CMS Practical Nursing (PN) Pediatrics Practice Test

Access More Questions
Which developmental screening instrument is commonly used to identify delays in children in primary care?
Correct Answer:
Denver Developmental Screening Test II (Denver II).
Explanation:
Screening for developmental delays in primary care relies on a brief, multi-domain tool that can be quickly used during a well-child visit. The Denver Developmental Screening Test II is designed for exactly that setting: it screens children from birth to about six years across four domains—personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, language, and gross motor—and flags children who may have a delay, guiding a need for more comprehensive follow-up assessment. Its popularity in pediatric practice comes from being relatively quick to administer, straightforward to score, and specifically intended for routine screening rather than diagnosis. If a child is flagged, clinicians can proceed with a more in-depth evaluation or refer for early intervention services. In contrast, WeeFIM measures functional independence and is typically used in rehabilitation or discharge planning, not as a general primary-care screen. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales provide a detailed assessment of adaptive behaviors and are more time-consuming and usually used for diagnostic or eligibility purposes rather than quick screening in busy clinics. The PHQ-9 is a depression screen designed for adults (or older adolescents) and does not assess developmental milestones in children.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to CMS Practical Nursing (PN) Pediatrics Practice Test for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions