,NURS 6800 Advanced Pediatric Development and
Behavior Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Walden University 2025/2026
1. A pediatric nurse practitioner is assessing a 6-month-old infant. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive
development, which stage is this infant in?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Piaget's sensorimotor stage spans from birth to approximately 2 years of age. During this stage,
infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities. Object permanence begins to develop
around 8–9 months.
2. A 4-year-old child is in which of Erikson's psychosocial stages?
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
C. Initiative vs. guilt
D. Industry vs. inferiority
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Erikson's initiative vs. guilt stage occurs during preschool years (approximately 3–5 years). Children
begin to assert control and power over their environment through directing play and social interactions.
,3. According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, a 7-year-old child who follows rules to avoid
punishment is in which level?
A. Preconventional
B. Conventional
C. Postconventional
D. Autonomous
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The preconventional level (approximately ages 4–10) is characterized by obedience and punishment
orientation. Children obey rules to avoid punishment, not because they understand moral principles.
4. The nurse practitioner is assessing a 15-month-old toddler. Which developmental milestone should the child
have achieved?
A. Uses two-word phrases
B. Walks independently
C. Rides a tricycle
D. Throws a ball overhand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Walking independently is a gross motor milestone typically achieved by 12–15 months. Two-word
phrases typically emerge around 18–24 months. Riding a tricycle is a 3-year milestone, and throwing overhand
is a 2-year milestone.
5. A 3-year-old child is brought for a well-child visit. The nurse practitioner assesses the child's language
development. Which finding is most consistent with expected development?
A. Vocabulary of 50 words
, B. Uses 3-word sentences
C. Speech is 100% intelligible
D. Can tell a complete story
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By age 3, children typically use 3-word sentences and have a vocabulary of approximately 900
words. Speech is approximately 75% intelligible at age 3. Telling a complete story is a milestone for age 5.
6. Which developmental screening tool is specifically designed for children from birth to 5 years and assesses
communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills?
A. Denver II
B. Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3)
C. M-CHAT-R
D. Vanderbilt Assessment Scale
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) is a developmental screening tool for children from 1
month to 5½ years. It assesses five developmental domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-
solving, and personal-social. The Denver II is another developmental screening tool but is less commonly used
in current practice .
7. A 9-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. The nurse practitioner assesses for developmental red
flags. Which finding requires further evaluation?
A. Sits without support
B. Does not bear weight on legs
C. Transfers objects hand to hand
D. Responds to own name
Behavior Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Walden University 2025/2026
1. A pediatric nurse practitioner is assessing a 6-month-old infant. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive
development, which stage is this infant in?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Piaget's sensorimotor stage spans from birth to approximately 2 years of age. During this stage,
infants learn about the world through their senses and motor activities. Object permanence begins to develop
around 8–9 months.
2. A 4-year-old child is in which of Erikson's psychosocial stages?
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
C. Initiative vs. guilt
D. Industry vs. inferiority
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Erikson's initiative vs. guilt stage occurs during preschool years (approximately 3–5 years). Children
begin to assert control and power over their environment through directing play and social interactions.
,3. According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, a 7-year-old child who follows rules to avoid
punishment is in which level?
A. Preconventional
B. Conventional
C. Postconventional
D. Autonomous
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The preconventional level (approximately ages 4–10) is characterized by obedience and punishment
orientation. Children obey rules to avoid punishment, not because they understand moral principles.
4. The nurse practitioner is assessing a 15-month-old toddler. Which developmental milestone should the child
have achieved?
A. Uses two-word phrases
B. Walks independently
C. Rides a tricycle
D. Throws a ball overhand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Walking independently is a gross motor milestone typically achieved by 12–15 months. Two-word
phrases typically emerge around 18–24 months. Riding a tricycle is a 3-year milestone, and throwing overhand
is a 2-year milestone.
5. A 3-year-old child is brought for a well-child visit. The nurse practitioner assesses the child's language
development. Which finding is most consistent with expected development?
A. Vocabulary of 50 words
, B. Uses 3-word sentences
C. Speech is 100% intelligible
D. Can tell a complete story
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: By age 3, children typically use 3-word sentences and have a vocabulary of approximately 900
words. Speech is approximately 75% intelligible at age 3. Telling a complete story is a milestone for age 5.
6. Which developmental screening tool is specifically designed for children from birth to 5 years and assesses
communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social skills?
A. Denver II
B. Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3)
C. M-CHAT-R
D. Vanderbilt Assessment Scale
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) is a developmental screening tool for children from 1
month to 5½ years. It assesses five developmental domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-
solving, and personal-social. The Denver II is another developmental screening tool but is less commonly used
in current practice .
7. A 9-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. The nurse practitioner assesses for developmental red
flags. Which finding requires further evaluation?
A. Sits without support
B. Does not bear weight on legs
C. Transfers objects hand to hand
D. Responds to own name
