NSG 3600 Exam 4 Nursing Practice in
Children's Health Latest Practice Test
with 200 Questions and Correct Answers/
Galen NSG 3600 Exam 4 Pediatrics
Practice Test
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Question 1
A 1-month-old infant is at the clinic for a well-child visit. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect?
A) Social smile
B) Lifts head when prone
C) Follows objects past midline
D) Cooing
Rationale: At 1 month, infants can lift their head briefly when prone. Social smile and cooing occur at 2
months. Following objects past midline occurs at 3-4 months .
Question 2
A 4-month-old infant presents with failure to thrive and developmental delays. Which assessment
finding should the nurse prioritize?
A) Weight
B) Head circumference
C) Length
D) Chest circumference
Rationale: Head circumference is a critical indicator of brain growth in infants. Microcephaly or
macrocephaly may indicate underlying neurological conditions. Head circumference is measured until
age 36 months and plotted on growth charts .
Question 3
According to Piaget, a 6-month-old infant is in which stage of cognitive development?
A) Preoperational
B) Sensorimotor
,C) Concrete Operational
D) Formal Operational
Rationale: The sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years) is characterized by learning through sensory
experiences and motor actions. Object permanence develops around 9 months .
Question 4
A toddler is in the "autonomy vs. shame and doubt" stage according to Erikson. Which behavior supports
this stage?
A) The child wants to feed themselves
B) The child says "no" frequently
C) The child wants to dress independently
D) All of the above
Rationale: All of these behaviors support the autonomy vs. shame and doubt stage (1-3 years). Toddlers
assert their independence through negativism ("no"), self-feeding, and dressing themselves. Erikson's
theory emphasizes the importance of allowing toddlers to develop autonomy with appropriate guidance
.
Question 5
At what age does an infant typically develop a pincer grasp?
A) 4-5 months
B) 6-7 months
C) 9-10 months
D) 12 months
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) develops around 9-10 months. This fine motor
skill allows infants to pick up small objects. The palmar grasp is present at birth and disappears around 4-
6 months .
Question 6
A 15-month-old toddler is being assessed. Which gross motor skill should the nurse expect?
A) Walks up stairs with alternating feet
B) Walks independently
C) Runs
D) Kicks a ball
Rationale: By 15 months, most toddlers walk independently. Walking up stairs with alternating feet
occurs at 3 years, running at 18-24 months, and kicking a ball at 18 months .
,Question 7
The anterior fontanel typically closes by which age?
A) 6-8 months
B) 12-18 months
C) 18-24 months
D) 24-36 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel typically closes between 12-18 months. Delayed closure may indicate
hydrocephalus, hypothyroidism, or Down syndrome. The posterior fontanel closes by 2-3 months .
Question 8
A preschooler (age 4) is in which stage of Erikson's psychosocial development?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Initiative vs. Guilt
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-5 years) are in the Initiative vs. Guilt stage. They begin to assert control over
their environment through planning activities and initiating play. Guilt develops if they are criticized or
overly controlled .
Question 9
A school-age child (age 8) is in which stage of Piaget's cognitive development?
A) Preoperational
B) Concrete Operational
C) Formal Operational
D) Sensorimotor
Rationale: School-age children (7-11 years) are in the concrete operational stage. They develop logical
thinking but are still concrete in their understanding. They can understand conservation (quantity
remains the same despite changes in appearance) .
Question 10
What is the first sign of puberty in girls?
A) Menarche
B) Breast budding (thelarche)
C) Pubic hair growth
D) Growth spurt
Rationale: Breast budding (thelarche) is typically the first sign of puberty in girls, occurring between 8-13
years. Menarche typically occurs 2-2.5 years later. Pubic hair growth usually follows breast development .
, Question 11
What is the first sign of puberty in boys?
A) Pubic hair growth
B) Testicular enlargement
C) Voice deepening
D) Growth spurt
Rationale: Testicular enlargement is the first sign of puberty in boys, occurring between 9-14 years.
Voice deepening and the growth spurt occur later in the pubertal sequence .
Question 12
A 2-year-old child has a temper tantrum in the waiting room. Which nursing intervention is most
appropriate?
A) Give the child a time-out
B) Use distraction and remain calm
C) Tell the child to stop
D) Ignore the behavior completely
Rationale: The most appropriate intervention for temper tantrums is to use distraction while remaining
calm. Toddlers lack emotional regulation and cannot control these outbursts. Punishment is ineffective.
Safety should always be ensured .
Question 13
A 12-month-old infant is not yet walking. The parents are concerned. Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A) "Your child has a developmental delay."
B) "Many children do not walk until 15 months; this is within normal range."
C) "Your child needs physical therapy immediately."
D) "You should force your child to walk."
Rationale: Normal walking range is 9-15 months. Not walking at 12 months is within normal limits.
Parents should be reassured while monitoring development .
Question 14
A 6-year-old child is in the "industry vs. inferiority" stage. Which behavior supports this stage?
A) The child refuses to go to school
B) The child enjoys completing school projects
C) The child is very dependent on parents
D) The child has no interest in learning
Children's Health Latest Practice Test
with 200 Questions and Correct Answers/
Galen NSG 3600 Exam 4 Pediatrics
Practice Test
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Question 1
A 1-month-old infant is at the clinic for a well-child visit. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect?
