,NUR 254 EXAM 3 Maternal & Pediatric Nursing Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which behavior is most consistent with Erikson’s stage of
initiative versus guilt?
A) Developing a sense of industry through school achievement
B) Establishing an independent adult identity
C) Developing trust through consistent caregiving
D) Beginning to initiate activities and use imagination
Correct Answer: D) Beginning to initiate activities and use imagination
Rationale: Preschool children are in the initiative-versus-guilt stage and
typically demonstrate increasing independence, imagination, and purposeful
activity.
Q2. According to Piaget, which cognitive stage is characteristic of a
school-age child?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Concrete operational
C) Formal operational
D) Preoperational
Correct Answer: B) Concrete operational
Rationale: School-age children generally enter the concrete operational
stage, allowing them to think logically about concrete events and understand
concepts such as conservation and classification.
Q3. Which activity is most appropriate for a preschool child during
hospitalization?
A) Reading an abstract research article
B) Competitive board games requiring advanced strategy
C) Parallel computer programming
D) Pretend play with dolls or medical equipment
Correct Answer: D) Pretend play with dolls or medical equipment
Rationale: Preschoolers use imaginative and symbolic play extensively.
Therapeutic pretend play can help them understand and cope with unfamiliar
procedures.
,Q4. What is the primary purpose of family-centered care in
pediatrics?
A) To transfer all decisions to the parents
B) To minimize communication with the child
C) To include the family as partners in the child’s care
D) To exclude family members from treatment planning
Correct Answer: C) To include the family as partners in the child’s care
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes the family as an important part
of the child’s support system and encourages collaboration in planning and
delivering care.
Q5. Which communication technique is most appropriate when
speaking with a preschool child?
A) Use simple concrete language and brief explanations
B) Give long abstract explanations
C) Speak only to the parent
D) Use medical terminology to improve understanding
Correct Answer: A) Use simple concrete language and brief explanations
Rationale: Preschool children understand concrete concepts better than
abstract explanations. Simple, age-appropriate language improves
comprehension and cooperation.
Q6. An adolescent is increasingly concerned about peer acceptance
and personal identity. Which developmental theory best explains
this behavior?
A) Piaget’s sensorimotor theory
B) Erikson’s identity-versus-role-confusion stage
C) Erikson’s trust-versus-mistrust stage
D) Piaget’s preoperational stage
Correct Answer: B) Erikson’s identity-versus-role-confusion stage
Rationale: Adolescence is associated with development of identity,
autonomy, values, and social roles, with peers often becoming especially
influential.
Q7. Which finding best distinguishes growth from development?
, A) Growth refers primarily to physical changes, whereas development
involves acquisition of skills and abilities
B) Growth refers to emotional maturity, whereas development refers only to
height
C) Growth and development are identical processes
D) Development occurs only during adolescence
Correct Answer: A) Growth refers primarily to physical changes, whereas
development involves acquisition of skills and abilities
Rationale: Growth generally refers to measurable physical changes such as
height and weight, while development concerns progressive acquisition of
functional, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities.
Q8. Which nursing intervention best supports a hospitalized toddler
who experiences separation anxiety?
A) Discourage visits from familiar caregivers
B) Maintain familiar routines and allow parental presence when possible
C) Remove favorite objects from the room
D) Avoid explaining procedures
Correct Answer: B) Maintain familiar routines and allow parental presence
when possible
Rationale: Toddlers may experience significant distress when separated
from familiar caregivers and routines. Familiar people and objects can
provide security.
Q9. Which play pattern is most characteristic of toddlers?
A) Parallel play
B) Cooperative team play
C) Rule-based competitive play
D) Abstract symbolic discussion
Correct Answer: A) Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers commonly engage in parallel play, playing beside other
children with limited direct interaction.
Q10. A school-age child asks detailed questions about an upcoming
procedure. Which nursing response is most appropriate?
A) “You are too young to understand it.”
B) “There is nothing to worry about.”
