Pediatric Nursing Exam 2025|
75 Questions with Answers
and Explanations
1. A parent asks the nurse about toys to provide for a 10-month-old infant. Which
of the following toys should the nurse suggest?
A. Push-pull toy
B. Stuffed animal
C. Building blocks
D. Board book
Correct Answer: A. Push-pull toy
Explanation: At 10 months, infants are developing gross motor skills and
beginning to crawl or pull to stand. Push-pull toys encourage mobility and
coordination, making them appropriate for this age. Stuffed animals and board
books are also suitable, but push-pull toys best support the infant’s developmental
stage. Building blocks are more appropriate for slightly older children (e.g., 1–2
years) who have better fine motor control.
2. A nurse is collecting data from a three-month-old infant. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. The infant is unable to raise his head when in a prone position
B. The infant has a soft spot on the skull
C. The infant tracks objects with eyes intermittently
D. The infant has a weak grasp reflex
Correct Answer: A. The infant is unable to raise his head when in a prone position
,Explanation: By 3 months, infants should be able to lift their head at least 45
degrees when in a prone position (tummy time). Failure to do so may indicate
delayed motor development or neurological issues, warranting further evaluation.
A soft spot (fontanelle) is normal at this age, intermittent tracking is typical, and
the grasp reflex begins to weaken as voluntary grasping develops.
3. The parents of a 10-year-old are seeking advice regarding how to handle the
child’s questions about sex. How should the nurse advise the parents?
A. Answer the questions at the child’s level of understanding
B. Defer the questions to a school health program
C. Provide detailed scientific explanations
D. Avoid discussing until the child is older
Correct Answer: A. Answer the questions at the child’s level of understanding
Explanation: At 10 years old, children are in the school-age stage (industry vs.
inferiority) and are curious about their bodies and social roles. Providing honest,
age-appropriate answers supports their psychosocial development and builds trust.
Detailed scientific explanations may overwhelm the child, deferring to school
programs avoids direct communication, and delaying discussions may lead to
misinformation.
4. A nurse has accepted a position on a pediatric unit and is learning more about
psychosocial development. Identify the order of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial
development from birth through 18 years.
Correct Answer:
Trust vs. Mistrust (birth–1 year)
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1–3 years)
Initiative vs. Guilt (3–6 years)
Industry vs. Inferiority (6–12 years)
Identity vs. Role Confusion (12–18 years)
,Explanation: Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development occur in a specific
sequence, each addressing a key developmental challenge. From birth to 18 years,
the stages progress as listed, aligning with the child’s increasing cognitive and
social capacities. Trust vs. Mistrust focuses on caregiver reliability, Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt on self-control, Initiative vs. Guilt on exploring independence,
Industry vs. Inferiority on competence, and Identity vs. Role Confusion on self-
identity.
5. A 12-year-old is more likely to accept his parents’ decision if:
A. He understands why his parents made the decision
B. He is given a reward for compliance
C. The decision aligns with his friends’ opinions
D. The parents enforce the decision strictly
Correct Answer: A. He understands why his parents made the decision
Explanation: A 12-year-old is in Erikson’s Industry vs. Inferiority stage and
Piaget’s Formal Operations stage, developing logical reasoning and a sense of
competence. Understanding the rationale behind decisions fosters trust and
cooperation. Rewards may work temporarily, peer influence is significant but
secondary, and strict enforcement may lead to rebellion.
6. A nurse is collecting data from a four-year-old child. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Heart rate 110/min
B. Heart rate 140/min
C. Heart rate 80/min
D. Heart rate 160/min
Correct Answer: A. Heart rate 110/min
, Explanation: A four-year-old’s normal heart rate ranges from 80 to 120 beats per
minute at rest. A heart rate of 110/min is within this expected range for a
preschool-age child. Higher rates (140 or 160/min) may indicate stress or illness,
while 80/min is on the lower end but still possible.
7. A nurse is collecting data from a six-month-old infant in the well-child clinic.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Posterior fontanelle is closed
B. Anterior fontanelle is closed
C. Infant can walk with support
D. Infant speaks single words
Correct Answer: A. Posterior fontanelle is closed
Explanation: The posterior fontanelle typically closes by 2–3 months of age, so it
should be closed in a six-month-old. The anterior fontanelle remains open until
about 18 months. Walking with support typically begins around 9–12 months, and
single words are expected around 12 months.
8. An infant weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. at birth. During his well-baby check at 12
months old, what should the nurse expect this infant’s weight to be?
A. 15 lbs
B. 23 lbs
C. 30 lbs
D. 18 lbs
Correct Answer: B. 23 lbs
Explanation: An infant’s birth weight typically triples by 12 months. A birth
weight of 7 lbs. 11 oz. (approximately 7.7 lbs) would triple to about 23 lbs (7.7 × 3
= 23.1 lbs). This is a standard expectation for healthy growth in the first year.
