ATI Pediatrics Proctored Exam Prep 2026 | 70 Practice
Questions with Answers & Rationales | Pediatric Nursing
Guide
SECTION A: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–50)
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Rolls from back to side
B. Sits independently without support
C. Transfers objects from hand to hand
D. Crawls on hands and knees
Answer: A
Explanation: By 4 months, most infants roll from back to side; sitting independently occurs around 6-7
months; hand transfer at 7 months; crawling at 8-10 months.
2. A parent asks the nurse when their toddler will be able to walk up stairs without help. The nurse
should explain that this skill typically develops by which age?
A. 24 months (2 years)
B. 18 months
C. 30 months
D. 36 months
Answer: A
Explanation: Toddlers can walk up stairs with help at 18-24 months; walking up alone with alternating
feet develops around 24-30 months.
3. A nurse is evaluating the development of a 2-year-old. Which finding would be a cause for concern?
A. Cannot jump in place
B. Does not build a tower of 6 blocks
C. Uses two-word sentences
,D. Copies a circle
Answer: B
Explanation: At 2 years, a child should build a tower of 4-6 blocks; inability may indicate fine motor
delay. Jumping in place develops at 2-3 years.
4. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about adolescent development. Which cognitive characteristic
is typical of early adolescence (11-14 years)?
A. Egocentrism with imaginary audience
B. Abstract reasoning ability
C. Future-oriented thinking
D. Formal operational thought fully developed
Answer: A
Explanation: Early adolescents exhibit egocentrism (imaginary audience, personal fable); abstract and
future-oriented thinking develops later in adolescence.
5. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Unable to sit unsupported
B. Pincer grasp present
C. Babbles “mama” and “dada”
D. Stranger anxiety present
Answer: A
Explanation: By 9 months, infants typically sit unsupported; inability may indicate gross motor delay.
Pincer grasp emerges at 9 months; babbling and stranger anxiety are normal.
6. A parent of a 6-month-old infant asks about introducing solid foods. Which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A. Start with iron-fortified single-grain cereal mixed with breast milk or formula
B. Begin with pureed meats
C. Introduce honey as a natural sweetener
D. Give whole grapes for oral motor development
,Answer: A
Explanation: Iron-fortified rice or oatmeal cereal is the recommended first solid food; honey is avoided
until 12 months due to botulism risk.
7. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which finding indicates normal gross motor development?
A. Stands independently for a few seconds
B. Walks up stairs without help
C. Jumps in place
D. Kicks a ball forward
Answer: A
Explanation: By 12 months, infants can stand briefly; walking up stairs develops at 18-24 months;
jumping at 2-3 years.
8. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 15-month-old toddler. Which safety
measure is most important?
A. Keep cleaning products locked away and out of reach
B. Use a forward-facing car seat
C. Allow the toddler to sleep with a pillow
D. Offer whole grapes as a snack
Answer: A
Explanation: Toddlers are mobile and exploratory; poison prevention is critical. Car seats remain rear-
facing until at least 2 years; pillows increase SIDS risk; grapes are choking hazards.
9. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which fine motor skill should the nurse expect?
A. Copies a circle
B. Draws a square
C. Uses scissors to cut along a line
D. Ties shoelaces
Answer: A
, Explanation: At 3 years, children copy a circle; squares at 4-5 years; cutting with scissors at 4 years; tying
shoes at 5-6 years.
10. A parent of a 7-year-old child is concerned about thumb sucking. The nurse should advise that
thumb sucking after which age may cause dental problems?
A. 4-5 years (permanent teeth eruption)
B. 2 years
C. 6 months
D. 10 years
Answer: A
Explanation: Thumb sucking after age 4-5 years (when permanent teeth begin to erupt) may cause
malocclusion and dental deformities.
11. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. Which finding is consistent with normal development?
A. Uses a pincer grasp to pick up a raisin
B. Walks independently
C. Says two words besides “mama/dada”
D. Drinks from a cup without spilling
Answer: A
Explanation: Pincer grasp emerges at 9-10 months; walking independently at 12-15 months; first words
at 12 months; cup use without spilling at 15-18 months.
12. A nurse is teaching parents about age-appropriate activities for a 4-year-old child. Which activity
should the nurse recommend?
A. Playing with dress-up clothes and make-believe
B. Completing a 100-piece puzzle
C. Playing competitive board games with strict rules
D. Using a scooter unsupervised
Answer: A
Explanation: Preschoolers enjoy imaginative play; large puzzles (20-30 pieces) are appropriate;
competitive games with complex rules are for school-age children.
