ATI RN Pediatric (Peds) Proctored Examination:
Comprehensive 120-Question Test Bank with Detailed
Rationales for Advanced Nursing Practice and Next
Generation NCLEX Preparation
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–10)
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 is unable to roll over
B. The infant's birth weight has doubled
C. The anterior fontanel remains open
D. The Moro reflex is still present
Exact answer:D
Rationale: The Moro reflex should disappear by 3–4 months of age.
Persistence beyond 4 months may indicate a neurologic impairment. At
4 months, infants typically roll from back to side, and failure to roll over
is not a concern at this age. Birth weight doubling by 4–6 months is
expected, and the anterior fontanel typically closes between 12–18
months.
2. A 2-year-old child is hospitalized. The parent must leave for work.
The child screams "Don't go!" and then becomes quiet, withdrawn,
and sad. This behavior indicates which phase of separation anxiety?
,A. Protest phase
B. Despair phase
C. Detachment phase
D. Regression phase
Exact answer:B
Rationale: The despair phase of separation anxiety is characterized by
the child becoming withdrawn, quiet, and sad, no longer crying actively.
This follows the protest phase, where the child cries and screams. The
detachment phase involves the child appearing to have adjusted but
showing superficial relationships.
3. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 10-
month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect the infant to have achieved?
A. Walking independently
B. Standing while holding onto furniture
C. Saying two to three words clearly
D. Drinking from a cup independently
Exact answer:B
Rationale: At 10 months, infants typically begin to stand while holding
onto furniture (cruising). Walking independently usually occurs around
12–15 months. Saying clear words typically begins around 12 months,
and drinking from a cup independently is a toddler milestone.
,4. A nurse is assessing a preschool-age child. According to Erikson's
theory of psychosocial development, which task should the nurse
expect this child to be working on?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Exact answer:C
Rationale: Preschool-age children (3–6 years) are in Erikson's Initiative
vs. Guilt stage. They begin to assert power and control over their
environment through directing play and social interactions. Industry vs.
Inferiority applies to school-age children.
5. A nurse is teaching a group of parents of toddlers about growth and
development. A parent asks, "Why does my child's abdomen stick
out?" Which response should the nurse provide?
A. "This is a sign of a gastrointestinal disorder"
B. "Toddlers have weak abdominal muscles and a larger liver size
relative to body size"
C. "This indicates the child is overweight"
D. "This is caused by poor posture"
Exact answer:B
Rationale: Toddlers typically have a protruding abdomen due to weak
abdominal muscles and a relatively larger liver size compared to body
, size. This is a normal developmental finding and not indicative of
pathology.
6. A nurse is assessing an 8-year-old child. According to Piaget's theory
of cognitive development, which stage should the nurse expect this
child to be in?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Exact answer:C
Rationale: School-age children (7–11 years) are in Piaget's Concrete
Operational stage. They develop logical thinking about concrete events,
understand conservation, and can organize objects hierarchically.
Sensorimotor applies to infants, preoperational to
toddlers/preschoolers, and formal operational to adolescents.
7. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 15-
month-old toddler. Which fine motor skill should the nurse expect the
child to have achieved?
A. Building a tower of four blocks
B. Drawing a circle
C. Using a spoon without spilling
D. Scribbling spontaneously
Exact answer:D
Comprehensive 120-Question Test Bank with Detailed
Rationales for Advanced Nursing Practice and Next
Generation NCLEX Preparation
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–10)
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 is unable to roll over
B. The infant's birth weight has doubled
C. The anterior fontanel remains open
D. The Moro reflex is still present
Exact answer:D
Rationale: The Moro reflex should disappear by 3–4 months of age.
Persistence beyond 4 months may indicate a neurologic impairment. At
4 months, infants typically roll from back to side, and failure to roll over
is not a concern at this age. Birth weight doubling by 4–6 months is
expected, and the anterior fontanel typically closes between 12–18
months.
2. A 2-year-old child is hospitalized. The parent must leave for work.
The child screams "Don't go!" and then becomes quiet, withdrawn,
and sad. This behavior indicates which phase of separation anxiety?
,A. Protest phase
B. Despair phase
C. Detachment phase
D. Regression phase
Exact answer:B
Rationale: The despair phase of separation anxiety is characterized by
the child becoming withdrawn, quiet, and sad, no longer crying actively.
This follows the protest phase, where the child cries and screams. The
detachment phase involves the child appearing to have adjusted but
showing superficial relationships.
3. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 10-
month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect the infant to have achieved?
A. Walking independently
B. Standing while holding onto furniture
C. Saying two to three words clearly
D. Drinking from a cup independently
Exact answer:B
Rationale: At 10 months, infants typically begin to stand while holding
onto furniture (cruising). Walking independently usually occurs around
12–15 months. Saying clear words typically begins around 12 months,
and drinking from a cup independently is a toddler milestone.
,4. A nurse is assessing a preschool-age child. According to Erikson's
theory of psychosocial development, which task should the nurse
expect this child to be working on?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Exact answer:C
Rationale: Preschool-age children (3–6 years) are in Erikson's Initiative
vs. Guilt stage. They begin to assert power and control over their
environment through directing play and social interactions. Industry vs.
Inferiority applies to school-age children.
5. A nurse is teaching a group of parents of toddlers about growth and
development. A parent asks, "Why does my child's abdomen stick
out?" Which response should the nurse provide?
A. "This is a sign of a gastrointestinal disorder"
B. "Toddlers have weak abdominal muscles and a larger liver size
relative to body size"
C. "This indicates the child is overweight"
D. "This is caused by poor posture"
Exact answer:B
Rationale: Toddlers typically have a protruding abdomen due to weak
abdominal muscles and a relatively larger liver size compared to body
, size. This is a normal developmental finding and not indicative of
pathology.
6. A nurse is assessing an 8-year-old child. According to Piaget's theory
of cognitive development, which stage should the nurse expect this
child to be in?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Exact answer:C
Rationale: School-age children (7–11 years) are in Piaget's Concrete
Operational stage. They develop logical thinking about concrete events,
understand conservation, and can organize objects hierarchically.
Sensorimotor applies to infants, preoperational to
toddlers/preschoolers, and formal operational to adolescents.
7. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a 15-
month-old toddler. Which fine motor skill should the nurse expect the
child to have achieved?
A. Building a tower of four blocks
B. Drawing a circle
C. Using a spoon without spilling
D. Scribbling spontaneously
Exact answer:D
