Practice Question
A nurse is caring for an 18-month-old toddler who has been hospitalized for 10 days. After the toddler's mother leaves the room. the nurse observes the toddler sitting quietly in the corner of the crib. sucking her thumb. When the nurse approaches the crib, the toddler turns away from the nurse. The nurse should understand that these behaviors indicate which of the following developmental reactions?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Regression
Rationale:
🟦 Regression is common in hospitalized toddlers, especially when separated from their primary caregiver, and thumb-sucking is a classic regressive behavior.
🟦 Hospitalization disrupts the toddler’s sense of security, prompting a return to earlier developmental behaviors that previously offered comfort.
🟦 Sitting quietly, withdrawing, and turning away from the nurse are also signs of emotional regression and detachment, which can occur after prolonged stress.
🟦 At 18 months, the child is highly dependent on parents for emotional regulation, and separation intensifies vulnerability, prompting regressive coping.
🟦 These behaviors do not indicate advancement toward autonomy or resentment—they represent a protective, temporary developmental backslide used to cope with anxiety and loss of routine.
Resentment toward the mother
🟦 There is no evidence that the toddler is demonstrating resentment toward the mother, as resentment would involve outward anger, crying, or avoidance directed specifically at the mother.
🟦 The described behavior—quiet sitting, thumb-sucking, withdrawal—is directed inward rather than toward another person.
🟦 Toddlers lack the cognitive maturity to process emotional separation as “resentment”; they experience separation anxiety and distress instead.
🟦 This choice misinterprets normal developmental responses and attributes adult-like emotional complexity to a young child.
🟦 Therefore, this is an incorrect interpretation of the behavior and does not align with typical pediatric psychological responses.
Developing autonomy
🟦 Autonomy involves assertiveness, exploration, independence, and wanting to do things without help—not withdrawal, detachment, or thumb-sucking.
🟦 Toddlers developing autonomy typically display behaviors such as saying “no,” trying to self-feed, or exploring their environment.
🟦 The child’s quiet sitting and avoidance indicate reduced engagement, the opposite of autonomous development.
🟦 Stress from hospitalization usually delays autonomy and instead promotes dependence and regression, not independence.
🟦 Therefore, this option does not match the toddler’s observed behaviors.
An anxiety reaction
🟦 While anxiety is common during separation, the behavior described aligns more with the detachment and regression phase, not acute anxiety.
🟦 Anxiety in toddlers typically presents as crying, clinging, fear of strangers, or searching for the parent.
🟦 However, the toddler here is quiet, withdrawn, and sucking her thumb—behaviors that reflect chronic coping, not immediate anxiety.
🟦 This behavior suggests the child has moved past initial protest into despair or detachment, which is consistent with regression.
🟦 Therefore, although related, this option does not fully describe the developmental pattern shown.
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This question is from Custom: Peds Assessment one 2025 which contains 53 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Pediatrics
- Answer Choices: 4