PERRY’S MATERNAL CHILD
NURSING CARE (THE TODDLER
AND FAMILY) QUESTIONS AND THEIR
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. Which factor is most important in predisposing
toddlers to frequent infections such as otitis media,
tonsillitis, and upper respiratory tract infections?
a. Respirations are abdominal.
b. Pulse and respiratory rates are slower than those in
infancy.
c. Defense mechanisms are less efficient than those
during infancy.
d. The presence of short, straight internal ear/throat
structures and large tonsil/adenoid lymph tissue.
ANS: D
Toddlers continue to have the short, straight internal ear
canal of infants. The lymphoid tissue of the tonsils and
adenoids continues to be relatively large. These two
anatomic conditions combine to predispose the toddler to
frequent infections. The abdominal respirations and
lowered pulse and respiratory rate of toddlers do not affect
their susceptibility to infection. The defense mechanisms
are more efficient compared with those of infancy.
2. What are the psychosocial developmental tasks of
toddlerhood?
a. Development of a conscience.
,b. Recognition of sex differences.
c. Ability to get along with age mates.
d. Ability to withstand delayed gratification.
ANS: D
If the need for basic trust has been satisfied, toddlers can
give up dependence for control, independence, and
autonomy. One of the tasks that the toddler is concerned
with is the ability to withstand delayed gratification.
Development of a conscience occurs during the preschool
years. The recognition of sex differences occurs during the
preschool years. The ability to get along with age mates
develops during the preschool and school-age years.
3. A parent of an 18 month old tells the nurse that the
child says "no" to everything and has rapid mood
swings. If scolded, the child shows anger and then
immediately wants to be held. What is the nurse's best
interpretation of this behavior?
a. This is normal behavior for the child's age.
b. This is unusual behavior for the child's age.
c. The child is not effectively coping with stress.
d. The child is showing the need for more attention.
ANS: A
Toddlers use distinct behaviors in the quest for autonomy.
They express their will with continued negativity and the
use of the word "no." Children at this age also have rapid
mood swings. The nurse should reassure the parents that
their child is engaged in expected behavior for an 18
month old.
4. The nurse is planning care for a 17-month-old child.
According to Piaget, in what stage would the nurse
expect the child to be?
, a. Trust
b. Preoperations
c. Secondary circular reaction
d. Tertiary circular reaction
ANS: D
The 17 month old is in the fifth stage of the sensorimotor
phase: tertiary circular reactions. The child uses active
experimentation to achieve previously unattainable goals.
Trust is Erikson's first stage. Preoperation is the stage of
cognitive development, usually present in older toddlers
and preschoolers. Secondary circular reactions last from
about ages 4 to 8 months.
5. Which statement describes a toddler's cognitive
development at age 20 months?
a. Searches for an object only if he or she sees it
being hidden.
b. Realizes that "out of sight" is not out of reach.
c. Puts objects into a container but cannot take them
out.
d. Understands the passage of time such as "just a
minute" and "in an hour."
ANS: B
At this age the child is in the final sensorimotor stage.
Children will now search for an object in several potential
places, even though they saw only the original hiding
place. Children have a more developed sense of objective
permanence. They will search for objects even if they
have not seen them hidden. Putting an object in a
container but being unable to take it out indicates tertiary
circular reactions. An embryonic sense of time exists;
NURSING CARE (THE TODDLER
AND FAMILY) QUESTIONS AND THEIR
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. Which factor is most important in predisposing
toddlers to frequent infections such as otitis media,
tonsillitis, and upper respiratory tract infections?
a. Respirations are abdominal.
b. Pulse and respiratory rates are slower than those in
infancy.
c. Defense mechanisms are less efficient than those
during infancy.
d. The presence of short, straight internal ear/throat
structures and large tonsil/adenoid lymph tissue.
ANS: D
Toddlers continue to have the short, straight internal ear
canal of infants. The lymphoid tissue of the tonsils and
adenoids continues to be relatively large. These two
anatomic conditions combine to predispose the toddler to
frequent infections. The abdominal respirations and
lowered pulse and respiratory rate of toddlers do not affect
their susceptibility to infection. The defense mechanisms
are more efficient compared with those of infancy.
2. What are the psychosocial developmental tasks of
toddlerhood?
a. Development of a conscience.
,b. Recognition of sex differences.
c. Ability to get along with age mates.
d. Ability to withstand delayed gratification.
ANS: D
If the need for basic trust has been satisfied, toddlers can
give up dependence for control, independence, and
autonomy. One of the tasks that the toddler is concerned
with is the ability to withstand delayed gratification.
Development of a conscience occurs during the preschool
years. The recognition of sex differences occurs during the
preschool years. The ability to get along with age mates
develops during the preschool and school-age years.
3. A parent of an 18 month old tells the nurse that the
child says "no" to everything and has rapid mood
swings. If scolded, the child shows anger and then
immediately wants to be held. What is the nurse's best
interpretation of this behavior?
a. This is normal behavior for the child's age.
b. This is unusual behavior for the child's age.
c. The child is not effectively coping with stress.
d. The child is showing the need for more attention.
ANS: A
Toddlers use distinct behaviors in the quest for autonomy.
They express their will with continued negativity and the
use of the word "no." Children at this age also have rapid
mood swings. The nurse should reassure the parents that
their child is engaged in expected behavior for an 18
month old.
4. The nurse is planning care for a 17-month-old child.
According to Piaget, in what stage would the nurse
expect the child to be?
, a. Trust
b. Preoperations
c. Secondary circular reaction
d. Tertiary circular reaction
ANS: D
The 17 month old is in the fifth stage of the sensorimotor
phase: tertiary circular reactions. The child uses active
experimentation to achieve previously unattainable goals.
Trust is Erikson's first stage. Preoperation is the stage of
cognitive development, usually present in older toddlers
and preschoolers. Secondary circular reactions last from
about ages 4 to 8 months.
5. Which statement describes a toddler's cognitive
development at age 20 months?
a. Searches for an object only if he or she sees it
being hidden.
b. Realizes that "out of sight" is not out of reach.
c. Puts objects into a container but cannot take them
out.
d. Understands the passage of time such as "just a
minute" and "in an hour."
ANS: B
At this age the child is in the final sensorimotor stage.
Children will now search for an object in several potential
places, even though they saw only the original hiding
place. Children have a more developed sense of objective
permanence. They will search for objects even if they
have not seen them hidden. Putting an object in a
container but being unable to take it out indicates tertiary
circular reactions. An embryonic sense of time exists;
