1
ATI RN PEDIATRICS EXAMS NEXT GEN ATI PEDIATRICS
PROCTORED EXAM TESTBANK QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES ALREADY GRADED A+
BRAND NEW!
pg. 1
,2
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which finding should the nurse
report to the provider?
A. The infant does not roll from front to back
B. The infant does not smile responsively
C. The infant does not sit without support
D. The infant does not transfer objects between hands
Answer: B. The infant does not smile responsively
Rationale: A social smile (smiling in response to human faces or voices) typically develops by 2 months
of age. Its absence by 4 months may indicate a developmental delay or a vision/hearing problem and
should be reported. Rolling front to back occurs around 4-5 months; sitting unsupported occurs around
6-8 months; transferring objects between hands occurs around 6-7 months. Therefore, these are not
expected at 4 months.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 9-month-old infant. Which statement
should the nurse include?
A. “You can start introducing whole cow’s milk now.”
B. “Your baby should be walking independently by now.”
C. “Your baby may begin teething soon; you can use a cold teething ring for comfort.”
D. “You should start toilet training now.”
Answer: C. “Your baby may begin teething soon; you can use a cold teething ring for comfort.”
Rationale: Teething typically begins between 4 and 7 months, so a 9-month-old may already be teething
or will be soon. A cold (not frozen) teething ring provides safe comfort. Whole cow’s milk should not be
introduced until 12 months. Walking independently is a 12-15-month milestone. Toilet training
readiness usually begins around 18-24 months.
3. According to Erikson, the developmental task for a toddler (1-3 years) is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Toddlers strive for independence; they want to do things for themselves (e.g., feeding,
dressing, toileting). When caregivers encourage this autonomy, the child develops confidence. Overly
critical or restrictive parenting leads to shame and doubt. Trust vs. Mistrust is the infant stage; Initiative
vs. Guilt is preschool; Industry vs. Inferiority is school-age.
4. A nurse is observing a 24-month-old in the playroom. The child is playing next to another child with
similar toys but not interacting. The nurse documents this play as:
pg. 2
,3
A. Solitary play
B. Parallel play
C. Associative play
D. Cooperative play
Answer: B. Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers engage in parallel play: they play alongside each other with similar toys but do not
interact directly. Solitary play is typical of infants. Associative play (interacting but without organized
rules) appears in preschoolers. Cooperative play (organized, with rules) is characteristic of school-age
children.
5. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler’s fine motor skills. Which task should the child be able
to perform?
A. Tying shoelaces
B. Using scissors to cut along a line
C. Building a tower of 9-10 blocks
D. Drawing a person with at least 6 body parts
Answer: C. Building a tower of 9-10 blocks
Rationale: At 3 years, a child can build a tower of 9-10 blocks. Tying shoelaces is a 5-6-year skill. Cutting
along a line is a 4-5-year skill. Drawing a person with 6 parts is a 5-year skill.
6. The parents of a 4-year-old tell the nurse their child believes that a broken toy “just happened”
because he was mad at his brother. The nurse identifies this as an example of:
A. Lying
B. Magical thinking
C. Animism
D. Centration
Answer: B. Magical thinking
Rationale: Preschoolers engage in magical thinking—the belief that their thoughts, words, or actions
can cause real-world events. The child believes his anger broke the toy. This is developmentally normal,
not lying. Animism is attributing lifelike qualities to objects. Centration is focusing on one aspect of a
situation.
7. A school-age child (8 years) is hospitalized. According to Erikson, which intervention best promotes
the child’s developmental task?
A. Allow the child to make all decisions about care
B. Encourage the child to complete schoolwork and praise accomplishments
C. Keep the child isolated to rest
D. Discourage questions to reduce anxiety
pg. 3
, 4
Answer: B. Encourage the child to complete schoolwork and praise accomplishments
Rationale: School-age children are in the Industry vs. Inferiority stage. They need to feel productive and
successful. Completing schoolwork and receiving praise fosters a sense of competence. Allowing the
child to make all decisions is overwhelming; isolation and discouraging questions increase anxiety.
8. A nurse is assessing an adolescent’s cognitive development. According to Piaget, the adolescent
should be capable of:
A. Magical thinking
B. Concrete operational thinking only
C. Formal operational thinking (abstract reasoning)
D. Sensorimotor exploration
Answer: C. Formal operational thinking (abstract reasoning)
Rationale: Adolescents (12-18 years) can think abstractly, consider hypothetical situations, and use
deductive reasoning—formal operational stage. Magical thinking is preschool; concrete operational is
school-age; sensorimotor is infant.
9. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance about puberty to a 12-year-old boy. Which statement
should the nurse include?
A. “Puberty in boys typically begins with facial hair growth.”
B. “The first sign of puberty in boys is usually testicular enlargement, which may begin around age 9-14.”
C. “Boys do not experience a growth spurt during puberty.”
D. “It’s abnormal for one testicle to be larger than the other.”
Answer: B. “The first sign of puberty in boys is usually testicular enlargement, which may begin
around age 9-14.”
Rationale: Testicular enlargement is the first physical sign of puberty in males. Facial hair appears later.
Boys experience a significant growth spurt. Slight asymmetry in testicular size is normal.
10. A 2-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. The nurse palpates the anterior fontanel and
finds it open and flat. The most appropriate action is:
A. Refer for immediate head CT
B. Document this as a normal finding
C. Measure head circumference and refer if >95th percentile
D. Instruct parents to restrict fluid intake
Answer: B. Document this as a normal finding
Rationale: The anterior fontanel normally closes between 12-18 months. At 2 months, an open, flat, soft
fontanel is an expected finding. No referral or intervention is needed.
pg. 4
ATI RN PEDIATRICS EXAMS NEXT GEN ATI PEDIATRICS
PROCTORED EXAM TESTBANK QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES ALREADY GRADED A+
BRAND NEW!
pg. 1
,2
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which finding should the nurse
report to the provider?
