ATI Nursing Care of Children Proctored
Exam (25 Latest Versions, 2022) / Nursing
Care of Children ATI Proctored Exam |Real
+ Practice Exam, Q and A
SECTION I: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. The infant does not turn toward sound or voice
B. The infant has a positive Moro reflex
C. The infant's anterior fontanel is soft and flat
D. The infant sleeps 14 hours per day
Rationale: A 6-month-old should localize sound and turn toward voices. Failure to respond
to sound warrants hearing evaluation. The Moro reflex disappears by 3–4 months, so its
presence at 6 months would also be abnormal — but the most clearly reportable finding listed
is absent response to sound. (Note: if both A and B appeared, both would be reportable; B is a
distractor here because it is stated as "positive," which at 6 months is indeed abnormal — but
the stem asks for the finding to report, and A is the priority sensory milestone.)
Correction for accuracy: Both A and B are abnormal at 6 months. For a single-best-answer item,
A is the correct choice because hearing loss has the broadest developmental impact.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parent of a 2-year-old. Which statement
by the parent indicates understanding?
A. "I should expect my child to share toys willingly."
B. "I should expect my child to say 'no' frequently and have tantrums."
C. "My child should be able to dress independently."
D. "My child should understand the concept of danger."
Rationale: Toddlers (autonomy vs. shame/doubt) assert independence by saying "no" and
having tantrums. Sharing, independent dressing, and understanding danger are not expected
until preschool/school age.
,3. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which of the following behaviors indicates the child
is meeting expected developmental milestones? (SATA)
A. Draws a circle
B. Uses 4- to 5-word sentences
C. Hops on one foot
D. Ties shoelaces
E. Understands conservation of volume
Rationale: A 4-year-old can draw a circle, speak in 4–5 word sentences, and hop on one
foot. Tying shoelaces is a 5–6 year skill; conservation of volume is a concrete-operational (7–11
year) skill.
4. The nurse is teaching a parent about Piaget's stages. A child who is able to understand that
a ball of clay retains the same mass when flattened is in which stage?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Rationale: Conservation is achieved in the concrete operational stage (7–11 years).
5. A nurse is evaluating a 9-month-old infant. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Walks independently
B. Sits without support
C. Says 10 words
D. Uses a spoon independently
Rationale: Sitting without support is achieved by 8–9 months. Walking independently
occurs at 12–15 months; 10 words at ~12–18 months; independent spoon use at 18–24 months.
6. A nurse is assessing a 15-month-old. Which of the following is an expected finding?
, A. Throws a ball overhand
B. Rides a tricycle
C. Counts to 10
D. Uses scissors
Rationale: Throwing a ball overhand is a 15-month milestone. Tricycle at 3 years; counting
to 10 at 4–5 years; scissors at 4 years.
7. The nurse is teaching a parent about Erikson's psychosocial stages. Which stage applies to a
3-year-old?
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Initiative vs. guilt
C. Industry vs. inferiority
D. Identity vs. role confusion
Rationale: Initiative vs. guilt occurs in preschool (3–6 years). Trust vs. mistrust is infancy;
industry vs. inferiority is school age; identity vs. role confusion is adolescence.
8. A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old. Which of the following indicates a need for further
evaluation?
A. The child has imaginary friends
B. The child engages in magical thinking
C. The child cannot hop on one foot
D. The child speaks in complete sentences
Rationale: Hopping on one foot is a 4-year milestone. Inability at age 5 suggests motor
delay. Imaginary friends and magical thinking are normal preschool behaviors.
9. A nurse is caring for an adolescent. Which of the following is the priority developmental
task?
A. Establishing trust
B. Developing autonomy
C. Forming a sense of identity
D. Achieving intimacy
, Rationale: Identity vs. role confusion is the adolescent task. Intimacy is young adulthood.
10. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old. Which of the following should the nurse expect?
A. Pincer grasp
B. Says "mama" and "dada" specifically
C. Pulls to stand
D. Walks up stairs with alternating feet
E. Has a 500-word vocabulary
Rationale: Pincer grasp, specific words, and pulling to stand are 12-month milestones.
Alternating stairs at 3 years; 500 words at 2 years.
11. A nurse is reviewing growth charts. Which of the following indicates an appropriate
weight for a 6-month-old who weighed 3.5 kg at birth?
A. 5 kg
B. 7 kg
C. 10.5 kg
D. 14 kg
Rationale: Birth weight doubles by 5–6 months and triples by 12 months. 3.5 kg × 2 = 7 kg.
12. A nurse is teaching about fine motor development. At what age should a child be able to
build a tower of 6 blocks?
A. 12 months
B. 18 months
C. 24 months
D. 36 months
Rationale: A 2-year-old (24 months) builds a tower of 6 blocks. A 12-month-old builds 2
blocks; 18 months, 3–4 blocks; 3 years, 9–10 blocks.
13. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old's language development. Which finding is expected?
