NU 131 NURSING AND HEALTHCARE 1 EXAM 3 (PDF) | 2026
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. A nurse is providing care for a 2-year-old child who has just spilled their drink. To avoid
yelling at the child, the nurse is preventing the development of which emotion according to
Erikson's theory?
A) Mistrust
B) Shame
C) Guilt
D) Inferiority
Correct Answer: C) Guilt
Rationale: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the toddler stage (ages 1-3) is
characterized by the conflict of Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. However, the question
specifies the child is 2 years old. For a 2-year-old, the developmental task is Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt, where the child is learning to assert their will . The prompt asks about
preventing the development of which emotion, and yelling at a toddler can lead to feelings of
guilt or shame. The exam note indicates "the nurse is preventing the development of... Guilt" .
2. A parent asks the nurse why their 2-year-old child has a "potbellied" appearance. The nurse
explains that this is due to which normal anatomical finding?
A) Scoliosis
B) Kyphosis
C) Lordosis
D) Flat feet
Correct Answer: C) Lordosis
Rationale: A typical 2-year-old has a potbellied appearance due to an exaggerated lumbar curve,
which is called lordosis . This is a normal developmental finding in toddlers as their abdominal
muscles are not yet fully developed.
,3. A nurse is reinforcing education with parents about ways to prevent Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS). Which statement by a parent indicates a need for additional teaching?
A) "I will place my baby on their back to sleep."
B) "I will keep soft toys and blankets out of the crib."
C) "It is okay for the baby to sleep with me to make breastfeeding easier."
D) "I will use a firm mattress in the crib."
Correct Answer: C) "It is okay for the baby to sleep with me to make breastfeeding easier."
Rationale: Co-sleeping (bed-sharing) is a risk factor for SIDS. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing . The parent's statement indicates a
need for additional teaching on safe sleep practices.
4. The nurse is assessing an infant's fine motor skills and pincer grasp. Which observation
indicates development of this skill?
A) Grasping a rattle with the whole hand
B) Picking up cereal pieces and placing them in the mouth
C) Holding a crayon with a fist
D) Batting at a dangling toy
Correct Answer: B) Picking up cereal pieces and placing them in the mouth
Rationale: The pincer grasp, using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects, typically
develops around 9-10 months of age. Picking up cereal pieces is a classic example of this fine
motor skill .
5. A nurse is assessing reflexes in a 5-month-old infant. Which of the following is an expected
finding?
A) The infant displays plantar flexion of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked.
B) The infant displays hypertension and fanning of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked.
,C) The infant displays a strong sucking reflex.
D) The infant displays a Moro reflex.
Correct Answer: B) The infant displays hypertension and fanning of the toes when the sole of the
foot is stroked.
Rationale: The Babinski reflex (fanning of the toes) is a normal finding in infants until
approximately 12 months of age . Plantar flexion is the expected adult response. The Moro reflex
typically disappears around 4 months.
6. The nurse is reviewing parent observations of their toddler's response to a new sibling. Which
observation should the nurse associate with regression?
A) The child wants to help feed the baby.
B) The child wants to wear a diaper just like their new sibling.
C) The child is excited to have a new brother or sister.
D) The child is sleeping through the night.
Correct Answer: B) The child wants to wear a diaper just like their new sibling.
Rationale: Regression is a coping mechanism where a child reverts to an earlier stage of
development when faced with stress . A toddler who was previously potty-trained may regress to
wanting a diaper after the birth of a new sibling.
7. The nurse is preparing to weigh a 6-month-old infant who presented for a well-being visit. The
last weight was 8 lb. The nurse expects the infant to currently weigh approximately which
amount?
A) 12 lb
B) 16 lb
C) 20 lb
D) 24 lb
, Correct Answer: B) 16 lb
Rationale: The expected weight for a 6-month-old is roughly double the birth weight. If the birth
weight was 8 lbs, the expected weight is approximately 16 lbs .
8. The nurse is talking with the parent of a newborn who is expressing concern about the amount
of time the infant sleeps. The nurse understands that a newborn may sleep up to how many hours
per day?
A) 12 hours
B) 16 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 24 hours
Correct Answer: C) 20 hours
Rationale: Newborns sleep approximately 16-20 hours per day . This is a normal pattern.
9. The nurse is talking with the parent of a 2-month-old about the infant's increased drooling and
fussiness. The parent asks if teething could be occurring. The nurse explains that the first teeth
usually appear around which age?
A) 4 months
B) 7 months
C) 10 months
D) 12 months
Correct Answer: B) 7 months
Rationale: The first primary (deciduous) teeth typically erupt around 6-8 months of age, with
most infants having their first tooth around 7 months .
