1
ATI RN Pediatrics Proctored Exam Actual
Exam 2026/2027 – Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100%
Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: Growth & Development — Questions 1-12]
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect to observe?
A. Rolling from back to front.
B. Sitting alone without support.
C. Holding a rattle.
D. Walking while holding onto furniture.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: By 4 months of age, an infant typically develops the ability to grasp objects, such as a
rattle (palmar grasp developing into voluntary grasp). Rolling from front to back usually occurs
around 3 months, but rolling back to front (A) typically occurs later, around 5-6 months. Sitting
alone (B) usually occurs around 6-8 months. Walking with support (D) is a milestone for a 9-12
month old.
Q2. A parent asks the nurse why their 2-year-old child prefers playing near other children rather
than with them. The nurse should respond that this behavior describes:
A. Solitary play
B. Associative play
C. Parallel play
D. Cooperative play
Correct Answer: C
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Rationale: Parallel play is characteristic of toddlers, where they play independently but near
other children, mimicking their actions without direct interaction. Solitary play (A) is seen in
infants. Associative play (B) involves sharing and borrowing materials but not organized play,
seen in preschoolers. Cooperative play (D) involves organization and goals, seen in school-age
children.
Q3. A nurse is teaching the parents of a preschooler about cognitive development. The nurse
explains that at this age, the child views the world from their own perspective. This concept is
known as:
A. Conservation
B. Egocentrism
C. Animism
D. Reversibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children in the preoperational
stage (ages 2 to 7) exhibit egocentrism, meaning they have difficulty seeing a situation from
another person's point of view. Conservation (A) and reversibility (D) are concepts of the
concrete operational stage (ages 7 to 11). Animism (C) is the belief that inanimate objects are
alive, which is also preoperational but describes attribution of life to objects.
Q4. A school-age child is recovering from a fracture that prevents them from playing sports for
several weeks. Which Eriksonian stage indicates the child is at risk for developing feelings of
inferiority?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: D
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Rationale: The psychosocial stage for school-age children (6 to 12 years) is Industry vs.
Inferiority. Children in this stage strive to master skills (industry); failure to do so or comparisons
with peers can lead to feelings of inferiority. Trust vs. Mistrust (A) is infancy; Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt (B) is toddlerhood; Initiative vs. Guilt (C) is preschool.
Q5. An adolescent girl refuses to eat lunch with her friends because she believes she is "fat"
despite being within a healthy weight range. This behavior is characteristic of which
developmental task?
A. Establishing sexual identity
B. Achieving independence from parents
C. Developing a sense of body image
D. Preparing for vocational choice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adolescents are focused on establishing their identity, which includes developing a
realistic and positive body image. Distortions in body image can lead to eating disorders. While
establishing sexual identity (A) and independence (B) are also tasks, the refusal to eat due to
perceived fatness specifically relates to body image.
Q6. A nurse is observing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which behavior indicates
the infant has achieved object permanence?
A. Smiling when the mother enters the room.
B. Looking for a toy that was dropped out of the crib.
C. Saying "mama" and "dada" nonspecifically.
D. Sitting alone without support.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Object permanence, developed during the sensorimotor stage (0-2 years), is the
understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Looking for a
dropped toy demonstrates this cognitive milestone. Smiling at the mother (A) is social
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attachment. Speaking "mama/dada" (C) is language development. Sitting alone (D) is a gross
motor milestone.
Q7. A 15-month-old child is brought to the clinic. The nurse observes the toddler running well.
The nurse should document this as:
A. Advanced gross motor development
B. Normal gross motor development
C. Delayed gross motor development
D. Fine motor development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Most toddlers begin to walk alone around 12 months and are typically running well by
15 months. Therefore, this observation is consistent with expected developmental norms.
Advanced (A) would imply doing things significantly earlier than average, like walking at 9
months.
Q8. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about age-appropriate toys for a 6-month-old infant.
Which toy should the nurse recommend?
A. Push-pull walker
B. Rattle
C. Large interlocking blocks
D. Pop-up book with buttons
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A 6-month-old is developing the ability to transfer objects from hand to hand and
enjoys exploring textures and sounds. A rattle is appropriate for this age. Push-pull walkers (A)
and large blocks (C) are more appropriate for toddlers. Pop-up books (D) require fine motor
skills usually developed in late infancy or toddlerhood.
