ATI RN PEDIATRIC NURSING ONLINE PRACTICE 2026 B
COMPLETE 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1 – GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which gross motor skill should the
nurse expect the child to have achieved?
A) Riding a bicycle with training wheels
B) Skipping with alternating feet
C) Hopping on one foot
D) Standing on one foot for 5 seconds
Answer: C
Rationale: At age 5, children can typically hop on one foot. Riding a bicycle
with training wheels is a 6-7 year skill. Skipping with alternating feet is a
5-6 year skill but often mastered closer to 6. Standing on one foot for 5
seconds is a 4-year skill. Hopping on one foot is a 5-year milestone.
Question 2
A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 2-year-old.
Which guidance regarding discipline is appropriate?
A) Use time-out as a primary discipline strategy
B) Use spanking as a disciplinary method
C) Allow the child to make all decisions
D) Ignore all undesirable behavior
Answer: A
Rationale: Time-out is an appropriate and effective discipline strategy for
toddlers, especially for behaviors like aggression or defiance. Spanking is
not recommended and can lead to increased aggression. Allowing all decisions
fails to set appropriate boundaries. Ignoring all undesirable behavior may
reinforce negative behaviors. Time-out combined with positive reinforcement
is recommended.
1
,Question 3
A nurse is educating parents about normal sleep patterns for a 6-month-old
infant. Which statement is accurate?
A) Infants sleep an average of 10-11 hours per day
B) Infants typically sleep through the night
C) Infants have a consistent sleep-wake cycle
D) Infants should be placed on their stomach to sleep
Answer: B
Rationale: By 6 months, most infants have developed the ability to sleep
through the night (6-8 hours continuously). Total sleep for a 6-month-old
averages 14-16 hours per day. The sleep-wake cycle matures but is not fully
consistent. Infants should always be placed on their back to sleep to reduce
the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a school-age child's cognitive development. Which
cognitive milestone should the nurse expect a 9-year-old to have achieved?
A) Understanding of conservation
B) Abstract reasoning
C) Hypothetical thinking
D) Egocentric thinking
Answer: A
Rationale: According to Piaget, school-age children (7-11 years) in the
concrete operational stage develop the understanding of conservation (the
idea that quantity does not change despite changes in shape or appearance).
Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking develop in the formal operational
stage (age 11+). Egocentric thinking is characteristic of the preoperational
stage (2-7 years).
2
,Question 5
A nurse is providing education to parents of a 10-year-old child about puberty.
Which statement indicates the parents understand the teaching?
A) "Puberty begins at the same age for all children."
B) "Early signs of puberty include breast development in girls."
C) "Puberty is complete within 1 year of onset."
D) "Boys experience puberty later than girls by about 2 years."
Answer: B
Rationale: Breast development (thelarche) is typically the first sign of
puberty in girls, occurring around age 8-13. Puberty onset varies widely
(not the same age for all) and typically lasts 2-5 years. Girls typically
begin puberty 1-2 years earlier than boys, not later.
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child's social-emotional development. Which
behavior is consistent with this age?
A) Plays cooperatively with other children
B) Has imaginary friends
C) Shows strong interest in rules and fairness
D) Demonstrates extreme independence
Answer: B
Rationale: Imaginary friends are common in 4-year-olds and are a normal part
of social-emotional development, reflecting creativity and the development of
imagination. Cooperative play is more typical of school-age children (5+ years).
Interest in rules and fairness is typical of school-age children (5+ years).
Extreme independence is more characteristic of toddlers.
Question 7
A nurse is providing education about car seat safety to parents of a 3-year-old.
Which statement is accurate?
A) The child should ride in a forward-facing car seat
B) The child should ride in a booster seat
3
, C) The child should ride in the front seat
D) The child should ride without a car seat if weight is adequate
Answer: A
Rationale: Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness
until they reach the maximum height/weight for the seat (typically until age
4-5 or around 40-65 pounds). Booster seats are for children who have outgrown
their forward-facing seats. The front seat is dangerous due to airbag risks.
Riding without a car seat is unsafe at age 3.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant's feeding development. Which
finding is consistent with this age?
A) The infant can drink from a cup independently
B) The infant can use a spoon independently
C) The infant is eating all table foods
D) The infant is eating primarily pureed foods
Answer: A
Rationale: At 12 months, many infants can drink from a cup with some assistance
or independently. Using a spoon independently is a 18-month skill. Infants
are typically transitioning to table foods but may not be exclusively on them.
Pureed foods are more typical of younger infants (6-8 months). Drinking from
a cup is appropriate for a 12-month-old.
Question 9
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect the infant to have achieved?
A) Walks independently
B) Uses a pincer grasp
C) Sits with support
D) Speaks two-word phrases
Answer: C
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COMPLETE 200 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS & DETAILED RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1 – GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old child. Which gross motor skill should the
nurse expect the child to have achieved?
