flow meter. What does the
'Green Zone' indicate?
A) The child is in serious trouble and needs a rescue inhaler
B) Caution is needed; 50-80% of personal best
C) Asthma is well-controlled; 80-100% of personal best
D) The child should be taken to the emergency room
Answer: C) Asthma is well-controlled; 80-100% of personal best
Rationale: Peak flow zones are: Green Zone (80-100% personal best) = good control,
Green means go. Yellow Zone (50-80%) = caution, asthma may be worsening. Red Zone
(<50%) = medical alert, danger. This is a key component of asthma action plans .
Questions & Verified Answers with Explained
Rationales 2026/2027 Latest Update |
Comprehensive 250-Question Practice Exam |
Study Guide & Exam Preparation
1. The nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A) Sits without support
B) Rolls from back to side
C) Transfers objects from hand to hand
D) Walks with assistance
Answer: B) Rolls from back to side
Rationale: At 4 months, infants typically roll from back to side, have good head control,
and begin to reach for objects. Sitting without support occurs around 6-8 months.
Transferring objects occurs around 7 months. Walking with assistance occurs around 11-
12 months .
2. A 2-year-old child is in the Erikson stage of:
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C) Initiative vs. Guilt
D) Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: B) Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: The toddler stage (ages 1-3) corresponds to Erikson's Autonomy vs. Shame
and Doubt. During this stage, children develop independence by mastering skills like
toileting, feeding, and dressing. Erikson's stages relevant to this age group: Trust vs.
Mistrust (infancy), Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (toddler), Initiative vs. Guilt
(preschool), and Industry vs. Inferiority (school-age) .
,3. The anterior fontanelle typically closes by what age?
A) 2-3 months
B) 6-8 months
C) 12-18 months
D) 24 months
Answer: C) 12-18 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanelle typically closes between 12 and 18 months. The
posterior fontanelle closes earlier, around 2-3 months. Delayed closure may indicate
conditions such as increased intracranial pressure or hypothyroidism .
4. The nurse is assessing a newborn's reflexes. Which reflex is expected to
disappear by 4 months of age?
A) Babinski reflex
B) Moro reflex
C) Palmar grasp
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Rationale: Primitive reflexes that are present at birth typically disappear during the first
year: Moro reflex (birth-4 months), Babinski reflex (birth-1 year), and Palmar grasp
(birth-3 months). Persistence of primitive reflexes beyond expected timeframes may
indicate neurological impairment .
5. A 3-year-old child is expected to exhibit which type of play?
A) Solitary play
B) Parallel play
C) Associative play
D) Cooperative play
Answer: C) Associative play
,Rationale: Play development follows a predictable sequence: solitary play (infants),
parallel play (toddlers), associative play (preschoolers), and cooperative play (older
preschoolers and school-age). A 3-year-old is in the preschool stage and engages in
associative play, where children play with similar toys but without organization .
6. The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which finding is consistent with
normal development?
A) Unable to sit without support
B) Absence of stranger anxiety
C) Says "Mama" and "Dada" specifically
D) Unable to grasp small objects
Answer: C) Says "Mama" and "Dada" specifically
Rationale: By 12 months, infants typically say "Mama" and "Dada" specifically, wave bye-
bye, and follow simple commands. They also sit without support, crawl, and may pull to
stand. Stranger anxiety peaks around 7-9 months .
7. A 7-year-old child is in Piaget's stage of:
A) Sensorimotor
B) Preoperational
C) Concrete Operational
D) Formal Operational
Answer: C) Concrete Operational
Rationale: Piaget's stages include: Sensorimotor (birth-2 years), Preoperational (2-7
years), Concrete Operational (7-11 years), and Formal Operational (11 years and older).
A 7-year-old child is in the Concrete Operational stage, characterized by logical thinking,
conservation, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships .
8. "Telegraphic speech" (two-word sentences) is common at what age?
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
, C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C) 24 months
Rationale: By 24 months, toddlers typically combine two words into simple phrases (e.g.,
"me go," "more milk"). This represents a significant language milestone. By 12 months,
children say 1-2 words; by 18 months, they have a 10-20 word vocabulary .
9. Tummy time is essential for infants to prevent:
A) Hip dysplasia
B) Plagiocephaly (flat head)
C) SIDS
D) Failure to thrive
Answer: B) Plagiocephaly (flat head)
Rationale: Tummy time encourages muscle development and prevents the skull from
flattening due to constant supine positioning (positional plagiocephaly). It is
recommended to start tummy time from birth, beginning with short sessions .
10. A 10-year-old child with asthma is using a peak flow meter. What does the
'Green Zone' indicate?
A) The child is in serious trouble and needs a rescue inhaler
B) Caution is needed; 50-80% of personal best
C) Asthma is well-controlled; 80-100% of personal best
D) The child should be taken to the emergency room
Answer: C) Asthma is well-controlled; 80-100% of personal best
Rationale: Peak flow zones are: Green Zone (80-100% personal best) = good control,
Green means go. Yellow Zone (50-80%) = caution, asthma may be worsening. Red Zone
(<50%) = medical alert, danger. This is a key component of asthma action plans .