ATI RN Pediatrics Proctored Exam Actual
Exam 2026/2027 – Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100%
Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
[SECTION 1: Growth & Development — Questions 1-12]
Q1. A nurse is assessing a 4-month-old infant. Which developmental milestone should the nurse
expect to observe?
A. Rolling from back to front.
B. Sitting alone without support.
C. Holding a rattle.
D. Walking while holding onto furniture.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: By 4 months of age, an infant typically develops the ability to grasp objects, such as a
rattle (palmar grasp developing into voluntary grasp). Rolling from front to back usually occurs
around 3 months, but rolling back to front (A) typically occurs later, around 5-6 months. Sitting
alone (B) usually occurs around 6-8 months. Walking with support (D) is a milestone for a 9-12
month old.
Q2. A parent asks the nurse why their 2-year-old child prefers playing near other children rather
than with them. The nurse should respond that this behavior describes:
A. Solitary play
B. Associative play
C. Parallel play
D. Cooperative play
Correct Answer: C
,2
Rationale: Parallel play is characteristic of toddlers, where they play independently but near
other children, mimicking their actions without direct interaction. Solitary play (A) is seen in
infants. Associative play (B) involves sharing and borrowing materials but not organized play,
seen in preschoolers. Cooperative play (D) involves organization and goals, seen in school-age
children.
Q3. A nurse is teaching the parents of a preschooler about cognitive development. The nurse
explains that at this age, the child views the world from their own perspective. This concept is
known as:
A. Conservation
B. Egocentrism
C. Animism
D. Reversibility
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, children in the preoperational
stage (ages 2 to 7) exhibit egocentrism, meaning they have difficulty seeing a situation from
another person's point of view. Conservation (A) and reversibility (D) are concepts of the
concrete operational stage (ages 7 to 11). Animism (C) is the belief that inanimate objects are
alive, which is also preoperational but describes attribution of life to objects.
Q4. A school-age child is recovering from a fracture that prevents them from playing sports for
several weeks. Which Eriksonian stage indicates the child is at risk for developing feelings of
inferiority?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
C. Initiative vs. Guilt
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: D
,3
Rationale: The psychosocial stage for school-age children (6 to 12 years) is Industry vs.
Inferiority. Children in this stage strive to master skills (industry); failure to do so or comparisons
with peers can lead to feelings of inferiority. Trust vs. Mistrust (A) is infancy; Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt (B) is toddlerhood; Initiative vs. Guilt (C) is preschool.
Q5. An adolescent girl refuses to eat lunch with her friends because she believes she is "fat"
despite being within a healthy weight range. This behavior is characteristic of which
developmental task?
A. Establishing sexual identity
B. Achieving independence from parents
C. Developing a sense of body image
D. Preparing for vocational choice
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adolescents are focused on establishing their identity, which includes developing a
realistic and positive body image. Distortions in body image can lead to eating disorders. While
establishing sexual identity (A) and independence (B) are also tasks, the refusal to eat due to
perceived fatness specifically relates to body image.
Q6. A nurse is observing a 9-month-old infant during a well-child visit. Which behavior indicates
the infant has achieved object permanence?
A. Smiling when the mother enters the room.
B. Looking for a toy that was dropped out of the crib.
C. Saying "mama" and "dada" nonspecifically.
D. Sitting alone without support.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Object permanence, developed during the sensorimotor stage (0-2 years), is the
understanding that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible. Looking for a
dropped toy demonstrates this cognitive milestone. Smiling at the mother (A) is social
, 4
attachment. Speaking "mama/dada" (C) is language development. Sitting alone (D) is a gross
motor milestone.
Q7. A 15-month-old child is brought to the clinic. The nurse observes the toddler running well.
The nurse should document this as:
A. Advanced gross motor development
B. Normal gross motor development
C. Delayed gross motor development
D. Fine motor development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Most toddlers begin to walk alone around 12 months and are typically running well by
15 months. Therefore, this observation is consistent with expected developmental norms.
Advanced (A) would imply doing things significantly earlier than average, like walking at 9
months.
Q8. A nurse is teaching a group of parents about age-appropriate toys for a 6-month-old infant.
Which toy should the nurse recommend?
A. Push-pull walker
B. Rattle
C. Large interlocking blocks
D. Pop-up book with buttons
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A 6-month-old is developing the ability to transfer objects from hand to hand and
enjoys exploring textures and sounds. A rattle is appropriate for this age. Push-pull walkers (A)
and large blocks (C) are more appropriate for toddlers. Pop-up books (D) require fine motor
skills usually developed in late infancy or toddlerhood.
