NURS 5320 Wk 2 Growth and Development Practice Test
1. A nurse is assessing a 5-minute-old newborn using the Apgar score. Which of the following findings would
receive a score of 2?
A. Heart rate of 60 bpm
B. Blue extremities
C. Strong cry and good muscle tone
D. No respiratory effort
2. According to developmental principles, which pattern of growth occurs from the head down?
A. Proximodistal
B. General to specific
C. Cephalocaudal
D. Simple to complex
3. A nurse caring for a toddler should recognize which statement as most appropriate?
A. “Would you like to take your medicine?”
B. “Please take your medicine now.”
C. “Do you want to go to sleep?”
D. “Why won’t you listen to me?”
4. A 3-year-old child uses play to express emotions. This behavior reflects:
A. Regression
B. Abnormal development
C. Expected development
D. Role confusion
5. Which of the following is a sign of abnormal development in an 8-month-old?
A. Crying when the parent leaves the room
B. Sitting up with support
C. Not babbling or responding to sound
D. Using pincher grasp
6. The best nursing intervention for an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease is:
A. Encourage detailed discussions about future goals
B. Provide familiar routines and reduce environmental stimuli
C. Use open-ended abstract questions
D. Promote frequent role changes
7. Which developmental theory is most focused on psychosocial tasks through the lifespan?
A. Piaget’s cognitive theory
B. Erikson’s psychosocial theory
C. Maslow’s hierarchy
D. Freud’s psychosexual theory
8. Which principle of growth describes development from the center of the body outward?
A. General to specific
B. Proximodistal
C. Cephalocaudal
D. Simple to complex
9. What is the most appropriate nursing action for a premature infant with surfactant administration?
A. Administer IV fluids prior to surfactant
B. Monitor for bradycardia and hypotension
C. Suction immediately after administration
D. Delay feeding for 24 hours
10.A 7-year-old frequently cheats during games with peers. The nurse interprets this behavior as:
A. Concerning for a behavioral disorder
B. An expected developmental behavior
C. A sign of bullying
D. A symptom of autism
11.Which of the following stages of human development includes rapid physical and psychosocial changes?
A. Young adulthood
B. Middle adulthood
C. Adolescence
D. Older adulthood
12.A child scores positive on the M-CHAT-R/F screening tool. The next appropriate nursing action is:
A. Reassure the parent this is normal
B. Notify CPS
C. Refer for further developmental evaluation
D. Begin medication
13.Which nursing consideration is most important when caring for a patient with osteoporosis?
A. Monitor for signs of aggression
B. Encourage daily protein restriction
C. Promote weight-bearing exercises
D. Increase caffeine intake
14.Which developmental domain includes problem-solving and memory?
A. Psychosocial
B. Behavioral
C. Cognitive
D. Moral
15.A nurse observes a preschool child using a nightlight due to fear of the dark. This reflects:
A. Regression
B. Expected development
C. Emotional immaturity
D. Role confusion
16.What is the best therapeutic communication approach for an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease?
A. Redirect and use simple statements
B. Use humor and sarcasm
C. Engage in detailed reminiscing
D. Ask why they are confused
17.Which finding in a school-age child would indicate a need for further developmental assessment?
A. Prefers team sports
B. Frequently plays pretend
C. Has trouble understanding simple directions
D. Can tie shoes
18.During which developmental period is the Apgar score assigned?
A. Preschool
B. Prenatal
C. Infancy
D. Toddlerhood
19.What is the best example of a continuous process in human development?
A. Walking followed by crawling
B. Physical, cognitive, and emotional changes from infancy to adulthood
C. Abrupt changes only during adolescence
D. Role reversal in older adulthood
20.A nurse knows that individual rates of development mean:
A. All children speak by 12 months
B. Delayed walking always indicates a disorder
C. Developmental pace varies by individual
D. Universal milestones must be strictly followed
21.Which attribute best defines expected development?
A. Consistent delay in motor skills
B. Meeting developmental milestones appropriate for age
C. Random fluctuations in behavior
D. Developmental regression during stress
22.What is the primary function of surfactant in premature infants?
A. Maintain blood pressure
B. Facilitate nutrient absorption
C. Improve alveolar stability and lung function
D. Prevent hypoglycemia
23.An adolescent reports being the target of persistent name-calling and exclusion by peers. This is best
described as:
A. Autism
B. Normal adolescent conflict
C. Bullying
D. Rebellion
24.Which modifiable risk factor increases the risk for osteoporosis?
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Smoking
D. Family history
25.Which is a nonmodifiable risk factor for osteoporosis?
A. Inactivity
B. Low calcium intake
C. Gender
D. Smoking
26.In Erikson’s model, the developmental task of adolescence is:
A. Autonomy vs. Shame
B. Trust vs. Mistrust
C. Industry vs. Inferiority
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
27.A nurse teaches parents that the first period of prenatal development is called:
A. Fetal
B. Embryo
C. Zygote
D. Blastocyst
28.What assessment finding suggests a problem in psychosocial development?
A. Inability to concentrate
B. No friends at school and frequent social withdrawal
C. Missing a few teeth
D. Difficulty with math homework
29.The principle “simple to complex” means:
A. Children begin with complex language
B. Development occurs in regression
C. Motor skills start as basic and become refined
D. Cognitive abilities precede physical skills
30.A toddler who insists on doing everything independently is demonstrating:
A. Role confusion
B. Industry
C. Initiative
D. Autonomy
31.What tool is used to screen toddlers for autism?
A. Denver II
B. M-CHAT-R/F
C. APGAR
D. CIWA-Ar
32.What developmental stage includes the creation of new bone slowing down and bone loss increasing?