Exam (25 Latest Versions, 2022) / Nursing
Care of Children ATI Proctored Exam |Real
+ Practice Exam, Q and A
SECTION I: GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1. A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider?
A. The infant does not turn toward sound or voice
B. The infant has a positive Moro reflex
C. The infant's anterior fontanel is soft and flat
D. The infant sleeps 14 hours per day
Rationale: A 6-month-old should localize sound and turn toward voices. Failure to respond
to sound warrants hearing evaluation. The Moro reflex disappears by 3–4 months, so its
presence at 6 months would also be abnormal — but the most clearly reportable finding listed
is absent response to sound. (Note: if both A and B appeared, both would be reportable; B is a
distractor here because it is stated as "positive," which at 6 months is indeed abnormal — but
the stem asks for the finding to report, and A is the priority sensory milestone.)
Correction for accuracy: Both A and B are abnormal at 6 months. For a single-best-answer item,
A is the correct choice because hearing loss has the broadest developmental impact.
2. A nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to the parent of a 2-year-old. Which statement
by the parent indicates understanding?
A. "I should expect my child to share toys willingly."
B. "I should expect my child to say 'no' frequently and have tantrums."
C. "My child should be able to dress independently."
D. "My child should understand the concept of danger."
Rationale: Toddlers (autonomy vs. shame/doubt) assert independence by saying "no" and
having tantrums. Sharing, independent dressing, and understanding danger are not expected
until preschool/school age.
,3. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child. Which of the following behaviors indicates the child
is meeting expected developmental milestones? (SATA)
A. Draws a circle
B. Uses 4- to 5-word sentences
C. Hops on one foot
D. Ties shoelaces
E. Understands conservation of volume
Rationale: A 4-year-old can draw a circle, speak in 4–5 word sentences, and hop on one
foot. Tying shoelaces is a 5–6 year skill; conservation of volume is a concrete-operational (7–11
year) skill.
4. The nurse is teaching a parent about Piaget's stages. A child who is able to understand that
a ball of clay retains the same mass when flattened is in which stage?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational
D. Formal operational
Rationale: Conservation is achieved in the concrete operational stage (7–11 years).
5. A nurse is evaluating a 9-month-old infant. Which finding should the nurse expect?
A. Walks independently
B. Sits without support
C. Says 10 words
D. Uses a spoon independently
Rationale: Sitting without support is achieved by 8–9 months. Walking independently
occurs at 12–15 months; 10 words at ~12–18 months; independent spoon use at 18–24 months.
6. A nurse is assessing a 15-month-old. Which of the following is an expected finding?
, A. Throws a ball overhand
B. Rides a tricycle
C. Counts to 10
D. Uses scissors
Rationale: Throwing a ball overhand is a 15-month milestone. Tricycle at 3 years; counting
to 10 at 4–5 years; scissors at 4 years.
7. The nurse is teaching a parent about Erikson's psychosocial stages. Which stage applies to a
3-year-old?
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Initiative vs. guilt
C. Industry vs. inferiority
D. Identity vs. role confusion
Rationale: Initiative vs. guilt occurs in preschool (3–6 years). Trust vs. mistrust is infancy;
industry vs. inferiority is school age; identity vs. role confusion is adolescence.
8. A nurse is assessing a 5-year-old. Which of the following indicates a need for further
evaluation?
A. The child has imaginary friends
B. The child engages in magical thinking
C. The child cannot hop on one foot
D. The child speaks in complete sentences
Rationale: Hopping on one foot is a 4-year milestone. Inability at age 5 suggests motor
delay. Imaginary friends and magical thinking are normal preschool behaviors.
9. A nurse is caring for an adolescent. Which of the following is the priority developmental
task?
A. Establishing trust
B. Developing autonomy
C. Forming a sense of identity
D. Achieving intimacy
, Rationale: Identity vs. role confusion is the adolescent task. Intimacy is young adulthood.
10. A nurse is assessing a 12-month-old. Which of the following should the nurse expect?
A. Pincer grasp
B. Says "mama" and "dada" specifically
C. Pulls to stand
D. Walks up stairs with alternating feet
E. Has a 500-word vocabulary
Rationale: Pincer grasp, specific words, and pulling to stand are 12-month milestones.
Alternating stairs at 3 years; 500 words at 2 years.
11. A nurse is reviewing growth charts. Which of the following indicates an appropriate
weight for a 6-month-old who weighed 3.5 kg at birth?
A. 5 kg
B. 7 kg
C. 10.5 kg
D. 14 kg
Rationale: Birth weight doubles by 5–6 months and triples by 12 months. 3.5 kg × 2 = 7 kg.
12. A nurse is teaching about fine motor development. At what age should a child be able to
build a tower of 6 blocks?
A. 12 months
B. 18 months
C. 24 months
D. 36 months
Rationale: A 2-year-old (24 months) builds a tower of 6 blocks. A 12-month-old builds 2
blocks; 18 months, 3–4 blocks; 3 years, 9–10 blocks.
13. A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old's language development. Which finding is expected?
