Prepare for the Certified Pediatric Nurse Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with helpful hints and thorough explanations. Excel in your certification test and advance your nursing career!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


Which statement about growth and development is true?

  1. Growth implies an increase in size and development

  2. Development refers to the maturation of structures but does not include growth

  3. Growth and development usually progress from specific to general

  4. Development refers to maturation and includes growth

The correct answer is: Development refers to maturation and includes growth

The true statement about growth and development is that development refers to maturation and includes growth. In the context of pediatric nursing, development encompasses the broader spectrum of changes that occur as a child matures, which includes both cognitive and physical growth. When considering growth, it typically refers to the quantitative increase in size or mass, such as a child's height and weight. Development, however, is more qualitative and involves the progression of skills and abilities, such as cognitive, emotional, and social maturation. Therefore, development is not limited to just maturation of structures but also incorporates the aspect of growth, as both processes are interrelated during childhood and contribute to overall well-being. In contrast, the other statements do not fully encompass the relationship between growth and development. The idea that development refers only to maturation without including growth oversimplifies the interplay between the two processes. Additionally, while growth and development can follow a certain pattern, they do not strictly adhere to a specific-to-general progression at all times; rather they can be influenced by numerous factors such as genetics and environment.