ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
ATI CAPSTONE
NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN
ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
Questions and Answers | Expert Certified 100% | NEW!
120 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
Aligned with ATI Capstone Curriculum & Current Pediatric Nursing Best Practices
DOMAIN DISTRIBUTION
Section 1: Growth and Development: 20% (24 Questions)
Section 2: Pediatric Health Promotion: 10% (12 Questions)
Section 3: Acute and Chronic Conditions: 35% (42 Questions)
Section 4: Pediatric Emergencies: 15% (18 Questions)
Section 5: Pharmacology: 12% (14 Questions)
Section 6: Family-Centered Care: 8% (10 Questions)
Time Allowed: 3 Hours | Passing Score: 75% | Total Questions: 120
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
,ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–24)
Developmental Milestones | Piaget | Erikson | Growth Parameters | Hospitalization Effects
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child during a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as indicating a need for further developmental evaluation?
A. The child can hop on one foot
B. The child speaks in 3-4 word sentences
C. The child engages in parallel play with peers
D. The child believes that wearing a costume changes their identity
Correct Answer: C [CORRECT] Parallel play at age 4 is below expected social development.
Rationale: By age 4, children should engage in associative or cooperative play — actively interacting with
peers. Option C is concerning because parallel play (playing alongside but not with others) is typical of 2-3
year olds. Option A (hopping on one foot) is an expected gross motor skill at 4. Option B is incorrect — a 4-
year-old should be using 4-6 word sentences; 3-4 word sentences would actually signal concern, but Option
C is the best answer here because social play regression is a clearer marker. Option D (magical thinking and
animism) is normal preschool cognition per Piaget's preoperational stage.
Q2. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, a 2-year-old hospitalized child
repeatedly tells the nurse 'No!' and insists on feeding herself. Which nursing response is MOST
appropriate?
A. Firmly take over feeding to prevent a lengthy mealtime
B. Allow the child to self-feed while offering finger foods and praise
C. Distract the child with television during meals
D. Inform the parents their child is being uncooperative
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Support autonomy; allow self-feeding with age-appropriate foods.
Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson's stage of Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (ages 1-3). Saying 'No!' and
insisting on independence are hallmark behaviors. Option B is correct — supporting autonomy while
maintaining safety is therapeutic; offering finger foods and positive reinforcement meets developmental
needs. Option A (taking over) fosters shame and doubt, directly opposing the developmental task. Option C
(TV distraction) does not support the developmental need for autonomy. Option D labels normal
developmental behavior as problematic.
Q3. A nurse is teaching parents about expected growth for a 12-month-old infant. Which
statement should the nurse include?
A. The infant's birth weight should have doubled by 12 months
B. The infant's birth weight should have tripled by 12 months
C. The infant should gain approximately 500 g per month throughout the first year
D. The infant's head circumference should equal chest circumference at 12 months
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Birth weight triples by 12 months; head and chest circumferences
equalize around 1 year.
Rationale: Option B is correct — birth weight doubles by approximately 4-6 months and triples by 12 months.
For example, a 3.4 kg newborn should weigh approximately 10.2 kg at one year. Option A (doubled) is only
true at 4-6 months. Option C is incorrect — infants gain approximately 150-200 g/week in the first 3 months,
then the rate slows. Option D is partially correct (head and chest circumferences are approximately equal
around 12 months), but the primary teaching point expected is the weight tripling milestone.
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
,ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
Q4. A nurse is caring for a hospitalized 3-year-old. The child's mother reports that her child has
started wetting the bed at night, which she had not done in 6 months. The nurse's BEST
response is:
A. Tell the mother this is a serious sign of a urinary tract infection and collect a urinalysis
B. Reassure the mother that regression is a common response to hospitalization stress in
toddlers
C. Suggest the mother limit the child's fluid intake after 4 PM
D. Inform the mother this indicates the child was not truly toilet-trained
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Regression to earlier behaviors is a normal stress response in toddlers
during hospitalization.
Rationale: Option B is correct — regression (returning to earlier developmental behaviors like bedwetting,
thumb-sucking, or baby talk) is a well-documented, normal coping mechanism in toddlers and preschoolers
when under stress such as illness or hospitalization. The nurse should normalize this for the parents and
assure them it is temporary. Option A would be appropriate only if accompanied by other UTI symptoms
(frequency, dysuria, fever). Option C (fluid restriction) is not indicated and could worsen dehydration. Option
D is dismissive and incorrect.
Q5. According to Piaget, a 7-year-old child is in which cognitive stage, and what characteristic
thinking does the nurse expect to observe?
