ATI ERICKSONS STAGES PRACTICE QUESTIONS- Q$A
1. The nurse is caring for a hospitalized adolescent. The nurse understands that which major
developmental task is important during adolescence?
a. Building a sense of trust
i. Building a sense of trust is not an appropriate developmental task of adolescence.
b. Learning to utilize creative energies
i. Learning to utilize creative energies is not a developmental task of adolescence.
c. Learning to defer gratification
i. Learning to defer gratification is not an appropriate developmental task of
adolescence.
d. Defining a sense of self
i. Establishing an identity or defining a sense of self is the major adolescent
developmental task.
2. A nurse is planning care for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of
time. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care to meet the
client's psychosocial needs according to Erikson?
a. Arrange for a teacher to provide lesson plans.
b. Allow the client to select his own food from the menu.
c. Discourage visits from the client's friends.
d. Provide a daily session with a play therapist.
3. A nurse is assessing the psychosocial development of a toddler. The nurse should recognize
that this stage is characterized by which of the following?
a. Imaginary playmates
b. Erikson's stage of initiative versus guilt
c. Demonstrations of sexual curiosity
d. Negative behaviors characterized by the need for autonomy
4. A nurse has accepted a position on a pediatric unit and is learning about psychosocial
development. Place Erikson's stages of psychosocial development in order from birth to
adolescence. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the selected order of
performance. Use all the steps.)
a. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
b. Industry vs. inferiority
c. Identity vs. role confusion
d. Initiative vs. guilt
e. Trust vs. mistrust
i. Answer: E, A, D, B, C
5. A preschool age child copies circles, stacks 9-10 cubes, and dresses himself without
assistance. Which of Erickson's psychosocial stages should the child be experiencing?
a. Trust vs. mistrust
b. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
c. Initiative vs. guilt
d. Industry vs. inferiority
Communication
6. A nurse is caring for a toddler who is experiencing separation anxiety. Which of the following is an
appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Explain to the toddler that her parents will return in one hour.
i. Toddlers have limited concept of time. Therefore, explaining to the toddler that
her parents will return in one hour is not an appropriate action for the nurse to
take.
b. Assist the parents to sneak out of the toddler’s room.
i. Parents are encouraged to tell their toddler that they are leaving to prevent the
uncertainty of their absence. Therefore, assisting the parents to sneak out of the
room is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take.
c. Tell the parents about the reaction of the toddler while they were gone.
i. Telling the parents about the reaction of the toddler will ease the stress of
the separation.
d. Leave the toddler alone for five minutes to cry it out.
i. Toddlers that experience separation anxiety should not be left alone.
Therefore, this is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take.
, 7. A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old client whose parents report that she has an intense fear of
painful procedures, such as injections. Which of the following strategies should the nurse
contribute to the child’s plan of care? (SATA)
a. Have a parent stay with the child during procedures.
i. Have a parent stay with the child during procedures is correct. Maintaining parent-
child contact is one of the most supportive interventions for toddlers and
preschoolers undergoing painful procedures.
b. Cluster invasive procedures whenever possible.
i. Cluster invasive procedures whenever possible is incorrect. This creates an
unnecessarily lengthy painful period for the client, which is likely to increase her
fear.
c. Perform the procedure as quickly as possible.
i. Perform the procedure as quickly as possible is correct. Moving quickly through the
procedure is one of the most supportive interventions for toddlers and
preschoolers undergoing painful procedures.
d. Allow the child to keep a toy from home with her.
i. Allow the child to keep a toy from home with her is correct. Having familiar and
cherished objects nearby are therapeutic for children during their hospitalization.
e. Use mummy restraints during painful procedures.
i. Use mummy restraints during painful procedures is incorrect. This helps immobilize
very young children and keep them safe during procedures, but it is likely to
increase terror in toddlers and preschoolers.
