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PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM – GROWTH,
DEVELOPMENT & COMMON CHILDHOOD DISORDERS
2026 LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
Focus Areas:
• Growth & development milestones
• Developmental theories (Erikson, Piaget)
• Health promotion & safety
• Common pediatric disorders
• Pediatric nursing priorities
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• Family-centered care
• Medication & safety considerations
• Pediatric emergencies
Questions 1–25: Growth & Development Principles
1. Growth refers to:
A. Increase in intellectual ability
B. Emotional maturity
C. Increase in physical size
D. Social development
Answer: C
Rationale: Growth is a measurable increase in physical size
(height, weight).
2. Development is BEST defined as:
A. Physical changes only
B. Cognitive growth
C. Progressive acquisition of skills and abilities
D. Emotional maturity only
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Answer: C
Rationale: Development includes physical, cognitive, emotional,
and social skills.
3. Which principle of growth and development is correct?
A. It occurs randomly
B. It progresses cephalocaudal
C. It is the same for all children
D. It stops at adolescence
Answer: B
Rationale: Development proceeds from head to toe
(cephalocaudal).
4. The proximodistal pattern means development proceeds
from:
A. Head to toe
B. Center to extremities
C. Simple to complex
D. Gross to fine
Answer: B
Rationale: Proximodistal = from center outward.
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5. Which age group is MOST vulnerable to injury due to
curiosity and mobility?
A. Newborn
B. Infant
C. Toddler
D. School-age
Answer: C
Rationale: Toddlers explore actively with limited judgment.
6. According to Erikson, the developmental task of infancy is:
A. Autonomy vs. shame
B. Trust vs. mistrust
C. Initiative vs. guilt
D. Industry vs. inferiority
Answer: B
Rationale: Infants learn trust when needs are consistently met.
7. Failure to meet infant needs results in:
A. Autonomy
B. Guilt
C. Mistrust
D. Inferiority
PEDIATRIC NURSING EXAM – GROWTH,
DEVELOPMENT & COMMON CHILDHOOD DISORDERS
2026 LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES
Focus Areas:
• Growth & development milestones
• Developmental theories (Erikson, Piaget)
• Health promotion & safety
• Common pediatric disorders
• Pediatric nursing priorities
,2
• Family-centered care
• Medication & safety considerations
• Pediatric emergencies
Questions 1–25: Growth & Development Principles
1. Growth refers to:
A. Increase in intellectual ability
B. Emotional maturity
C. Increase in physical size
D. Social development
Answer: C
Rationale: Growth is a measurable increase in physical size
(height, weight).
2. Development is BEST defined as:
A. Physical changes only
B. Cognitive growth
C. Progressive acquisition of skills and abilities
D. Emotional maturity only
,3
Answer: C
Rationale: Development includes physical, cognitive, emotional,
and social skills.
3. Which principle of growth and development is correct?
A. It occurs randomly
B. It progresses cephalocaudal
C. It is the same for all children
D. It stops at adolescence
Answer: B
Rationale: Development proceeds from head to toe
(cephalocaudal).
4. The proximodistal pattern means development proceeds
from:
A. Head to toe
B. Center to extremities
C. Simple to complex
D. Gross to fine
Answer: B
Rationale: Proximodistal = from center outward.
, 4
5. Which age group is MOST vulnerable to injury due to
curiosity and mobility?
A. Newborn
B. Infant
C. Toddler
D. School-age
Answer: C
Rationale: Toddlers explore actively with limited judgment.
6. According to Erikson, the developmental task of infancy is:
A. Autonomy vs. shame
B. Trust vs. mistrust
C. Initiative vs. guilt
D. Industry vs. inferiority
Answer: B
Rationale: Infants learn trust when needs are consistently met.
7. Failure to meet infant needs results in:
A. Autonomy
B. Guilt
C. Mistrust
D. Inferiority