A. Formal operational — capable of abstract and hypothetical reasoning
B. Sensorimotor — learning through reflexes and sensory exploration
C. Preoperational — characterized by egocentrism and magical thinking
D. Concrete operational — understands conservation and can apply logical reasoning to
concrete problems
Correct Answer: D [CORRECT] Concrete operational (ages 7-11): conservation, logical thinking about
tangible concepts.
Rationale: Piaget's concrete operational stage spans approximately ages 7-11. Option D is correct —
hallmarks include conservation (understanding that matter doesn't change when its shape changes),
seriation, classification, and logical reasoning about real, tangible situations. Option A (formal operational)
begins around age 11-12. Option B (sensorimotor) is birth to 2 years. Option C (preoperational) spans ages
2-7. Understanding this stage helps the nurse use concrete explanations and demonstrations when teaching
school-age children.
Q6. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which of the following developmental milestones
would require FURTHER evaluation?
A. The infant babbles with consonant-vowel combinations such as 'mama' and 'dada'
B. The infant pulls to standing when holding onto furniture
C. The infant has no pincer grasp and cannot pick up a small object
D. The infant shows stranger anxiety when the nurse approaches
Correct Answer: C [CORRECT] Absent pincer grasp at 9 months warrants further evaluation — it typically
develops by 9-10 months.
Rationale: Option C is correct — the pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger to pick up small objects)
typically develops between 9-12 months. Its absence at 9 months requires monitoring and possible early
intervention referral. Option A (babbling with consonants) is appropriate — infants say consonant-vowel
sounds around 6-9 months and specific 'mama/dada' by 8-10 months. Option B (pulling to stand) is expected
at 9-12 months. Option D (stranger anxiety) is a normal social-emotional milestone beginning around 6-9
months, indicating healthy attachment.
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
, ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
Q7. A school-age child (age 10) is admitted to the hospital. According to Erikson's Industry vs.
Inferiority stage, which nursing intervention BEST supports healthy development?
A. Restrict the child to bed rest to promote healing and limit activity
B. Allow the child to complete homework and participate in therapeutic play activities
C. Encourage the child to rely on parents for all activities of daily living
D. Avoid explaining medical procedures to prevent increasing the child's anxiety
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Support industry by maintaining school tasks and age-appropriate
activities.
Rationale: Children ages 6-12 are in Erikson's Industry vs. Inferiority stage, where the developmental task is
building competence and a sense of accomplishment. Option B is correct — helping the child continue
schoolwork, engage in projects, and maintain a sense of productivity supports healthy development during
hospitalization. Option A (bed rest restriction) removes opportunities for industry. Option C (relying on
parents) promotes dependence that conflicts with this developmental stage. Option D contradicts evidence-
based pediatric nursing: age-appropriate, honest explanations reduce anxiety.
Q8. A nurse is performing a developmental assessment on a 15-month-old toddler. Which
finding is EXPECTED at this age?
A. The child uses 50 or more words
B. The child walks independently and may run clumsily
C. The child can ride a tricycle
D. The child draws recognizable shapes
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Walking independently and clumsy running are expected gross motor
skills at 15 months.
Rationale: Option B is correct — by 12-15 months, most toddlers are walking independently, and by 15-18
months they may run (though unsteadily). Option A is incorrect — a 15-month-old typically uses 3-10 words;
50+ words is expected closer to 24 months. Option C (riding a tricycle) is a skill typically achieved around 3
years. Option D (drawing recognizable shapes) emerges at approximately 3-4 years; a 15-month-old
scribbles spontaneously.
Q9. A nurse is educating parents about normal adolescent development. Which statement by a
parent indicates CORRECT understanding?
A. 'My 14-year-old son refusing to share everything with me means he has something to hide'
B. 'My teenager's preoccupation with how she looks and what her friends think is a normal
part of identity development'
C. 'My 16-year-old insisting on making some of her own decisions is a sign of disrespect'
D. 'Adolescents should primarily use their parents as their peer social support'
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Preoccupation with appearance and peer opinion is normal in Erikson's
Identity vs. Role Confusion stage.
Rationale: Option B is correct — adolescence (Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion, ages 12-18) is
characterized by intense focus on peer relationships, appearance, and developing a personal identity
separate from family. This is developmentally expected and healthy. Option A misinterprets normal privacy-
seeking behavior as suspicious. Option C misinterprets the necessary developmental push for autonomy.
Option D is incorrect — peer relationships progressively replace parents as the primary social reference
group during adolescence; this is normal and necessary.
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
ATI CAPSTONE
NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN
ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
Questions and Answers | Expert Certified 100% | NEW!