A. The infant does not roll from front to back
B. The infant does not smile responsively
C. The infant does not sit without support
D. The infant does not transfer objects between hands
Answer: B. The infant does not smile responsively
Rationale: A social smile (smiling in response to human faces or voices) typically develops by 2 months
of age. Its absence by 4 months may indicate a developmental delay or a vision/hearing problem and
should be reported. Rolling front to back occurs around 4-5 months; sitting unsupported occurs around
6-8 months; transferring objects between hands occurs around 6-7 months. Therefore, these are not
expected at 4 months.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parents of a 9-month-old infant. Which statement
should the nurse include?
A. “You can start introducing whole cow’s milk now.”
B. “Your baby should be walking independently by now.”
C. “Your baby may begin teething soon; you can use a cold teething ring for comfort.”
D. “You should start toilet training now.”
Answer: C. “Your baby may begin teething soon; you can use a cold teething ring for comfort.”
Rationale: Teething typically begins between 4 and 7 months, so a 9-month-old may already be teething
or will be soon. A cold (not frozen) teething ring provides safe comfort. Whole cow’s milk should not be
introduced until 12 months. Walking independently is a 12-15-month milestone. Toilet training
readiness usually begins around 18-24 months.
3. According to Erikson, the developmental task for a toddler (1-3 years) is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Answer: B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Rationale: Toddlers strive for independence; they want to do things for themselves (e.g., feeding,
dressing, toileting). When caregivers encourage this autonomy, the child develops confidence. Overly
critical or restrictive parenting leads to shame and doubt. Trust vs. Mistrust is the infant stage; Initiative
vs. Guilt is preschool; Industry vs. Inferiority is school-age.
4. A nurse is observing a 24-month-old in the playroom. The child is playing next to another child with
similar toys but not interacting. The nurse documents this play as:
pg. 2
,3
A. Solitary play
B. Parallel play
C. Associative play
D. Cooperative play
Answer: B. Parallel play
Rationale: Toddlers engage in parallel play: they play alongside each other with similar toys but do not
interact directly. Solitary play is typical of infants. Associative play (interacting but without organized
rules) appears in preschoolers. Cooperative play (organized, with rules) is characteristic of school-age
children.
5. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old preschooler’s fine motor skills. Which task should the child be able
to perform?
A. Tying shoelaces
B. Using scissors to cut along a line
C. Building a tower of 9-10 blocks
D. Drawing a person with at least 6 body parts
Answer: C. Building a tower of 9-10 blocks
Rationale: At 3 years, a child can build a tower of 9-10 blocks. Tying shoelaces is a 5-6-year skill. Cutting
along a line is a 4-5-year skill. Drawing a person with 6 parts is a 5-year skill.
6. The parents of a 4-year-old tell the nurse their child believes that a broken toy “just happened”
because he was mad at his brother. The nurse identifies this as an example of:
A. Lying
B. Magical thinking
C. Animism
D. Centration
Answer: B. Magical thinking
Rationale: Preschoolers engage in magical thinking—the belief that their thoughts, words, or actions
can cause real-world events. The child believes his anger broke the toy. This is developmentally normal,
not lying. Animism is attributing lifelike qualities to objects. Centration is focusing on one aspect of a
situation.
7. A school-age child (8 years) is hospitalized. According to Erikson, which intervention best promotes
the child’s developmental task?
A. Allow the child to make all decisions about care
B. Encourage the child to complete schoolwork and praise accomplishments
C. Keep the child isolated to rest
D. Discourage questions to reduce anxiety
pg. 3
, 4
Answer: B. Encourage the child to complete schoolwork and praise accomplishments
Rationale: School-age children are in the Industry vs. Inferiority stage. They need to feel productive and
successful. Completing schoolwork and receiving praise fosters a sense of competence. Allowing the
child to make all decisions is overwhelming; isolation and discouraging questions increase anxiety.
8. A nurse is assessing an adolescent’s cognitive development. According to Piaget, the adolescent
should be capable of:
A. Magical thinking
B. Concrete operational thinking only
C. Formal operational thinking (abstract reasoning)
D. Sensorimotor exploration
Answer: C. Formal operational thinking (abstract reasoning)
Rationale: Adolescents (12-18 years) can think abstractly, consider hypothetical situations, and use
deductive reasoning—formal operational stage. Magical thinking is preschool; concrete operational is
school-age; sensorimotor is infant.
9. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance about puberty to a 12-year-old boy. Which statement
should the nurse include?
A. “Puberty in boys typically begins with facial hair growth.”
B. “The first sign of puberty in boys is usually testicular enlargement, which may begin around age 9-14.”
C. “Boys do not experience a growth spurt during puberty.”
D. “It’s abnormal for one testicle to be larger than the other.”
Answer: B. “The first sign of puberty in boys is usually testicular enlargement, which may begin
around age 9-14.”
Rationale: Testicular enlargement is the first physical sign of puberty in males. Facial hair appears later.
Boys experience a significant growth spurt. Slight asymmetry in testicular size is normal.
10. A 2-month-old infant is brought for a well-child visit. The nurse palpates the anterior fontanel and
finds it open and flat. The most appropriate action is:
A. Refer for immediate head CT
B. Document this as a normal finding
C. Measure head circumference and refer if >95th percentile
D. Instruct parents to restrict fluid intake
Answer: B. Document this as a normal finding
Rationale: The anterior fontanel normally closes between 12-18 months. At 2 months, an open, flat, soft
fontanel is an expected finding. No referral or intervention is needed.
pg. 4
