Pediatric Growth and Development:
NCLEX Questions & Answers 2022
1. The nurse is aware that the age at which the posterior fontanelle closes is
months. a. 2 to 3
b. 3 to 6 c. 6 to 9
d. 9 to 12: ANS: A
The posterior fontanelle closes between 2 and 3 months of age.
2. Which stage of development is most unstable and challenging regarding
development of personal identity?
A) Adolescence B) Toddler hood C) Childhood
D) Infancy: A) Adolescence
3. A maternity nurse is providing instruction to a new mother regarding the
psychosocial development of the newborn infant. Using Erikson's psychoso- cial
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: A) Allow the new- born
infant to signal a need. Trust vs Mistrust stage-This will allow the infant opportunity to
gain trust.
4. 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: 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.
5. 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: 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.
6. 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: 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.
7. 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: 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.
, 8. 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: 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.
9. 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
D) When the weight of the toddler is greater than 40 lbs: A. The transition point for
switching to the forward facing position is defined by the manufacturer of the
convertible car safety seat but is generally at a body weight of 9 kg or 20 lb and
1 year of age. Convertible car safety seats are used until the child weighs at least
40 lb. Options b, c, and d are incorrect
10. A mother calls the pediatrician's office because her infant is "colicky." The
helpful measure the nurse would suggest to the parent is to:
a. sing songs to the infant in a soft voice. b. place the infant in a well-lit room.
c. walk around and massage the infant's back.
d. rock the fussy infant slowly and gently.: ANS: D
One technique the nurse can offer parents of a fussy infant is to rock the infant gently
and slowly while being careful to avoid sudden movements.
NCLEX Questions & Answers 2022
1. The nurse is aware that the age at which the posterior fontanelle closes is
months. a. 2 to 3
b. 3 to 6 c. 6 to 9
d. 9 to 12: ANS: A
The posterior fontanelle closes between 2 and 3 months of age.
2. Which stage of development is most unstable and challenging regarding
development of personal identity?
A) Adolescence B) Toddler hood C) Childhood
D) Infancy: A) Adolescence
3. A maternity nurse is providing instruction to a new mother regarding the
psychosocial development of the newborn infant. Using Erikson's psychoso- cial
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: A) Allow the new- born
infant to signal a need. Trust vs Mistrust stage-This will allow the infant opportunity to
gain trust.
4. 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: 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.
5. 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: 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.
6. 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: 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.
7. 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: 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.
, 8. 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: 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.
9. 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
D) When the weight of the toddler is greater than 40 lbs: A. The transition point for
switching to the forward facing position is defined by the manufacturer of the
convertible car safety seat but is generally at a body weight of 9 kg or 20 lb and
1 year of age. Convertible car safety seats are used until the child weighs at least
40 lb. Options b, c, and d are incorrect
10. A mother calls the pediatrician's office because her infant is "colicky." The
helpful measure the nurse would suggest to the parent is to:
a. sing songs to the infant in a soft voice. b. place the infant in a well-lit room.
c. walk around and massage the infant's back.
d. rock the fussy infant slowly and gently.: ANS: D
One technique the nurse can offer parents of a fussy infant is to rock the infant gently
and slowly while being careful to avoid sudden movements.