120 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
Aligned with ATI Capstone Curriculum & Current Pediatric Nursing Best Practices
DOMAIN DISTRIBUTION
Section 1: Growth and Development: 20% (24 Questions)
Section 2: Pediatric Health Promotion: 10% (12 Questions)
Section 3: Acute and Chronic Conditions: 35% (42 Questions)
Section 4: Pediatric Emergencies: 15% (18 Questions)
Section 5: Pharmacology: 12% (14 Questions)
Section 6: Family-Centered Care: 8% (10 Questions)
Time Allowed: 3 Hours | Passing Score: 75% | Total Questions: 120
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
,ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
SECTION 1: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (Questions 1–24)
Developmental Milestones | Piaget | Erikson | Growth Parameters | Hospitalization Effects
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child during a well-child visit. Which of the following
findings should the nurse identify as indicating a need for further developmental evaluation?
A. The child can hop on one foot
B. The child speaks in 3-4 word sentences
C. The child engages in parallel play with peers
D. The child believes that wearing a costume changes their identity
Correct Answer: C [CORRECT] Parallel play at age 4 is below expected social development.
Rationale: By age 4, children should engage in associative or cooperative play — actively interacting with
peers. Option C is concerning because parallel play (playing alongside but not with others) is typical of 2-3
year olds. Option A (hopping on one foot) is an expected gross motor skill at 4. Option B is incorrect — a 4-
year-old should be using 4-6 word sentences; 3-4 word sentences would actually signal concern, but Option
C is the best answer here because social play regression is a clearer marker. Option D (magical thinking and
animism) is normal preschool cognition per Piaget's preoperational stage.
Q2. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, a 2-year-old hospitalized child
repeatedly tells the nurse 'No!' and insists on feeding herself. Which nursing response is MOST
appropriate?
A. Firmly take over feeding to prevent a lengthy mealtime
B. Allow the child to self-feed while offering finger foods and praise
C. Distract the child with television during meals
D. Inform the parents their child is being uncooperative
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Support autonomy; allow self-feeding with age-appropriate foods.
Rationale: Toddlers are in Erikson's stage of Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (ages 1-3). Saying 'No!' and
insisting on independence are hallmark behaviors. Option B is correct — supporting autonomy while
maintaining safety is therapeutic; offering finger foods and positive reinforcement meets developmental
needs. Option A (taking over) fosters shame and doubt, directly opposing the developmental task. Option C
(TV distraction) does not support the developmental need for autonomy. Option D labels normal
developmental behavior as problematic.
Q3. A nurse is teaching parents about expected growth for a 12-month-old infant. Which
statement should the nurse include?
A. The infant's birth weight should have doubled by 12 months
B. The infant's birth weight should have tripled by 12 months
C. The infant should gain approximately 500 g per month throughout the first year
D. The infant's head circumference should equal chest circumference at 12 months
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Birth weight triples by 12 months; head and chest circumferences
equalize around 1 year.
Rationale: Option B is correct — birth weight doubles by approximately 4-6 months and triples by 12 months.
For example, a 3.4 kg newborn should weigh approximately 10.2 kg at one year. Option A (doubled) is only
true at 4-6 months. Option C is incorrect — infants gain approximately 150-200 g/week in the first 3 months,
then the rate slows. Option D is partially correct (head and chest circumferences are approximately equal
around 12 months), but the primary teaching point expected is the weight tripling milestone.
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
,ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
Q4. A nurse is caring for a hospitalized 3-year-old. The child's mother reports that her child has
started wetting the bed at night, which she had not done in 6 months. The nurse's BEST
response is:
A. Tell the mother this is a serious sign of a urinary tract infection and collect a urinalysis
B. Reassure the mother that regression is a common response to hospitalization stress in
toddlers
C. Suggest the mother limit the child's fluid intake after 4 PM
D. Inform the mother this indicates the child was not truly toilet-trained
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Regression to earlier behaviors is a normal stress response in toddlers
during hospitalization.
Rationale: Option B is correct — regression (returning to earlier developmental behaviors like bedwetting,
thumb-sucking, or baby talk) is a well-documented, normal coping mechanism in toddlers and preschoolers
when under stress such as illness or hospitalization. The nurse should normalize this for the parents and
assure them it is temporary. Option A would be appropriate only if accompanied by other UTI symptoms
(frequency, dysuria, fever). Option C (fluid restriction) is not indicated and could worsen dehydration. Option
D is dismissive and incorrect.
Q5. According to Piaget, a 7-year-old child is in which cognitive stage, and what characteristic
thinking does the nurse expect to observe?