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which behavior is most consistent with Erikson’s stage of
initiative versus guilt?
A) Developing a sense of industry through school achievement
B) Establishing an independent adult identity
C) Developing trust through consistent caregiving
D) Beginning to initiate activities and use imagination
Correct Answer: D) Beginning to initiate activities and use imagination
Rationale: Preschool children are in the initiative-versus-guilt stage and
typically demonstrate increasing independence, imagination, and purposeful
activity.
Q2. According to Piaget, which cognitive stage is characteristic of a
school-age child?
A) Sensorimotor
B) Concrete operational
C) Formal operational
D) Preoperational
Correct Answer: B) Concrete operational
Rationale: School-age children generally enter the concrete operational
stage, allowing them to think logically about concrete events and understand
concepts such as conservation and classification.
Q3. Which activity is most appropriate for a preschool child during
hospitalization?
A) Reading an abstract research article
B) Competitive board games requiring advanced strategy
C) Parallel computer programming
D) Pretend play with dolls or medical equipment
Correct Answer: D) Pretend play with dolls or medical equipment
Rationale: Preschoolers use imaginative and symbolic play extensively.
Therapeutic pretend play can help them understand and cope with unfamiliar
procedures.
,Q4. What is the primary purpose of family-centered care in
pediatrics?
A) To transfer all decisions to the parents
B) To minimize communication with the child
C) To include the family as partners in the child’s care
D) To exclude family members from treatment planning
Correct Answer: C) To include the family as partners in the child’s care
Rationale: Family-centered care recognizes the family as an important part
of the child’s support system and encourages collaboration in planning and
delivering care.
Q5. Which communication technique is most appropriate when
speaking with a preschool child?
A) Use simple concrete language and brief explanations
B) Give long abstract explanations
C) Speak only to the parent
D) Use medical terminology to improve understanding
Correct Answer: A) Use simple concrete language and brief explanations
Rationale: Preschool children understand concrete concepts better than
abstract explanations. Simple, age-appropriate language improves
comprehension and cooperation.
Q6. An adolescent is increasingly concerned about peer acceptance
and personal identity. Which developmental theory best explains
this behavior?
A) Piaget’s sensorimotor theory
B) Erikson’s identity-versus-role-confusion stage
C) Erikson’s trust-versus-mistrust stage
D) Piaget’s preoperational stage
Correct Answer: B) Erikson’s identity-versus-role-confusion stage
Rationale: Adolescence is associated with development of identity,
autonomy, values, and social roles, with peers often becoming especially
influential.
Q7. Which finding best distinguishes growth from development?
, A) Growth refers primarily to physical changes, whereas development
involves acquisition of skills and abilities
B) Growth refers to emotional maturity, whereas development refers only to
height
C) Growth and development are identical processes
D) Development occurs only during adolescence
Correct Answer: A) Growth refers primarily to physical changes, whereas
development involves acquisition of skills and abilities
Rationale: Growth generally refers to measurable physical changes such as
height and weight, while development concerns progressive acquisition of
functional, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities.
Q8. Which nursing intervention best supports a hospitalized toddler
who experiences separation anxiety?
A) Discourage visits from familiar caregivers
B) Maintain familiar routines and allow parental presence when possible
C) Remove favorite objects from the room
D) Avoid explaining procedures
Correct Answer: B) Maintain familiar routines and allow parental presence
when possible
Rationale: Toddlers may experience significant distress when separated
from familiar caregivers and routines. Familiar people and objects can
provide security.
Q9. Which play pattern is most characteristic of toddlers?
A) Parallel play
B) Cooperative team play
C) Rule-based competitive play
D) Abstract symbolic discussion
Correct Answer: A) Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers commonly engage in parallel play, playing beside other
children with limited direct interaction.
Q10. A school-age child asks detailed questions about an upcoming
procedure. Which nursing response is most appropriate?
A) “You are too young to understand it.”
B) “There is nothing to worry about.”