A. Infancy
B. Adolescence
C. Middle adulthood
D. Older adulthood
33.Which of the following developmental theories supports that 4-year-olds may be afraid of the dark?
A. Freud’s Psychosexual Stages
B. Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
C. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
D. Pavlov’s Conditioning Theory
34.A child has difficulty making eye contact, delayed speech, and rigid play routines. These may indicate:
A. Typical preschool development
B. Bullying behavior
C. Autism Spectrum Disorder
D. Cognitive delay
35.Which attribute applies to the scope of human development?
A. Expected and abnormal development
B. Physical and infectious disease
C. Emotional trauma only
D. Medication side effects
36.A newborn has a heart rate of 110 bpm, good cry, some flexion, pink body with blue extremities, and regular
respirations. What is the Apgar score?
A. 10
B. 8
C. 6
D. 4
37.Which of the following is an appropriate nursing intervention for bullying?
A. Ignore it until physical signs appear
B. Encourage peer avoidance
C. Offer education, support, and counseling referrals
D. Promote isolation
38.A young adult faces which Eriksonian developmental task?
A. Intimacy vs. Isolation
B. Trust vs. Mistrust
C. Identity vs. Role Confusion
D. Generativity vs. Stagnation
39.What age range defines middle adulthood?
A. 20–35 years
B. 35–65 years
C. 12–20 years
D. 65 years and older
40.A nurse assessing a child who doesn’t meet speech milestones should:
A. Reassure the parent it will resolve itself
B. Initiate a developmental referral
C. Wait until the child is school-age
D. Focus on physical growth instead
41.What term describes the pattern of growth starting from general actions to more specific skills?
A. Cephalocaudal
B. Simple to complex
C. General to specific
D. Proximodistal
42.Which of the following represents an individualized rate of development?
A. All infants crawl at 6 months
B. All teens go through puberty by 12
C. Some children walk at 10 months, others at 15 months
D. Speech always precedes motor development
43.What developmental milestone is typically expected during toddlerhood?
A. Reasoning abstractly
B. Babbling
C. Walking independently
D. Losing baby teeth
44.Which age group is most likely to experience role confusion if development is disrupted?
A. Preschool
B. Adolescence
C. Middle adulthood
D. Older adulthood
45.The psychosocial task of middle adulthood according to Erikson is:
A. Initiative vs. Guilt
B. Autonomy vs. Shame
C. Generativity vs. Stagnation
D. Identity vs. Role Confusion
46.A score of 4 on the Apgar scale at 1 minute suggests:
A. Normal adjustment
B. Severe depression and need for resuscitation
C. No intervention needed
D. Excellent condition
47.Which of the following best represents psychosocial development?
A. Bone density
B. Heart rate
C. Emotional bonding and social relationships
D. Head circumference
48.A child with abnormal social interaction and rigid routines is likely to be assessed for:
A. Depression
B. Autism Spectrum Disorder
C. ADHD
D. Conduct disorder
49.What is a priority nursing assessment for an infant born at 28 weeks?
A. Visual acuity
B. Reflex symmetry
C. Respiratory effort and lung maturity
D. Growth chart percentile
50.Which condition is characterized by memory decline, confusion, and loss of independence in older adults?
A. Autism
B. Delirium
C. Alzheimer’s Disease
D. Depression
Answer Key with Rationales
1. C – Strong cry and good muscle tone each score a 2.
2. C – Cephalocaudal = head to toe development.
3. B – Toddlers respond better to statements.
4. C – Play is an expected form of expression.
5. C – Lack of babbling at 8 months is abnormal.
6. B – Routine and low stimuli benefit Alzheimer’s patients.
7. B – Erikson focuses on psychosocial stages.
8. B – Proximodistal = center to periphery.
9. B – Bradycardia and hypotension are side effects.
10.B – Cheating is typical for age 5-7
11.C – Adolescents undergo rapid changes.
12.C – Positive M-CHAT requires referral.
13.C – Weight-bearing helps prevent bone loss.
14.C – Cognitive = memory, problem-solving.
15.B – Preschool fears are normal.
16.A – Simple, direct communication is best.
17.C – Difficulty with simple directions suggests delay.
18.C – Apgar is used in infancy.
19.B – Growth is lifelong and progressive.
20.C – Children grow at unique paces.
21.B – Normal milestone attainment = expected.
22.C – Surfactant helps lungs function.
23.C – Name-calling/exclusion = bullying.
24.C – Smoking is modifiable.
25.C – Gender is not changeable.
26.D – Adolescents work on identity.
27.C – Zygote is the first stage.
28.B – Social withdrawal may indicate issues
29.C – Skills start basic, become complex.
30.D – Autonomy is typical for toddlers.
31.B – M-CHAT-R/F screens for autism.
32.D – Older adults experience bone loss.
33.B – Erikson explains fear-based behavior.
34.C – Traits align with autism.
35.A – Development can be expected or abnormal.
36.B – This presentation = score of 8.
37.C – Education and support are best.
38.A – Young adults seek intimate relationships.
39.B – Middle adulthood spans 35–65 years.
40.B – Delays need referral.
41.C – Development moves from broad to precise.
42.C – Children develop at their own pace.
43.C – Walking is a toddler milestone.
44.B – Adolescents explore identity.
45.C – Middle adults focus on generativity.
46.B – A score of 4 is concerning.
47.C – Psychosocial involves emotions and bonding.
48.B – Autism has these social/behavioral signs.
49.C – Lung maturity is critical in preemies.
50.C – Classic signs of Alzheimer’s.