A. Formal operational — capable of abstract and hypothetical reasoning
B. Sensorimotor — learning through reflexes and sensory exploration
C. Preoperational — characterized by egocentrism and magical thinking
D. Concrete operational — understands conservation and can apply logical reasoning to
concrete problems
Correct Answer: D [CORRECT] Concrete operational (ages 7-11): conservation, logical thinking about
tangible concepts.
Rationale: Piaget's concrete operational stage spans approximately ages 7-11. Option D is correct —
hallmarks include conservation (understanding that matter doesn't change when its shape changes),
seriation, classification, and logical reasoning about real, tangible situations. Option A (formal operational)
begins around age 11-12. Option B (sensorimotor) is birth to 2 years. Option C (preoperational) spans ages
2-7. Understanding this stage helps the nurse use concrete explanations and demonstrations when teaching
school-age children.
Q6. A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant. Which of the following developmental milestones
would require FURTHER evaluation?
A. The infant babbles with consonant-vowel combinations such as 'mama' and 'dada'
B. The infant pulls to standing when holding onto furniture
C. The infant has no pincer grasp and cannot pick up a small object
D. The infant shows stranger anxiety when the nurse approaches
Correct Answer: C [CORRECT] Absent pincer grasp at 9 months warrants further evaluation — it typically
develops by 9-10 months.
Rationale: Option C is correct — the pincer grasp (using thumb and index finger to pick up small objects)
typically develops between 9-12 months. Its absence at 9 months requires monitoring and possible early
intervention referral. Option A (babbling with consonants) is appropriate — infants say consonant-vowel
sounds around 6-9 months and specific 'mama/dada' by 8-10 months. Option B (pulling to stand) is expected
at 9-12 months. Option D (stranger anxiety) is a normal social-emotional milestone beginning around 6-9
months, indicating healthy attachment.
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
, ATI CAPSTONE — NURSING CARE OF CHILDREN ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027
Q7. A school-age child (age 10) is admitted to the hospital. According to Erikson's Industry vs.
Inferiority stage, which nursing intervention BEST supports healthy development?
A. Restrict the child to bed rest to promote healing and limit activity
B. Allow the child to complete homework and participate in therapeutic play activities
C. Encourage the child to rely on parents for all activities of daily living
D. Avoid explaining medical procedures to prevent increasing the child's anxiety
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Support industry by maintaining school tasks and age-appropriate
activities.
Rationale: Children ages 6-12 are in Erikson's Industry vs. Inferiority stage, where the developmental task is
building competence and a sense of accomplishment. Option B is correct — helping the child continue
schoolwork, engage in projects, and maintain a sense of productivity supports healthy development during
hospitalization. Option A (bed rest restriction) removes opportunities for industry. Option C (relying on
parents) promotes dependence that conflicts with this developmental stage. Option D contradicts evidence-
based pediatric nursing: age-appropriate, honest explanations reduce anxiety.
Q8. A nurse is performing a developmental assessment on a 15-month-old toddler. Which
finding is EXPECTED at this age?
A. The child uses 50 or more words
B. The child walks independently and may run clumsily
C. The child can ride a tricycle
D. The child draws recognizable shapes
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Walking independently and clumsy running are expected gross motor
skills at 15 months.
Rationale: Option B is correct — by 12-15 months, most toddlers are walking independently, and by 15-18
months they may run (though unsteadily). Option A is incorrect — a 15-month-old typically uses 3-10 words;
50+ words is expected closer to 24 months. Option C (riding a tricycle) is a skill typically achieved around 3
years. Option D (drawing recognizable shapes) emerges at approximately 3-4 years; a 15-month-old
scribbles spontaneously.
Q9. A nurse is educating parents about normal adolescent development. Which statement by a
parent indicates CORRECT understanding?
A. 'My 14-year-old son refusing to share everything with me means he has something to hide'
B. 'My teenager's preoccupation with how she looks and what her friends think is a normal
part of identity development'
C. 'My 16-year-old insisting on making some of her own decisions is a sign of disrespect'
D. 'Adolescents should primarily use their parents as their peer social support'
Correct Answer: B [CORRECT] Preoccupation with appearance and peer opinion is normal in Erikson's
Identity vs. Role Confusion stage.
Rationale: Option B is correct — adolescence (Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion, ages 12-18) is
characterized by intense focus on peer relationships, appearance, and developing a personal identity
separate from family. This is developmentally expected and healthy. Option A misinterprets normal privacy-
seeking behavior as suspicious. Option C misinterprets the necessary developmental push for autonomy.
Option D is incorrect — peer relationships progressively replace parents as the primary social reference
group during adolescence; this is normal and necessary.
Expert Certified 100% | ATI Capstone Pediatric Nursing | Page
