A nurse is teaching a class about motor skills that develop in the first year of life.
The nurse should include that which of the following motor skills develops first?

Choice A rationale

Primary prevention aims to prevent the onset of disease by reducing exposure to risk factors and promoting overall health before any pathological processes begin. Educating a community on nutrition and physical activity addresses the root causes of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. By modifying lifestyle behaviors, the nurse helps individuals maintain normal blood pressure levels (less than 120/80 mmHg) and healthy fasting blood glucose levels (70 to 99 mg/dL) throughout their lifespan.

Choice B rationale

Support groups for managing complications represent tertiary prevention, which focuses on rehabilitation and reducing the impact of a long-term disease. Once complications have occurred, the goal shifts to maximizing functional capacity and preventing further deterioration or disability. While vital for those already affected, this intervention does not prevent the initial occurrence of the conditions within the broader community. Therefore, it does not meet the scientific criteria for a primary prevention strategy.

Choice C rationale

Screening for early signs of disease is categorized as secondary prevention. The purpose of secondary prevention is early detection and rapid intervention to halt the progression of a condition during its asymptomatic or early stages. In this scenario, identifying elevated blood pressure or impaired glucose tolerance allows for prompt treatment, but it occurs after the physiological dysfunction has already started. This differs from primary prevention, which avoids the development of the disease altogether.

Choice D rationale

Providing medications to manage diagnosed conditions is a form of tertiary prevention or treatment. This intervention is directed at individuals who already possess a clinical diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes. The pharmacological management of blood sugar and blood pressure aims to stabilize the patient and prevent acute or chronic complications such as stroke or kidney failure. Because the disease is already present and being managed, it cannot be considered a primary preventive measure.

Choice A rationale

Identifying allergies is the highest priority during admission to ensure client safety and prevent life-threatening type one hypersensitivity reactions or anaphylaxis. The nurse must establish a baseline of substances the client must avoid before any medications, foods, or contrast media are administered. This action aligns with the assessment phase of the nursing process, which must occur before planning or intervention. Failure to document allergies immediately increases the risk of significant medical errors and systemic physiological harm.

Choice B rationale

Developing a plan of care is a vital component of the nursing process but it cannot occur until a comprehensive assessment is finished. While planning organizes nursing interventions and sets measurable goals for the client, it is not the most immediate priority compared to identifying potential allergens. The nurse must first gather all relevant subjective and objective data, including allergy history, to ensure the developed plan is safe and tailored to the specific physiological needs of the individual.

Choice C rationale

Teaching the client about their diagnosis is an important nursing intervention aimed at improving health literacy and treatment adherence. However, the client may not be ready to learn during the initial admission phase due to stress, pain, or the need for immediate physical stabilization. Education is a secondary priority that follows the stabilization and safety assessment of the client. The nurse must prioritize safety-related data collection, such as allergy status, over-educational needs during the first moments of the admission process.

Choice D rationale

Providing a schedule of visiting hours to the family is a helpful administrative task that supports the psychosocial needs of the client and their support system. While this promotes a family-centered care environment, it does not address the immediate physiological safety of the client. In the hierarchy of nursing actions, clinical safety and assessment of risk factors always take precedence over non-clinical communication with family members. Therefore, this action is the lowest priority during the initial assessment.