8. A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old client following abdominal surgery. Which of the following
statements is appropriate for the nurse to use to encourage the child to take deep breaths?
a. "You can't go to the playroom until you finish doing your deep breathing."
i. This is a punitive remark that the child could perceive as a threat or a challenge.
b. "Let's play a game of blowing cotton balls across your table."
i. By engaging the child in a form of play, the nurse may distract him from the
discomfort of deep breathing.
c. "I'll leave your blow bottle here on your table, so you can use it yourself like a big kid."
i. Since deep breathing will be uncomfortable, it is unlikely that the child will
perform it without coaching.
d. "I will give you a sticker each time you take a deep breath."
i. This action is going to be painful, and the child may not respond to positive
reinforcement after the pain.
9. A nurse is caring for a young adult client who says he is experiencing increasing anxiety and
the inability to concentrate. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "It sounds like you're having a difficult time."
i. This therapeutic response is an open-ended empathetic statement that encourages
the client to talk.
b. "Have you talked to your parents about this yet?"
i. This nontherapeutic response is focused inappropriately on the client's parents. It
does not address the client's need to communicate or express feelings.
c. "Why do you think you are so anxious?"
i. This nontherapeutic response can make the client feel defensive, and he may not
be able to tell the nurse why.
d. "How long has this been going on?"
i. This nontherapeutic response is a close-ended statement that does not encourage
the client to talk.
10. A parent of a toddler asks a nurse at a well-child visit how the child's frequent temper tantrums
can best be handled. Which of the following actions should the nurse suggest to the parent?
a. Restrain the child
physically. b. Ignore the temper
tantrums.
c. Tell the child that temper tantrums are not acceptable.
d. Distract the child by offering to play a game.
11. The nurse is preparing a 3-year-old child for surgery. Which approach is best?
a. "The doctor will be cutting into your tummy to remove your appendix."
b. "The doctor is going to make your tummy feel better."
c. "Don't worry - it won't hurt at all."
d. "Here. Watch this video on the computer."
12. An educator is testing a 4-year-old child for kindergarten readiness. The child is doing well. Which
statement is most useful for praising the child?
1. The nurse is caring for a hospitalized adolescent. The nurse understands that which major
developmental task is important during adolescence?
a. Building a sense of trust
i. Building a sense of trust is not an appropriate developmental task of adolescence.
b. Learning to utilize creative energies
i. Learning to utilize creative energies is not a developmental task of adolescence.
c. Learning to defer gratification
i. Learning to defer gratification is not an appropriate developmental task of
adolescence.
d. Defining a sense of self
i. Establishing an identity or defining a sense of self is the major adolescent
developmental task.
2. A nurse is planning care for a 10-year-old child who will be hospitalized for an extended period of
time. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care to meet the
client's psychosocial needs according to Erikson?
a. Arrange for a teacher to provide lesson plans.
b. Allow the client to select his own food from the menu.
c. Discourage visits from the client's friends.
d. Provide a daily session with a play therapist.
3. A nurse is assessing the psychosocial development of a toddler. The nurse should recognize
that this stage is characterized by which of the following?
a. Imaginary playmates
b. Erikson's stage of initiative versus guilt
c. Demonstrations of sexual curiosity
d. Negative behaviors characterized by the need for autonomy
4. A nurse has accepted a position on a pediatric unit and is learning about psychosocial
development. Place Erikson's stages of psychosocial development in order from birth to
adolescence. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in the selected order of
performance. Use all the steps.)
a. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
b. Industry vs. inferiority
c. Identity vs. role confusion
d. Initiative vs. guilt
e. Trust vs. mistrust
i. Answer: E, A, D, B, C
5. A preschool age child copies circles, stacks 9-10 cubes, and dresses himself without
assistance. Which of Erickson's psychosocial stages should the child be experiencing?
a. Trust vs. mistrust
b. Autonomy vs. shame and doubt
c. Initiative vs. guilt
d. Industry vs. inferiority
Communication
6. A nurse is caring for a toddler who is experiencing separation anxiety. Which of the following is an
appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Explain to the toddler that her parents will return in one hour.
i. Toddlers have limited concept of time. Therefore, explaining to the toddler that
her parents will return in one hour is not an appropriate action for the nurse to
take.
b. Assist the parents to sneak out of the toddler’s room.
i. Parents are encouraged to tell their toddler that they are leaving to prevent the
uncertainty of their absence. Therefore, assisting the parents to sneak out of the
room is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take.
c. Tell the parents about the reaction of the toddler while they were gone.
i. Telling the parents about the reaction of the toddler will ease the stress of
the separation.
d. Leave the toddler alone for five minutes to cry it out.
i. Toddlers that experience separation anxiety should not be left alone.