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY
GUIDE | 100% CORRECT
1. A nurse is providing care for a 2-year-old child who has just spilled their drink. To avoid
yelling at the child, the nurse is preventing the development of which emotion according to
Erikson's theory?
A) Mistrust
B) Shame
C) Guilt
D) Inferiority
Correct Answer: C) Guilt
Rationale: According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, the toddler stage (ages 1-3) is
characterized by the conflict of Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. However, the question
specifies the child is 2 years old. For a 2-year-old, the developmental task is Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt, where the child is learning to assert their will . The prompt asks about
preventing the development of which emotion, and yelling at a toddler can lead to feelings of
guilt or shame. The exam note indicates "the nurse is preventing the development of... Guilt" .
2. A parent asks the nurse why their 2-year-old child has a "potbellied" appearance. The nurse
explains that this is due to which normal anatomical finding?
A) Scoliosis
B) Kyphosis
C) Lordosis
D) Flat feet
Correct Answer: C) Lordosis
Rationale: A typical 2-year-old has a potbellied appearance due to an exaggerated lumbar curve,
which is called lordosis . This is a normal developmental finding in toddlers as their abdominal
muscles are not yet fully developed.
,3. A nurse is reinforcing education with parents about ways to prevent Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS). Which statement by a parent indicates a need for additional teaching?
A) "I will place my baby on their back to sleep."
B) "I will keep soft toys and blankets out of the crib."
C) "It is okay for the baby to sleep with me to make breastfeeding easier."
D) "I will use a firm mattress in the crib."
Correct Answer: C) "It is okay for the baby to sleep with me to make breastfeeding easier."
Rationale: Co-sleeping (bed-sharing) is a risk factor for SIDS. The American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing . The parent's statement indicates a
need for additional teaching on safe sleep practices.
4. The nurse is assessing an infant's fine motor skills and pincer grasp. Which observation
indicates development of this skill?
A) Grasping a rattle with the whole hand
B) Picking up cereal pieces and placing them in the mouth
C) Holding a crayon with a fist
D) Batting at a dangling toy
Correct Answer: B) Picking up cereal pieces and placing them in the mouth
Rationale: The pincer grasp, using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small objects, typically
develops around 9-10 months of age. Picking up cereal pieces is a classic example of this fine
motor skill .
5. A nurse is assessing reflexes in a 5-month-old infant. Which of the following is an expected
finding?
A) The infant displays plantar flexion of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked.
B) The infant displays hypertension and fanning of the toes when the sole of the foot is stroked.
,C) The infant displays a strong sucking reflex.
D) The infant displays a Moro reflex.
Correct Answer: B) The infant displays hypertension and fanning of the toes when the sole of the
foot is stroked.
Rationale: The Babinski reflex (fanning of the toes) is a normal finding in infants until
approximately 12 months of age . Plantar flexion is the expected adult response. The Moro reflex
typically disappears around 4 months.
6. The nurse is reviewing parent observations of their toddler's response to a new sibling. Which
observation should the nurse associate with regression?
A) The child wants to help feed the baby.
B) The child wants to wear a diaper just like their new sibling.
C) The child is excited to have a new brother or sister.
D) The child is sleeping through the night.
Correct Answer: B) The child wants to wear a diaper just like their new sibling.
Rationale: Regression is a coping mechanism where a child reverts to an earlier stage of
development when faced with stress . A toddler who was previously potty-trained may regress to
wanting a diaper after the birth of a new sibling.
7. The nurse is preparing to weigh a 6-month-old infant who presented for a well-being visit. The
last weight was 8 lb. The nurse expects the infant to currently weigh approximately which
amount?
A) 12 lb
B) 16 lb
C) 20 lb
D) 24 lb
, Correct Answer: B) 16 lb
Rationale: The expected weight for a 6-month-old is roughly double the birth weight. If the birth
weight was 8 lbs, the expected weight is approximately 16 lbs .
8. The nurse is talking with the parent of a newborn who is expressing concern about the amount
of time the infant sleeps. The nurse understands that a newborn may sleep up to how many hours
per day?
A) 12 hours
B) 16 hours
C) 20 hours
D) 24 hours
Correct Answer: C) 20 hours
Rationale: Newborns sleep approximately 16-20 hours per day . This is a normal pattern.
9. The nurse is talking with the parent of a 2-month-old about the infant's increased drooling and
fussiness. The parent asks if teething could be occurring. The nurse explains that the first teeth
usually appear around which age?
A) 4 months
B) 7 months
C) 10 months
D) 12 months
Correct Answer: B) 7 months
Rationale: The first primary (deciduous) teeth typically erupt around 6-8 months of age, with
most infants having their first tooth around 7 months .
