ATI Capstone Pediatrics Study Guide
for RN Exam Preparation ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 | ATI Pediatrics
Capstone | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Growth & Development Milestones (Questions 1-15)
Q1: A 4-year-old child is at a well-child visit. The child says, "Mommy, watch me jump!" and wants to
show off new skills. The parent reports difficulty sharing toys with siblings. Which statement reflects
normal development for this age?
A. "Cooperative play is expected; lack of sharing indicates delay."
B. "Initiative vs. guilt stage – showing off is typical; associative play emerges but consistent sharing
develops around 5-6 years." [CORRECT]
C. "The child should be evaluated for oppositional defiant disorder."
D. "At age 4, parallel play is still the norm; sharing is not expected until age 7."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years) includes showing off,
assertiveness, and imaginative play. Piaget's preoperational stage (2-7 years) involves egocentrism,
making sharing challenging. Associative play emerges at 4-5 years, but cooperative play with consistent
sharing develops around 5-6 years. Option A is premature (cooperative play at 5+). Option C
pathologizes normal behavior. Option D underestimates 4-year-old social development (parallel play
peaks at 2-3 years).
Q2: A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a routine checkup. Which finding requires further
evaluation?
A. Sits without support and crawls
B. Says "mama" and "dada" specifically
,C. Does not yet demonstrate pincer grasp [CORRECT]
D. Transfers objects from hand to hand
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) is a critical 9-month
milestone. Absence suggests fine motor delay requiring referral to early intervention. Sitting without
support (A) and crawling are expected 6-9 month milestones. "Mama/dada" specifically (B) emerges
around 9-12 months. Transferring objects (D) is a 6-7 month skill.
Q3: According to Piaget, a 7-year-old child who can understand that a ball of clay rolled into a snake
shape still contains the same amount of clay is demonstrating:
A. Sensorimotor stage
B. Preoperational stage
C. Concrete operational stage [CORRECT]
D. Formal operational stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Conservation (understanding quantity remains constant
despite appearance changes) is the hallmark of Piaget's concrete operational stage (7-11 years).
Preoperational children (2-7 years) lack conservation and exhibit centration. Sensorimotor (A) is birth-2
years. Formal operational (D) begins around 11-12 years with abstract reasoning.
Q4: [SELECT-ALL-THAT-APPLY] A nurse is teaching parents about normal toddler development (18-24
months). Which behaviors are expected? (Select all that apply.)
A. Temper tantrums when frustrated [CORRECT]
B. Parallel play with other children [CORRECT]
C. Using 2-word phrases [CORRECT]
D. Understanding object permanence [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Toddlers (1-3 years) exhibit: tantrums from limited emotional
regulation (A), parallel play (B) alongside other children without interaction, 2-word telegraphic speech
(C), and object permanence (D) established around 8-9 months. Erikson: Autonomy vs. Shame and
Doubt.
, Q5: A 12-year-old is admitted for appendectomy. According to Erikson, the primary developmental task
for this age is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Industry vs. Inferiority
C. Identity vs. Role Confusion [CORRECT]
D. Intimacy vs. Isolation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Erikson's stages by age: Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 year),
Autonomy vs. Shame (1-3 years), Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years), Industry vs. Inferiority (6-12 years),
Identity vs. Role Confusion (12-18 years). Adolescents explore self-identity, peer relationships, and
future goals. Hospitalization disrupts peer interaction and body image — sensitive nursing care is
essential.
Q6: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Rolls from front to back
B. Babbles consonant sounds
C. Does not yet sit with support [CORRECT]
D. Reaches for toys
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Sitting with support is expected by 6 months (typically
achieved by 4-6 months). Absence suggests gross motor delay requiring evaluation. Rolling front-to-back
(A) at 4 months, babbling (B) at 4-6 months, and reaching (D) at 4-5 months are all normal 6-month
findings.
Q7: [ORDERED RESPONSE] Place the following developmental milestones in order of typical
achievement:
Social smile
Rolling front to back
Sitting without support
Walking independently
Correct Order: 1, 2, 3, 4
for RN Exam Preparation ACTUAL
EXAM 2026/2027 | ATI Pediatrics
Capstone | Verified Q&A | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Growth & Development Milestones (Questions 1-15)
Q1: A 4-year-old child is at a well-child visit. The child says, "Mommy, watch me jump!" and wants to
show off new skills. The parent reports difficulty sharing toys with siblings. Which statement reflects
normal development for this age?