75 Questions with Answers
and Explanations
1. A parent asks the nurse about toys to provide for a 10-month-old infant. Which
of the following toys should the nurse suggest?
A. Push-pull toy
B. Stuffed animal
C. Building blocks
D. Board book
Correct Answer: A. Push-pull toy
Explanation: At 10 months, infants are developing gross motor skills and
beginning to crawl or pull to stand. Push-pull toys encourage mobility and
coordination, making them appropriate for this age. Stuffed animals and board
books are also suitable, but push-pull toys best support the infant’s developmental
stage. Building blocks are more appropriate for slightly older children (e.g., 1–2
years) who have better fine motor control.
2. A nurse is collecting data from a three-month-old infant. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. The infant is unable to raise his head when in a prone position
B. The infant has a soft spot on the skull
C. The infant tracks objects with eyes intermittently
D. The infant has a weak grasp reflex
Correct Answer: A. The infant is unable to raise his head when in a prone position
,Explanation: By 3 months, infants should be able to lift their head at least 45
degrees when in a prone position (tummy time). Failure to do so may indicate
delayed motor development or neurological issues, warranting further evaluation.
A soft spot (fontanelle) is normal at this age, intermittent tracking is typical, and
the grasp reflex begins to weaken as voluntary grasping develops.
3. The parents of a 10-year-old are seeking advice regarding how to handle the
child’s questions about sex. How should the nurse advise the parents?
A. Answer the questions at the child’s level of understanding
B. Defer the questions to a school health program
C. Provide detailed scientific explanations
D. Avoid discussing until the child is older
Correct Answer: A. Answer the questions at the child’s level of understanding
Explanation: At 10 years old, children are in the school-age stage (industry vs.
inferiority) and are curious about their bodies and social roles. Providing honest,
age-appropriate answers supports their psychosocial development and builds trust.
Detailed scientific explanations may overwhelm the child, deferring to school
programs avoids direct communication, and delaying discussions may lead to
misinformation.
4. A nurse has accepted a position on a pediatric unit and is learning more about
psychosocial development. Identify the order of Erikson’s stages of psychosocial
development from birth through 18 years.
Correct Answer:
Trust vs. Mistrust (birth–1 year)
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1–3 years)
Initiative vs. Guilt (3–6 years)
Industry vs. Inferiority (6–12 years)
Identity vs. Role Confusion (12–18 years)
,Explanation: Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development occur in a specific
sequence, each addressing a key developmental challenge. From birth to 18 years,
the stages progress as listed, aligning with the child’s increasing cognitive and
social capacities. Trust vs. Mistrust focuses on caregiver reliability, Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt on self-control, Initiative vs. Guilt on exploring independence,
Industry vs. Inferiority on competence, and Identity vs. Role Confusion on self-
identity.
5. A 12-year-old is more likely to accept his parents’ decision if:
A. He understands why his parents made the decision
B. He is given a reward for compliance
C. The decision aligns with his friends’ opinions
D. The parents enforce the decision strictly
Correct Answer: A. He understands why his parents made the decision
Explanation: A 12-year-old is in Erikson’s Industry vs. Inferiority stage and
Piaget’s Formal Operations stage, developing logical reasoning and a sense of
competence. Understanding the rationale behind decisions fosters trust and
cooperation. Rewards may work temporarily, peer influence is significant but
secondary, and strict enforcement may lead to rebellion.
6. A nurse is collecting data from a four-year-old child. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Heart rate 110/min
B. Heart rate 140/min
C. Heart rate 80/min
D. Heart rate 160/min
Correct Answer: A. Heart rate 110/min
, Explanation: A four-year-old’s normal heart rate ranges from 80 to 120 beats per
minute at rest. A heart rate of 110/min is within this expected range for a
preschool-age child. Higher rates (140 or 160/min) may indicate stress or illness,
while 80/min is on the lower end but still possible.
7. A nurse is collecting data from a six-month-old infant in the well-child clinic.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Posterior fontanelle is closed
B. Anterior fontanelle is closed
C. Infant can walk with support
D. Infant speaks single words
Correct Answer: A. Posterior fontanelle is closed
Explanation: The posterior fontanelle typically closes by 2–3 months of age, so it
should be closed in a six-month-old. The anterior fontanelle remains open until
about 18 months. Walking with support typically begins around 9–12 months, and
single words are expected around 12 months.
8. An infant weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. at birth. During his well-baby check at 12
months old, what should the nurse expect this infant’s weight to be?
A. 15 lbs
B. 23 lbs
C. 30 lbs
D. 18 lbs
Correct Answer: B. 23 lbs
Explanation: An infant’s birth weight typically triples by 12 months. A birth
weight of 7 lbs. 11 oz. (approximately 7.7 lbs) would triple to about 23 lbs (7.7 × 3
= 23.1 lbs). This is a standard expectation for healthy growth in the first year.
