PEDS EXAM SCRIPT 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Which stage of development is most unstable and challenging
regarding development of personal identity?
A) Adolescence
B) Toddler hood
C) Childhood
D) Infancy
Answer: A) Adolescence
●● A maternity nurse is providing instruction to a new mother regarding
the psychosocial development of the newborn infant. Using Erikson's
psychosocial development theory, the nurse would instruct the mother
to:
A) Allow the newborn infant to signal a need
B) Anticipate all of the needs of the newborn infant
C) Avoid the newborn infant during the first 10 minutes of crying
D) Attend to the newborn infant immediately when crying
Answer: A) Allow the newborn infant to signal a need. Trust vs Mistrust
stage-This will allow the infant opportunity to gain trust.
,●● A mother of a 3-year-old tells a clinic nurse that the child is rebelling
constantly and having temper tantrums. The nurse most appropriately
tells the mother to:
A) Punish the child every time the child says "no", to change the
behavior
B) Allow the behavior because this is normal at this age period
C) Set limits on the child's behavior
D) Ignore the child when this behavior occurs
Answer: C) Set limits on the child's behavior-According to Erikson, the
child focuses on independence between ages 1 and 3 years. Gaining
independence often means that the child has to rebel against the parents'
wishes. Saying things like "no" or "mine" and having temper tantrums
are common during this period of development. Being consistent and
setting limits on the child's behavior are the necessary elements.
●● A nurse is evaluating the developmental level of a 2-year-old. Which
of the following does the nurse expect to observe in this child?
A) Uses a fork to eat
B) Uses a cup to drink
C) Uses a knife for cutting food
D) Pours own milk into a cup
Answer: B. By age 2 years, the child can use a cup and can use a spoon
correctly but with some spilling. By ages 3 to 4, the child begins to use a
fork. By the end of the preschool period, the child should be able to pour
milk into a cup and begin to use a knife for cutting.
,●● A clinic nurse assesses the communication patterns of a 5-month-old
infant. The nurse determines that the infant is demonstrating the highest
level of developmental achievement expected if the infant:
A) Uses simple words such as "mama"
B) Uses monosyllabic babbling
C) Links syllables together
D) Coos when comforted
Answer: B. Using monosyllabic babbling occurs between 3 and 6
months of age. Using simple words such as "mama" occurs between 9
and 12 months. Linking syllables together when communicating occurs
between 6 and 9 months. Cooing begins at birth and continues until 2
months.
●● A nurse is preparing to care for a 5-year-old who has been placed in
traction following a fracture of the femur. The nurse plans care, knowing
that which of the following is the most appropriate activity for this
child?
A) Large picture books
B) A radio
C) Crayons and coloring book
D) A sports video
Answer: C. In the preschooler, play is simple and imaginative and
includes activities such as crayons and coloring books, puppets, felt and
magnetic boards, and Play-Doh. Large picture books are most
, appropriate for the infant. A radio and a sports video are most
appropriate for the adolescent.
●● A 16-year-old is admitted to the hospital for acute appendicitis, and
an appendectomy is performed. Which of the following nursing
interventions is most appropriate to facilitate normal growth and
development?
A) Allow the family to bring in the child's favorite computer games
B) Encourage the parents to room-in with the child
C) Encourage the child to rest and read
D) Allow the child to participate in activities with other individuals in
the same age group when the condition permits
Answer: D. Adolescents often are not sure whether they want their
parents with them when they are hospitalized. Because of the importance
of the peer group, separation from friends is a source of anxiety. Ideally,
the members of the peer group will support their ill friend. Options a, b,
and c isolate the child from the peer group.
●● The mother of a toddler asks a nurse when it is safe to place the car
safety seat in a face-forward position. The best nursing response is
which of the following?
A) When the toddler weighs 20 lbs
B) The seat should not be placed in a face-forward position unless there
are safety locks in the car
C) The seat should never be place in a face-forward position because the
risk of the child unbuckling the harness
ANSWERS GRADED A+
●● Which stage of development is most unstable and challenging
regarding development of personal identity?