A. "Cooperative play is expected; lack of sharing indicates delay."
B. "Initiative vs. guilt stage – showing off is typical; associative play emerges but consistent sharing
develops around 5-6 years." [CORRECT]
C. "The child should be evaluated for oppositional defiant disorder."
D. "At age 4, parallel play is still the norm; sharing is not expected until age 7."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Erikson's Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years) includes showing off,
assertiveness, and imaginative play. Piaget's preoperational stage (2-7 years) involves egocentrism,
making sharing challenging. Associative play emerges at 4-5 years, but cooperative play with consistent
sharing develops around 5-6 years. Option A is premature (cooperative play at 5+). Option C
pathologizes normal behavior. Option D underestimates 4-year-old social development (parallel play
peaks at 2-3 years).
Q2: A nurse is assessing a 9-month-old infant during a routine checkup. Which finding requires further
evaluation?
A. Sits without support and crawls
B. Says "mama" and "dada" specifically
,C. Does not yet demonstrate pincer grasp [CORRECT]
D. Transfers objects from hand to hand
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger) is a critical 9-month
milestone. Absence suggests fine motor delay requiring referral to early intervention. Sitting without
support (A) and crawling are expected 6-9 month milestones. "Mama/dada" specifically (B) emerges
around 9-12 months. Transferring objects (D) is a 6-7 month skill.
Q3: According to Piaget, a 7-year-old child who can understand that a ball of clay rolled into a snake
shape still contains the same amount of clay is demonstrating:
A. Sensorimotor stage
B. Preoperational stage
C. Concrete operational stage [CORRECT]
D. Formal operational stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Conservation (understanding quantity remains constant
despite appearance changes) is the hallmark of Piaget's concrete operational stage (7-11 years).
Preoperational children (2-7 years) lack conservation and exhibit centration. Sensorimotor (A) is birth-2
years. Formal operational (D) begins around 11-12 years with abstract reasoning.
Q4: [SELECT-ALL-THAT-APPLY] A nurse is teaching parents about normal toddler development (18-24
months). Which behaviors are expected? (Select all that apply.)
A. Temper tantrums when frustrated [CORRECT]
B. Parallel play with other children [CORRECT]
C. Using 2-word phrases [CORRECT]
D. Understanding object permanence [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Toddlers (1-3 years) exhibit: tantrums from limited emotional
regulation (A), parallel play (B) alongside other children without interaction, 2-word telegraphic speech
(C), and object permanence (D) established around 8-9 months. Erikson: Autonomy vs. Shame and
Doubt.
, Q5: A 12-year-old is admitted for appendectomy. According to Erikson, the primary developmental task
for this age is:
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Industry vs. Inferiority
C. Identity vs. Role Confusion [CORRECT]
D. Intimacy vs. Isolation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Erikson's stages by age: Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 year),
Autonomy vs. Shame (1-3 years), Initiative vs. Guilt (3-6 years), Industry vs. Inferiority (6-12 years),
Identity vs. Role Confusion (12-18 years). Adolescents explore self-identity, peer relationships, and
future goals. Hospitalization disrupts peer interaction and body image — sensitive nursing care is
essential.
Q6: A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant. Which finding is most concerning?
A. Rolls from front to back
B. Babbles consonant sounds
C. Does not yet sit with support [CORRECT]
D. Reaches for toys
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: ATI RN Pediatric Nursing Ch. 3: Sitting with support is expected by 6 months (typically
achieved by 4-6 months). Absence suggests gross motor delay requiring evaluation. Rolling front-to-back
(A) at 4 months, babbling (B) at 4-6 months, and reaching (D) at 4-5 months are all normal 6-month
findings.
Q7: [ORDERED RESPONSE] Place the following developmental milestones in order of typical
achievement:
Social smile
Rolling front to back
Sitting without support
Walking independently
Correct Order: 1, 2, 3, 4
