Growth and Development Flashcards
While being comforted in the emergency department, the 6-year-old male sibling of a
pediatric trauma victim blurts out to the nurse, “It’s all my fault! When we were fighting
yesterday, I told him I wished he was dead!” Which response by the nurse is most
therapeutic?
1. Asking the child if he would like to sit down and drink some water
2. Sitting the child down in an empty room with markers and paper so that he can draw a
picture
3. Reassuring the child that it is normal to get angry and say things that we do not mean,
but that we have no control over whether an accident happens
4. Discussing the catheters, tubes, and equipment that the sibling requires, and explaining
why they are needed
Answer: 3
The nurse is conducting a physical assessment for a pediatric client. Which part of
Bronfenbrenner’s ecologic theory of development is the nurse assessing when discussing
the parents’ work environment in relation to the client?
1. Chronosystem
2. Mesosystem
3. Macrosystem
4. Exosystem
Answer: 4
The parents of a toddler are concerned that their child seems different from their other
child, stating, “He just doesn’t seem to like new people and wants us with him in these
situations.” Which response by the nurse is appropriate when using the temperament theory to
respond to the toddler’s parents?
1. “Your child seems to withdraw from new situations. This is typical with slow-to-warm-
up children.”
2. “Your child is having an intense reaction to the environment and new people and we
will need to investigate this more closely.”
3. “Difficult children often display a negative mood. Does your child often throw temper
tantrums?”
4. “Slow-to-warm-up children are often diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.”
Answer: 1
The parents of a 12-month-old client ask the nurse for suggestions regarding age-
appropriate toys for their child. Which toys are appropriate for the nurse to recommend for
this client? Select all that apply.
1. Soft toys that can be mouthed 2. Toys with black-and-white patterns 3. Toys that can pop apart and go back together 4. Jack-in-the-box toys 5. Push-and-pull toys
Answer: 3, 4, 5
While assessing the development of a 9-month-old client, the nurse asks the mother if the
child actively looks for toys when they are placed out of sight. Which is the nurse assessing
with this question to the parent?
1. Transducitve reasoning
2. Conservation
3. Centration
4. Object permanence
Answer: 4
A nurse is assessing language development in all the pediatric clients presenting at the
healthcare provider’s office for well-child visits. At which age would the nurse further
assess language development if the client is unable to verbalize the words “dada” and
“mama”?
1. 3 months
2. 6 months
3. 8 months
4. 12 months
- 12 months
Two 3-year-old clients are playing together in a hospital playroom. One is working on a
puzzle, while the other is stacking blocks. Which type of play are these children
participating in based on this scenario?
1. Cooperative play
2. Solitary play
3. Parallel play
4. Associative play
Answer: 3
The nurse is teaching new parents how to communicate with their infant. Which response
by the parents indicates accurate understanding of the information presented?
1. “I will prop the bottle while my baby is in the carseat so that I can cook dinner.”
2. “I will use a low-pitched voice while talking to my baby as this is most appropriate.”
3. “I will unwrap my baby when she is upset to allow interaction with the environment.”
4. “I will talk and sing to my baby while I am providing daily care, including diaper
changes.”
Answer: 4
While trying to inform a 5-year-old child about what will occur during an upcoming CT
scan, the nurse notices that the child is engaged in a collective monologue, talking about a
new puppy. Which response by the nurse is age appropriate?
1. “You must be so excited to have a new puppy! They are so much fun. Now let me tell
you again about going downstairs in a wheelchair to a special room.”
2. Redirect the child by saying, “Please stop talking about your puppy. I need to tell you
about your CT scan.”
3. “I’ll come back when you are ready to talk with me more about your CT scan.”
4. Ignore the information regarding the puppy and state, “I need to teach you about going
to the special room later today.”
Answer: 1
The mother of a 6-year-old boy who has recently had surgery for the removal of his tonsils
and adenoids complains that he has begun sucking his thumb again. Which defense
mechanism will the nurse include when responding to the mother?
1. Repression
2. Rationalization
3. Fantasy
4. Regression
Answer: 4
The nurse is preparing to administer an intramuscular injection to a toddler-age client.
Which is the most appropriate statement by the nurse prior to this procedure?
1. “It is all right to cry. After we are done, you can go to the box and pick out your favorite
sticker.”
2. “We will give you your shot when your mommy comes back.”
3. “I will wipe your skin with a magic wipe and then hold the needle like this and say ‘one,
two, three, go’ and give you your shot. Are you ready?”
4. “This is a magic sword that will give you your medicine and make you all better.”
Answer: 1
An adolescent client diagnosed with cystic fibrosis suddenly becomes noncompliant with
the medication regimen. Which nursing intervention would most likely improve
compliance?
1. Give the client a computer-animated game that presents information on the management
of cystic fibrosis.
2. Set up a meeting with other adolescents with the cystic fibrosis who have been
managing their disease effectively.
3. Arrange for the primary healthcare provider to sit down and talk to the client about the
risks related to noncompliance with medications.
4. Discuss with the client’s parents that privileges, such as a cell phone, can be taken away
if compliance fails to improve.
Answer: 2
The home health nurse is conducting a home visit for a family. The toddler-age child, who
is potty training, has an “accident.” The mother becomes angry with the child and calls him
a baby for messing himself. Which is the nurse concerned with regarding the toddler’s
development, based on the mother’s reaction?
1. The child’s cognitive development
2. The child’s sense of independence
3. The child’s conscience
4. The child’s superego
Answer: 2
The clinic administrator has suggested that the nurse teach all children newly diagnosed
with diabetes in a single class to save nursing time. The children recently diagnosed range
in age from 6 to 15. Which is the rationale for the nursing staff to continue with more than
one group session?
1. Freud’s theory of psychosexual development, which states that the 6-year-old child’s
sexual energy is at rest while the adolescent has developed mature sexuality.
2. Erikson’s psychosocial theory, which discusses how children learn to relate to others.
3. Piaget’s cognitive development theory, which says the 6-year-old child learns by
concrete examples, while the 15-year-old adolescent can think abstractly.
4. Kohlberg’s theory, which says the young children are conventional in their thinking and
will want to learn to please others, while older children can internalize values and will
learn for their own principles.
Answer: 3
As children grow and develop, their style of play changes. Place the descriptions of play
styles in order from infancy to school age.
1. Plays beside but not with other children
2. Plays games with other children and is able to follow the rules of the game
3. Plays alone with play directed by others
4. Plays with others in loose groups
Answer: 3,1,4,2