A) Social smile
B) Lifts head when prone
C) Follows objects past midline
D) Cooing
Rationale: At 1 month, infants can lift their head briefly when prone. Social smile and cooing occur at 2
months. Following objects past midline occurs at 3-4 months .
Question 2
A 4-month-old infant presents with failure to thrive and developmental delays. Which assessment
finding should the nurse prioritize?
A) Weight
B) Head circumference
C) Length
D) Chest circumference
Rationale: Head circumference is a critical indicator of brain growth in infants. Microcephaly or
macrocephaly may indicate underlying neurological conditions. Head circumference is measured until
age 36 months and plotted on growth charts .
Question 3
According to Piaget, a 6-month-old infant is in which stage of cognitive development?
A) Preoperational
B) Sensorimotor
,C) Concrete Operational
D) Formal Operational
Rationale: The sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years) is characterized by learning through sensory
experiences and motor actions. Object permanence develops around 9 months .
Question 4
A toddler is in the "autonomy vs. shame and doubt" stage according to Erikson. Which behavior supports
this stage?
A) The child wants to feed themselves
B) The child says "no" frequently
C) The child wants to dress independently
D) All of the above
Rationale: All of these behaviors support the autonomy vs. shame and doubt stage (1-3 years). Toddlers
assert their independence through negativism ("no"), self-feeding, and dressing themselves. Erikson's
theory emphasizes the importance of allowing toddlers to develop autonomy with appropriate guidance
.
Question 5
At what age does an infant typically develop a pincer grasp?
A) 4-5 months
B) 6-7 months
C) 9-10 months
D) 12 months
Rationale: The pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) develops around 9-10 months. This fine motor
skill allows infants to pick up small objects. The palmar grasp is present at birth and disappears around 4-
6 months .
Question 6
A 15-month-old toddler is being assessed. Which gross motor skill should the nurse expect?
A) Walks up stairs with alternating feet
B) Walks independently
C) Runs
D) Kicks a ball
Rationale: By 15 months, most toddlers walk independently. Walking up stairs with alternating feet
occurs at 3 years, running at 18-24 months, and kicking a ball at 18 months .
,Question 7
The anterior fontanel typically closes by which age?
A) 6-8 months
B) 12-18 months
C) 18-24 months
D) 24-36 months
Rationale: The anterior fontanel typically closes between 12-18 months. Delayed closure may indicate
hydrocephalus, hypothyroidism, or Down syndrome. The posterior fontanel closes by 2-3 months .
Question 8
A preschooler (age 4) is in which stage of Erikson's psychosocial development?
A) Trust vs. Mistrust
B) Initiative vs. Guilt
C) Industry vs. Inferiority
D) Identity vs. Role Confusion
Rationale: Preschoolers (3-5 years) are in the Initiative vs. Guilt stage. They begin to assert control over
their environment through planning activities and initiating play. Guilt develops if they are criticized or
overly controlled .
Question 9
A school-age child (age 8) is in which stage of Piaget's cognitive development?
A) Preoperational
B) Concrete Operational
C) Formal Operational
D) Sensorimotor
Rationale: School-age children (7-11 years) are in the concrete operational stage. They develop logical
thinking but are still concrete in their understanding. They can understand conservation (quantity
remains the same despite changes in appearance) .
Question 10
What is the first sign of puberty in girls?
A) Menarche
B) Breast budding (thelarche)
C) Pubic hair growth
D) Growth spurt
Rationale: Breast budding (thelarche) is typically the first sign of puberty in girls, occurring between 8-13
years. Menarche typically occurs 2-2.5 years later. Pubic hair growth usually follows breast development .
, Question 11
What is the first sign of puberty in boys?
A) Pubic hair growth
B) Testicular enlargement
C) Voice deepening
D) Growth spurt
Rationale: Testicular enlargement is the first sign of puberty in boys, occurring between 9-14 years.
Voice deepening and the growth spurt occur later in the pubertal sequence .
Question 12
A 2-year-old child has a temper tantrum in the waiting room. Which nursing intervention is most
appropriate?
A) Give the child a time-out
B) Use distraction and remain calm
C) Tell the child to stop
D) Ignore the behavior completely
Rationale: The most appropriate intervention for temper tantrums is to use distraction while remaining
calm. Toddlers lack emotional regulation and cannot control these outbursts. Punishment is ineffective.
Safety should always be ensured .
Question 13
A 12-month-old infant is not yet walking. The parents are concerned. Which response by the nurse is
most appropriate?
A) "Your child has a developmental delay."
B) "Many children do not walk until 15 months; this is within normal range."
C) "Your child needs physical therapy immediately."
D) "You should force your child to walk."
Rationale: Normal walking range is 9-15 months. Not walking at 12 months is within normal limits.
Parents should be reassured while monitoring development .
Question 14
A 6-year-old child is in the "industry vs. inferiority" stage. Which behavior supports this stage?
A) The child refuses to go to school
B) The child enjoys completing school projects
C) The child is very dependent on parents
D) The child has no interest in learning