ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Proctored Exam 2026
Comprising 70 Questions and Answers
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect to observe?
• A. Walking independently
• B. Rolling from abdomen to back
• C. Using two-word phrases
• D. Riding a tricycle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically roll from abdomen to back. Walking independently
occurs at 12-15 months, two-word phrases emerge at approximately 2 years, and tricycle riding
is a preschool skill .
2. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant who is not yet walking. Which action should the
nurse take?
• A. Refer the infant for developmental evaluation
• B. Reassure the parent that this is normal
• C. Recommend physical therapy
• D. Assess for hip dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Walking independently typically occurs between 12-15 months. Not walking at 9
months is a normal developmental finding; no referral or therapy is indicated at this time .
3. The anterior fontanel typically closes at which age?
• A. 2-3 months
• B. 6-8 weeks
, • C. 12-18 months
• D. 18-24 months
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The anterior fontanel normally closes between 12 and 18 months of age. The
posterior fontanel closes by 6-8 weeks. Early or late closure may indicate developmental
concerns .
4. A nurse is assessing a school-age child. According to Erikson, which psychosocial stage
should this child be in?
• A. Trust vs. Mistrust
• B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
• C. Initiative vs. Guilt
• D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: School-age children (6-12 years) are in Erikson's Industry vs. Inferiority stage, where
they develop a sense of pride in accomplishments. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy, Autonomy vs.
Shame is toddlerhood, and Initiative vs. Guilt is preschool age .
5. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a preschooler. Which play activity
should the nurse recommend to promote social development?
• A. Playing pat-a-cake
• B. Using a push-pull toy
• C. Creating a scrapbook
• D. Playing dress-up
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Preschoolers engage in imaginative and cooperative play. Dress-up encourages social
interaction, creativity, and role-playing skills, promoting social and cognitive development .
,6. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child's gross motor development. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
• A. Hops on one foot
• B. Skips with alternating feet
• C. Walks up and down stairs without support
• D. Stands on one foot for 10 seconds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: By age 4, children typically hop on one foot and ride a tricycle. Skipping with
alternating feet occurs at age 5-6, walking stairs without support occurs by age 3, and standing
on one foot for 10 seconds occurs at age 5 .
7. At what age should the nurse expect an infant to begin using a pincer grasp?
• A. 6 months
• B. 9 months
• C. 12 months
• D. 15 months
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The pincer grasp typically develops around 9 months of age. This fine motor skill
allows the infant to pick up small objects between the thumb and forefinger .
8. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child's language development. Which is an expected
finding?
• A. Vocabulary of approximately 50 words
• B. Uses 3-5 word sentences
• C. Speaks in 2-word phrases only
• D. Has difficulty being understood by strangers
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: By age 3, children typically use 3-5 word sentences and have a vocabulary of
approximately 900-1000 words. Strangers should understand approximately 75% of a 3-year-
old's speech .
9. A nurse is caring for a hospitalized toddler. Which toy is most appropriate?
• A. 1,000-piece puzzle
• B. Push-pull toy
• C. Complex strategy game
• D. Chemistry set
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Push-pull toys are developmentally appropriate for toddlers, supporting gross motor
development and parallel play. Puzzles with large pieces and simple games are also suitable, but
1,000-piece puzzles, complex strategy games, and chemistry sets are appropriate for older
children .
10. Which sleep intervention is appropriate for an infant?
• A. Place the infant prone on a soft pillow
• B. Place the infant supine on a firm, flat sleep surface
• C. Use loose blankets around the infant
• D. Place stuffed animals in the crib for comfort
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Infants should be placed supine on a firm, flat sleep surface to reduce the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Soft pillows, loose blankets, and stuffed animals pose
suffocation risks .
11. Which finding in a 2-month-old infant requires further evaluation?
• A. Social smiling
• B. Brief head lifting when prone
Comprising 70 Questions and Answers
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the
nurse expect to observe?
• A. Walking independently
• B. Rolling from abdomen to back
• C. Using two-word phrases
• D. Riding a tricycle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 6 months, infants typically roll from abdomen to back. Walking independently
occurs at 12-15 months, two-word phrases emerge at approximately 2 years, and tricycle riding
is a preschool skill .
2. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant who is not yet walking. Which action should the
nurse take?
• A. Refer the infant for developmental evaluation
• B. Reassure the parent that this is normal
• C. Recommend physical therapy
• D. Assess for hip dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Walking independently typically occurs between 12-15 months. Not walking at 9
months is a normal developmental finding; no referral or therapy is indicated at this time .
3. The anterior fontanel typically closes at which age?
• A. 2-3 months
• B. 6-8 weeks
, • C. 12-18 months
• D. 18-24 months
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The anterior fontanel normally closes between 12 and 18 months of age. The
posterior fontanel closes by 6-8 weeks. Early or late closure may indicate developmental
concerns .
4. A nurse is assessing a school-age child. According to Erikson, which psychosocial stage
should this child be in?
• A. Trust vs. Mistrust
• B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
• C. Initiative vs. Guilt
• D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: School-age children (6-12 years) are in Erikson's Industry vs. Inferiority stage, where
they develop a sense of pride in accomplishments. Trust vs. Mistrust is infancy, Autonomy vs.
Shame is toddlerhood, and Initiative vs. Guilt is preschool age .
5. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to parents of a preschooler. Which play activity
should the nurse recommend to promote social development?
• A. Playing pat-a-cake
• B. Using a push-pull toy
• C. Creating a scrapbook
• D. Playing dress-up
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Preschoolers engage in imaginative and cooperative play. Dress-up encourages social
interaction, creativity, and role-playing skills, promoting social and cognitive development .
,6. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child's gross motor development. Which finding should the
nurse expect?
• A. Hops on one foot
• B. Skips with alternating feet
• C. Walks up and down stairs without support
• D. Stands on one foot for 10 seconds
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: By age 4, children typically hop on one foot and ride a tricycle. Skipping with
alternating feet occurs at age 5-6, walking stairs without support occurs by age 3, and standing
on one foot for 10 seconds occurs at age 5 .
7. At what age should the nurse expect an infant to begin using a pincer grasp?
• A. 6 months
• B. 9 months
• C. 12 months
• D. 15 months
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The pincer grasp typically develops around 9 months of age. This fine motor skill
allows the infant to pick up small objects between the thumb and forefinger .
8. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child's language development. Which is an expected
finding?
• A. Vocabulary of approximately 50 words
• B. Uses 3-5 word sentences
• C. Speaks in 2-word phrases only
• D. Has difficulty being understood by strangers
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: By age 3, children typically use 3-5 word sentences and have a vocabulary of
approximately 900-1000 words. Strangers should understand approximately 75% of a 3-year-
old's speech .
9. A nurse is caring for a hospitalized toddler. Which toy is most appropriate?
• A. 1,000-piece puzzle
• B. Push-pull toy
• C. Complex strategy game
• D. Chemistry set
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Push-pull toys are developmentally appropriate for toddlers, supporting gross motor
development and parallel play. Puzzles with large pieces and simple games are also suitable, but
1,000-piece puzzles, complex strategy games, and chemistry sets are appropriate for older
children .
10. Which sleep intervention is appropriate for an infant?
• A. Place the infant prone on a soft pillow
• B. Place the infant supine on a firm, flat sleep surface
• C. Use loose blankets around the infant
• D. Place stuffed animals in the crib for comfort
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Infants should be placed supine on a firm, flat sleep surface to reduce the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Soft pillows, loose blankets, and stuffed animals pose
suffocation risks .
11. Which finding in a 2-month-old infant requires further evaluation?
• A. Social smiling
• B. Brief head lifting when prone
