BURNS PEDIATRIC FINAL EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026/2027 | COMPLETE REVIEW
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | PEDIATRIC
NURSING, CHILD HEALTH ASSESSMENT,
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT, NCLEX-STYLE
FINAL EXAM PREP RESOURCE
• This is a comprehensive 300-question NCLEX-style pediatric nursing exam prep
resource based on the Burns Pediatric Primary Care framework, designed to test
your knowledge across all major child health topics.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the highlighted correct option and EXPERT RATIONALE — ideal for active
recall, timed practice, or group study sessions.
BURNS PEDIATRIC FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 COMPLETE REVIEW —
300 QUESTIONS
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which of the following findings is
MOST consistent with normal development?
A. The infant says 2–3 words with meaning
B. The infant rolls from back to front and front to back
C. The infant walks with support
D. The infant builds a tower of two blocks
E. The infant has a pincer grasp
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The infant rolls from back to front and front to back
EXPERT RATIONALE: Rolling over in both directions is a normal gross motor milestone
at 6 months. Walking with support occurs around 9–12 months, pincer grasp at 9–10
months, two-word use at 12 months, and block stacking at 12–15 months.
,2. According to Erikson's theory, what is the primary developmental task of a
toddler aged 1–3 years?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
E. Identity vs. Role Confusion
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
EXPERT RATIONALE: Erikson identifies the toddler stage (1–3 years) as focused on
developing autonomy. When children are not allowed to assert independence, they may
develop shame and self-doubt.
3. A parent asks when their child should be able to ride a tricycle. The nurse
correctly responds:
A. 18 months
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years
E. 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3 years
EXPERT RATIONALE: Riding a tricycle is a typical gross motor milestone achieved at
approximately 3 years of age, when the child has sufficient leg strength and
coordination.
4. Which reflex should have DISAPPEARED by 4 months of age?
A. Babinski reflex
,B. Moro reflex
C. Parachute reflex
D. Plantar grasp
E. Rooting reflex beyond feeding
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Moro reflex
EXPERT RATIONALE: The Moro (startle) reflex disappears by 3–4 months. Its persistence
beyond 6 months may indicate neurological abnormality.
5. A 9-month-old is MOST likely to demonstrate which of the following
behaviors?
A. Stranger anxiety
B. Parallel play
C. Object permanence fully developed
D. Speaking in two-word sentences
E. Drawing circles
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Stranger anxiety
EXPERT RATIONALE: Stranger anxiety peaks around 8–10 months as infants begin to
differentiate caregivers from unfamiliar individuals. Object permanence begins at 9
months but is not yet fully developed.
6. Which of the following best describes parallel play?
A. Playing cooperatively with others toward a goal
B. Playing alone with little interest in others
C. Playing alongside others without interacting
D. Playing in small organized groups
, E. Playing with adults rather than peers
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Playing alongside others without interacting
EXPERT RATIONALE: Parallel play is characteristic of toddlers (2–3 years) who play next
to each other using similar toys but without direct interaction or cooperation.
7. A nurse is teaching parents about language development. At what age
should a child have a vocabulary of approximately 50 words?
A. 12 months
B. 15 months
C. 18 months
D. 24 months
E. 36 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 18 months
EXPERT RATIONALE: By 18 months, most children have a vocabulary of at least 10–50
words. At 24 months, children typically use two-word phrases and have approximately
200–300 words.
8. Piaget's preoperational stage is characterized by which of the following?
A. Object permanence
B. Abstract reasoning
C. Egocentrism
D. Logical thinking about concrete objects
E. Hypothetical deductive reasoning
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Egocentrism
GUIDE 2026/2027 | COMPLETE REVIEW
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | PEDIATRIC
NURSING, CHILD HEALTH ASSESSMENT,
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT, NCLEX-STYLE
FINAL EXAM PREP RESOURCE
• This is a comprehensive 300-question NCLEX-style pediatric nursing exam prep
resource based on the Burns Pediatric Primary Care framework, designed to test
your knowledge across all major child health topics.
• Use this material by reading each question carefully, selecting your answer before
checking the highlighted correct option and EXPERT RATIONALE — ideal for active
recall, timed practice, or group study sessions.
BURNS PEDIATRIC FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 COMPLETE REVIEW —
300 QUESTIONS
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which of the following findings is
MOST consistent with normal development?
A. The infant says 2–3 words with meaning
B. The infant rolls from back to front and front to back
C. The infant walks with support
D. The infant builds a tower of two blocks
E. The infant has a pincer grasp
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The infant rolls from back to front and front to back
EXPERT RATIONALE: Rolling over in both directions is a normal gross motor milestone
at 6 months. Walking with support occurs around 9–12 months, pincer grasp at 9–10
months, two-word use at 12 months, and block stacking at 12–15 months.
,2. According to Erikson's theory, what is the primary developmental task of a
toddler aged 1–3 years?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Initiative vs. Guilt
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
E. Identity vs. Role Confusion
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
EXPERT RATIONALE: Erikson identifies the toddler stage (1–3 years) as focused on
developing autonomy. When children are not allowed to assert independence, they may
develop shame and self-doubt.
3. A parent asks when their child should be able to ride a tricycle. The nurse
correctly responds:
A. 18 months
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years
E. 5 years
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 3 years
EXPERT RATIONALE: Riding a tricycle is a typical gross motor milestone achieved at
approximately 3 years of age, when the child has sufficient leg strength and
coordination.
4. Which reflex should have DISAPPEARED by 4 months of age?
A. Babinski reflex
,B. Moro reflex
C. Parachute reflex
D. Plantar grasp
E. Rooting reflex beyond feeding
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Moro reflex
EXPERT RATIONALE: The Moro (startle) reflex disappears by 3–4 months. Its persistence
beyond 6 months may indicate neurological abnormality.
5. A 9-month-old is MOST likely to demonstrate which of the following
behaviors?
A. Stranger anxiety
B. Parallel play
C. Object permanence fully developed
D. Speaking in two-word sentences
E. Drawing circles
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Stranger anxiety
EXPERT RATIONALE: Stranger anxiety peaks around 8–10 months as infants begin to
differentiate caregivers from unfamiliar individuals. Object permanence begins at 9
months but is not yet fully developed.
6. Which of the following best describes parallel play?
A. Playing cooperatively with others toward a goal
B. Playing alone with little interest in others
C. Playing alongside others without interacting
D. Playing in small organized groups
, E. Playing with adults rather than peers
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Playing alongside others without interacting
EXPERT RATIONALE: Parallel play is characteristic of toddlers (2–3 years) who play next
to each other using similar toys but without direct interaction or cooperation.
7. A nurse is teaching parents about language development. At what age
should a child have a vocabulary of approximately 50 words?
A. 12 months
B. 15 months
C. 18 months
D. 24 months
E. 36 months
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 18 months
EXPERT RATIONALE: By 18 months, most children have a vocabulary of at least 10–50
words. At 24 months, children typically use two-word phrases and have approximately
200–300 words.
8. Piaget's preoperational stage is characterized by which of the following?
A. Object permanence
B. Abstract reasoning
C. Egocentrism
D. Logical thinking about concrete objects
E. Hypothetical deductive reasoning
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Egocentrism