A) Adolescence
B) Toddler hood
C) Childhood
D) Infancy
Answer: A) Adolescence
●● A maternity nurse is providing instruction to a new mother regarding
the psychosocial development of the newborn infant. Using Erikson's
psychosocial development theory, the nurse would instruct the mother
to:
A) Allow the newborn infant to signal a need
B) Anticipate all of the needs of the newborn infant
C) Avoid the newborn infant during the first 10 minutes of crying
D) Attend to the newborn infant immediately when crying
Answer: A) Allow the newborn infant to signal a need. Trust vs Mistrust
stage-This will allow the infant opportunity to gain trust.
,●● A mother of a 3-year-old tells a clinic nurse that the child is rebelling
constantly and having temper tantrums. The nurse most appropriately
tells the mother to:
A) Punish the child every time the child says "no", to change the
behavior
B) Allow the behavior because this is normal at this age period
C) Set limits on the child's behavior
D) Ignore the child when this behavior occurs
Answer: C) Set limits on the child's behavior-According to Erikson, the
child focuses on independence between ages 1 and 3 years. Gaining
independence often means that the child has to rebel against the parents'
wishes. Saying things like "no" or "mine" and having temper tantrums
are common during this period of development. Being consistent and
setting limits on the child's behavior are the necessary elements.
●● A nurse is evaluating the developmental level of a 2-year-old. Which
of the following does the nurse expect to observe in this child?
A) Uses a fork to eat
B) Uses a cup to drink
C) Uses a knife for cutting food
D) Pours own milk into a cup
Answer: B. By age 2 years, the child can use a cup and can use a spoon
correctly but with some spilling. By ages 3 to 4, the child begins to use a
fork. By the end of the preschool period, the child should be able to pour
milk into a cup and begin to use a knife for cutting.
,●● A clinic nurse assesses the communication patterns of a 5-month-old
infant. The nurse determines that the infant is demonstrating the highest
level of developmental achievement expected if the infant:
A) Uses simple words such as "mama"
B) Uses monosyllabic babbling
C) Links syllables together
D) Coos when comforted
Answer: B. Using monosyllabic babbling occurs between 3 and 6
months of age. Using simple words such as "mama" occurs between 9
and 12 months. Linking syllables together when communicating occurs
between 6 and 9 months. Cooing begins at birth and continues until 2
months.
●● A nurse is preparing to care for a 5-year-old who has been placed in
traction following a fracture of the femur. The nurse plans care, knowing
that which of the following is the most appropriate activity for this
child?
A) Large picture books
B) A radio
C) Crayons and coloring book
D) A sports video
Answer: C. In the preschooler, play is simple and imaginative and
includes activities such as crayons and coloring books, puppets, felt and
magnetic boards, and Play-Doh. Large picture books are most
, appropriate for the infant. A radio and a sports video are most
appropriate for the adolescent.
●● A 16-year-old is admitted to the hospital for acute appendicitis, and
an appendectomy is performed. Which of the following nursing
interventions is most appropriate to facilitate normal growth and
development?
A) Allow the family to bring in the child's favorite computer games
B) Encourage the parents to room-in with the child
C) Encourage the child to rest and read
D) Allow the child to participate in activities with other individuals in
the same age group when the condition permits
Answer: D. Adolescents often are not sure whether they want their
parents with them when they are hospitalized. Because of the importance
of the peer group, separation from friends is a source of anxiety. Ideally,
the members of the peer group will support their ill friend. Options a, b,
and c isolate the child from the peer group.
●● The mother of a toddler asks a nurse when it is safe to place the car
safety seat in a face-forward position. The best nursing response is
which of the following?
A) When the toddler weighs 20 lbs
B) The seat should not be placed in a face-forward position unless there
are safety locks in the car
C) The seat should never be place in a face-forward position because the
risk of the child unbuckling the harness