A) Riding a bicycle with training wheels
B) Skipping with alternating feet
C) Hopping on one foot
D) Standing on one foot for 5 seconds
Answer: C
Rationale: At age 5, children can typically hop on one foot. Riding a bicycle
with training wheels is a 6-7 year skill. Skipping with alternating feet is a
5-6 year skill but often mastered closer to 6. Standing on one foot for 5
seconds is a 4-year skill. Hopping on one foot is a 5-year milestone.
Question 2
A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 2-year-old.
Which guidance regarding discipline is appropriate?
A) Use time-out as a primary discipline strategy
B) Use spanking as a disciplinary method
C) Allow the child to make all decisions
D) Ignore all undesirable behavior
Answer: A
Rationale: Time-out is an appropriate and effective discipline strategy for
toddlers, especially for behaviors like aggression or defiance. Spanking is
not recommended and can lead to increased aggression. Allowing all decisions
fails to set appropriate boundaries. Ignoring all undesirable behavior may
reinforce negative behaviors. Time-out combined with positive reinforcement
is recommended.
1
,Question 3
A nurse is educating parents about normal sleep patterns for a 6-month-old
infant. Which statement is accurate?
A) Infants sleep an average of 10-11 hours per day
B) Infants typically sleep through the night
C) Infants have a consistent sleep-wake cycle
D) Infants should be placed on their stomach to sleep
Answer: B
Rationale: By 6 months, most infants have developed the ability to sleep
through the night (6-8 hours continuously). Total sleep for a 6-month-old
averages 14-16 hours per day. The sleep-wake cycle matures but is not fully
consistent. Infants should always be placed on their back to sleep to reduce
the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a school-age child's cognitive development. Which
cognitive milestone should the nurse expect a 9-year-old to have achieved?
A) Understanding of conservation
B) Abstract reasoning
C) Hypothetical thinking
D) Egocentric thinking
Answer: A
Rationale: According to Piaget, school-age children (7-11 years) in the
concrete operational stage develop the understanding of conservation (the
idea that quantity does not change despite changes in shape or appearance).
Abstract reasoning and hypothetical thinking develop in the formal operational
stage (age 11+). Egocentric thinking is characteristic of the preoperational
stage (2-7 years).
2
,Question 5
A nurse is providing education to parents of a 10-year-old child about puberty.
Which statement indicates the parents understand the teaching?
A) "Puberty begins at the same age for all children."
B) "Early signs of puberty include breast development in girls."
C) "Puberty is complete within 1 year of onset."
D) "Boys experience puberty later than girls by about 2 years."
Answer: B
Rationale: Breast development (thelarche) is typically the first sign of
puberty in girls, occurring around age 8-13. Puberty onset varies widely
(not the same age for all) and typically lasts 2-5 years. Girls typically
begin puberty 1-2 years earlier than boys, not later.
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child's social-emotional development. Which
behavior is consistent with this age?
A) Plays cooperatively with other children
B) Has imaginary friends
C) Shows strong interest in rules and fairness
D) Demonstrates extreme independence
Answer: B
Rationale: Imaginary friends are common in 4-year-olds and are a normal part
of social-emotional development, reflecting creativity and the development of
imagination. Cooperative play is more typical of school-age children (5+ years).
Interest in rules and fairness is typical of school-age children (5+ years).
Extreme independence is more characteristic of toddlers.
Question 7
A nurse is providing education about car seat safety to parents of a 3-year-old.
Which statement is accurate?
A) The child should ride in a forward-facing car seat
B) The child should ride in a booster seat
3
, C) The child should ride in the front seat
D) The child should ride without a car seat if weight is adequate
Answer: A
Rationale: Children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness
until they reach the maximum height/weight for the seat (typically until age
4-5 or around 40-65 pounds). Booster seats are for children who have outgrown
their forward-facing seats. The front seat is dangerous due to airbag risks.
Riding without a car seat is unsafe at age 3.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant's feeding development. Which
finding is consistent with this age?
A) The infant can drink from a cup independently
B) The infant can use a spoon independently
C) The infant is eating all table foods
D) The infant is eating primarily pureed foods
Answer: A
Rationale: At 12 months, many infants can drink from a cup with some assistance
or independently. Using a spoon independently is a 18-month skill. Infants
are typically transitioning to table foods but may not be exclusively on them.
Pureed foods are more typical of younger infants (6-8 months). Drinking from
a cup is appropriate for a 12-month-old.
Question 9
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which
developmental milestone should the nurse expect the infant to have achieved?
A) Walks independently
B) Uses a pincer grasp
C) Sits with support
D) Speaks two-word phrases
Answer: C
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