Therefore, this is not an appropriate action for the nurse to take.
, 7. A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old client whose parents report that she has an intense fear of
painful procedures, such as injections. Which of the following strategies should the nurse
contribute to the child’s plan of care? (SATA)
a. Have a parent stay with the child during procedures.
i. Have a parent stay with the child during procedures is correct. Maintaining parent-
child contact is one of the most supportive interventions for toddlers and
preschoolers undergoing painful procedures.
b. Cluster invasive procedures whenever possible.
i. Cluster invasive procedures whenever possible is incorrect. This creates an
unnecessarily lengthy painful period for the client, which is likely to increase her
fear.
c. Perform the procedure as quickly as possible.
i. Perform the procedure as quickly as possible is correct. Moving quickly through the
procedure is one of the most supportive interventions for toddlers and
preschoolers undergoing painful procedures.
d. Allow the child to keep a toy from home with her.
i. Allow the child to keep a toy from home with her is correct. Having familiar and
cherished objects nearby are therapeutic for children during their hospitalization.
e. Use mummy restraints during painful procedures.
i. Use mummy restraints during painful procedures is incorrect. This helps immobilize
very young children and keep them safe during procedures, but it is likely to
increase terror in toddlers and preschoolers.
8. A nurse is caring for a 4-year-old client following abdominal surgery. Which of the following
statements is appropriate for the nurse to use to encourage the child to take deep breaths?
a. "You can't go to the playroom until you finish doing your deep breathing."
i. This is a punitive remark that the child could perceive as a threat or a challenge.
b. "Let's play a game of blowing cotton balls across your table."
i. By engaging the child in a form of play, the nurse may distract him from the
discomfort of deep breathing.
c. "I'll leave your blow bottle here on your table, so you can use it yourself like a big kid."
i. Since deep breathing will be uncomfortable, it is unlikely that the child will
perform it without coaching.
d. "I will give you a sticker each time you take a deep breath."
i. This action is going to be painful, and the child may not respond to positive
reinforcement after the pain.
9. A nurse is caring for a young adult client who says he is experiencing increasing anxiety and
the inability to concentrate. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "It sounds like you're having a difficult time."
i. This therapeutic response is an open-ended empathetic statement that encourages
the client to talk.
b. "Have you talked to your parents about this yet?"
i. This nontherapeutic response is focused inappropriately on the client's parents. It
does not address the client's need to communicate or express feelings.
c. "Why do you think you are so anxious?"
i. This nontherapeutic response can make the client feel defensive, and he may not
be able to tell the nurse why.
d. "How long has this been going on?"
i. This nontherapeutic response is a close-ended statement that does not encourage
the client to talk.
10. A parent of a toddler asks a nurse at a well-child visit how the child's frequent temper tantrums
can best be handled. Which of the following actions should the nurse suggest to the parent?
a. Restrain the child
physically. b. Ignore the temper
tantrums.
c. Tell the child that temper tantrums are not acceptable.
d. Distract the child by offering to play a game.
11. The nurse is preparing a 3-year-old child for surgery. Which approach is best?
a. "The doctor will be cutting into your tummy to remove your appendix."
b. "The doctor is going to make your tummy feel better."
c. "Don't worry - it won't hurt at all."
d. "Here. Watch this video on the computer."
12. An educator is testing a 4-year-old child for kindergarten readiness. The child is doing well. Which
statement is most useful for praising the child?
