2026 ATI Nursing Care of Children
Practice Assessment A Pediatric Nursing
Practice Examination Questions, Bold
Answers, and Italicized Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child
visit. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect?
A. Walks independently
B. Uses two-word phrases
C. Rolls from abdomen to back
D. Builds a tower of four blocks
Answer: C. Rolls from abdomen to back
Rationale: Most infants roll from the abdomen to the back
around 4 months of age. Walking, combining words, and block
stacking occur much later.
,2. A nurse is preparing to administer the MMR vaccine to a
toddler. Which statement by the parent requires further
teaching?
A. Mild fever may occur after vaccination.
B. The injection protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
C. The vaccine should be avoided because my child has a mild
cold.
D. A mild rash can occur after immunization.
Answer: C. The vaccine should be avoided because my child
has a mild cold.
Rationale: A mild illness without fever is not a contraindication
to routine immunizations.
3. A nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with acute otitis
media. Which assessment finding is expected?
A. Productive cough
B. Ear pain with fever
C. Bilateral ankle edema
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B. Ear pain with fever
Rationale: Acute otitis media commonly presents with ear pain,
fever, irritability, and decreased hearing.
,4. A nurse is teaching parents how to reduce the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Which instruction is
appropriate?
A. Place the infant on the stomach to sleep.
B. Use soft pillows around the infant.
C. Place the infant on the back for every sleep.
D. Cover the infant with heavy blankets.
Answer: C. Place the infant on the back for every sleep.
Rationale: Supine sleeping is the safest position and significantly
decreases the risk of SIDS.
5. A nurse is caring for a child experiencing dehydration from
gastroenteritis. Which assessment finding indicates moderate
dehydration?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Increased urine output
C. Dry mucous membranes and delayed capillary refill
D. Weight gain
Answer: C. Dry mucous membranes and delayed capillary refill
, Rationale: Moderate dehydration commonly presents with dry
mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, and delayed
capillary refill.
6. A nurse is assessing a child with asthma. Which finding
indicates respiratory distress?
A. Slow regular respirations
B. Intercostal retractions and wheezing
C. Pink warm skin
D. Decreased respiratory effort after activity
Answer: B. Intercostal retractions and wheezing
Rationale: Retractions and wheezing indicate increased work of
breathing and airway narrowing.
7. A nurse is caring for a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Which finding is consistent with hypoglycemia?
A. Increased thirst
B. Fruity breath odor
C. Tremors and diaphoresis
D. Deep rapid respirations
Answer: C. Tremors and diaphoresis
Practice Assessment A Pediatric Nursing
Practice Examination Questions, Bold
Answers, and Italicized Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant during a well-child
visit. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect?
A. Walks independently
B. Uses two-word phrases
C. Rolls from abdomen to back
D. Builds a tower of four blocks
Answer: C. Rolls from abdomen to back
Rationale: Most infants roll from the abdomen to the back
around 4 months of age. Walking, combining words, and block
stacking occur much later.
,2. A nurse is preparing to administer the MMR vaccine to a
toddler. Which statement by the parent requires further
teaching?
A. Mild fever may occur after vaccination.
B. The injection protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
C. The vaccine should be avoided because my child has a mild
cold.
D. A mild rash can occur after immunization.
Answer: C. The vaccine should be avoided because my child
has a mild cold.
Rationale: A mild illness without fever is not a contraindication
to routine immunizations.
3. A nurse is caring for a child diagnosed with acute otitis
media. Which assessment finding is expected?
A. Productive cough
B. Ear pain with fever
C. Bilateral ankle edema
D. Bradycardia
Answer: B. Ear pain with fever
Rationale: Acute otitis media commonly presents with ear pain,
fever, irritability, and decreased hearing.
,4. A nurse is teaching parents how to reduce the risk of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Which instruction is
appropriate?
A. Place the infant on the stomach to sleep.
B. Use soft pillows around the infant.
C. Place the infant on the back for every sleep.
D. Cover the infant with heavy blankets.
Answer: C. Place the infant on the back for every sleep.
Rationale: Supine sleeping is the safest position and significantly
decreases the risk of SIDS.
5. A nurse is caring for a child experiencing dehydration from
gastroenteritis. Which assessment finding indicates moderate
dehydration?
A. Bounding pulse
B. Increased urine output
C. Dry mucous membranes and delayed capillary refill
D. Weight gain
Answer: C. Dry mucous membranes and delayed capillary refill
, Rationale: Moderate dehydration commonly presents with dry
mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, and delayed
capillary refill.
6. A nurse is assessing a child with asthma. Which finding
indicates respiratory distress?
A. Slow regular respirations
B. Intercostal retractions and wheezing
C. Pink warm skin
D. Decreased respiratory effort after activity
Answer: B. Intercostal retractions and wheezing
Rationale: Retractions and wheezing indicate increased work of
breathing and airway narrowing.
7. A nurse is caring for a child with type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Which finding is consistent with hypoglycemia?
A. Increased thirst
B. Fruity breath odor
C. Tremors and diaphoresis
D. Deep rapid respirations
Answer: C. Tremors and diaphoresis
