2026/2027 – Complete Pediatric Nursing Test
Bank with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified |
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Section A: Growth & Development — Theories, Milestones, &
Age-Specific Care
Q1: A nurse is caring for a 2-year-old child who insists on dressing independently and
becomes frustrated when the parent attempts to help. According to Erikson's
psychosocial theory, this behavior reflects which developmental crisis?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt [CORRECT]
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers (1–3 years) navigate the crisis of autonomy vs. shame and doubt,
striving for independence in self-care activities. Trust vs. mistrust occurs in infancy,
initiative vs. guilt in preschoolers, and industry vs. inferiority in school-age children.
,Q2: A 4-year-old child believes the moon follows the family car because "it wants to
play." According to Piaget's cognitive development theory, this egocentric thinking is
characteristic of which stage?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational [CORRECT]
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The preoperational stage (2–7 years) is characterized by egocentrism,
animism (attributing life to inanimate objects), and inability to perform logical mental
operations. Sensorimotor stage involves object permanence, concrete operational
involves logical thinking, and formal operational involves abstract reasoning.
Q3: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone is MOST appropriate for this age?
A. Walking independently
B. Saying "mama" and "dada" specifically
C. Rolling from prone to supine and sitting with support [CORRECT]
D. Building a tower of two blocks
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically roll in both directions, sit with support, and may
bear weight on legs when held. Walking occurs at 12–15 months, specific "mama/dada"
at 9–12 months, and block stacking at 15–18 months.
Q4: A nurse observes a newborn infant turn the head toward a touch on the cheek and
open the mouth. This primitive reflex is known as:
A. Moro reflex
B. Rooting reflex [CORRECT]
C. Tonic neck reflex
D. Grasp reflex
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the infant's cheek, causing the head
to turn toward the stimulus with mouth opening in preparation for feeding. The Moro
reflex involves startle response, tonic neck reflex is the "fencing" posture, and grasp
reflex involves finger curling.
Q5: According to Erikson, a school-age child who successfully masters academic tasks
and develops competence is resolving which psychosocial crisis?
A. Initiative vs. Guilt
B. Industry vs. Inferiority [CORRECT]
C. Identity vs. Role Confusion
D. Intimacy vs. Isolation
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: School-age children (6–12 years) navigate industry vs. inferiority, developing
a sense of competence through mastery of academic and social tasks. Initiative vs.
guilt occurs in preschoolers, identity vs. role confusion in adolescents, and intimacy vs.
isolation in young adults.
Q6: A nurse is caring for a 14-year-old who is experimenting with different hairstyles,
peer groups, and political views. According to Erikson, this behavior reflects:
A. Industry vs. Inferiority
B. Identity vs. Role Confusion [CORRECT]
C. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
D. Generativity vs. Stagnation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Adolescents (12–18 years) navigate identity vs. role confusion, exploring
personal values, beliefs, and social roles to establish a coherent sense of self.
Experimentation with appearance and peer groups is a normal manifestation of identity
exploration.
Q7: A 9-month-old infant is placed in a strange room with the mother present, then the
mother leaves and returns. The infant cries when the mother leaves but is easily
comforted upon her return. This attachment pattern is classified as:
A. Avoidant attachment
B. Ambivalent attachment