Questions with Answers & Rationales | Pediatric Nursing
Guide
SECTION A: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–50)
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which milestone should the nurse expect to observe?
A. Rolls from back to side
B. Sits independently without support
C. Transfers objects from hand to hand
D. Crawls on hands and knees
Answer: A
Explanation: By 4 months, most infants roll from back to side; sitting independently occurs around 6-7
months; hand transfer at 7 months; crawling at 8-10 months.
2. A parent asks the nurse when their toddler will be able to walk up stairs without help. The nurse
should explain that this skill typically develops by which age?
A. 24 months (2 years)
B. 18 months
C. 30 months
D. 36 months
Answer: A
Explanation: Toddlers can walk up stairs with help at 18-24 months; walking up alone with alternating
feet develops around 24-30 months.
3. A nurse is evaluating the development of a 2-year-old. Which finding would be a cause for concern?
A. Cannot jump in place
B. Does not build a tower of 6 blocks
C. Uses two-word sentences
,D. Copies a circle
Answer: B
Explanation: At 2 years, a child should build a tower of 4-6 blocks; inability may indicate fine motor
delay. Jumping in place develops at 2-3 years.
4. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about adolescent development. Which cognitive characteristic
is typical of early adolescence (11-14 years)?
A. Egocentrism with imaginary audience
B. Abstract reasoning ability
C. Future-oriented thinking
D. Formal operational thought fully developed
Answer: A
Explanation: Early adolescents exhibit egocentrism (imaginary audience, personal fable); abstract and
future-oriented thinking develops later in adolescence.
5. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which finding should the nurse report to the provider?
A. Unable to sit unsupported
B. Pincer grasp present
C. Babbles “mama” and “dada”
D. Stranger anxiety present
Answer: A
Explanation: By 9 months, infants typically sit unsupported; inability may indicate gross motor delay.
Pincer grasp emerges at 9 months; babbling and stranger anxiety are normal.
6. A parent of a 6-month-old infant asks about introducing solid foods. Which instruction should the
nurse provide?
A. Start with iron-fortified single-grain cereal mixed with breast milk or formula
B. Begin with pureed meats
C. Introduce honey as a natural sweetener
D. Give whole grapes for oral motor development
,Answer: A
Explanation: Iron-fortified rice or oatmeal cereal is the recommended first solid food; honey is avoided
until 12 months due to botulism risk.
7. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old infant. Which finding indicates normal gross motor development?
A. Stands independently for a few seconds
B. Walks up stairs without help
C. Jumps in place
D. Kicks a ball forward
Answer: A
Explanation: By 12 months, infants can stand briefly; walking up stairs develops at 18-24 months;
jumping at 2-3 years.
8. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 15-month-old toddler. Which safety
measure is most important?
A. Keep cleaning products locked away and out of reach
B. Use a forward-facing car seat
C. Allow the toddler to sleep with a pillow
D. Offer whole grapes as a snack
Answer: A
Explanation: Toddlers are mobile and exploratory; poison prevention is critical. Car seats remain rear-
facing until at least 2 years; pillows increase SIDS risk; grapes are choking hazards.
9. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child. Which fine motor skill should the nurse expect?
A. Copies a circle
B. Draws a square
C. Uses scissors to cut along a line
D. Ties shoelaces
Answer: A
, Explanation: At 3 years, children copy a circle; squares at 4-5 years; cutting with scissors at 4 years; tying
shoes at 5-6 years.
10. A parent of a 7-year-old child is concerned about thumb sucking. The nurse should advise that
thumb sucking after which age may cause dental problems?
A. 4-5 years (permanent teeth eruption)
B. 2 years
C. 6 months
D. 10 years
Answer: A
Explanation: Thumb sucking after age 4-5 years (when permanent teeth begin to erupt) may cause
malocclusion and dental deformities.
11. A nurse is assessing a 10-month-old infant. Which finding is consistent with normal development?
A. Uses a pincer grasp to pick up a raisin
B. Walks independently
C. Says two words besides “mama/dada”
D. Drinks from a cup without spilling
Answer: A
Explanation: Pincer grasp emerges at 9-10 months; walking independently at 12-15 months; first words
at 12 months; cup use without spilling at 15-18 months.
12. A nurse is teaching parents about age-appropriate activities for a 4-year-old child. Which activity
should the nurse recommend?
A. Playing with dress-up clothes and make-believe
B. Completing a 100-piece puzzle
C. Playing competitive board games with strict rules
D. Using a scooter unsupervised
Answer: A
Explanation: Preschoolers enjoy imaginative play; large puzzles (20-30 pieces) are appropriate;
competitive games with complex rules are for school-age children.
