During a 2-year-old well-child visit, a toddler's parent tells the nurse that this son, who is the youngest of five, rarely talks spontaneously. Which intervention should the nurse implement?

A. Trapped subcutaneous air causing crepitus will be absorbed, so the finding is not significant. While trapped air can be absorbed, crepitus can indicate underlying issues such as a pneumothorax or other trauma, so it should not be dismissed as insignificant.

B. Since this client has only a small area of crepitus, it probably is not a significant finding. The size of the area does not necessarily correlate with the severity of the underlying condition. Even a small area of crepitus should be investigated.

C. Crepitus is always abnormal and should be followed-up with a more detailed assessment. This is the most accurate interpretation. Crepitus indicates the presence of air in the subcutaneous tissues, which is always abnormal and warrants further investigation.

D. Since a fractured rib often creates crepitus, a chest x-ray should be scheduled immediately. While a chest x-ray can be part of the assessment, stating that a fractured rib "often" creates crepitus might be misleading. Crepitus can arise from other conditions, and a thorough assessment is needed before determining the exact cause.

To determine the Apgar score for the newborn infant, we assess five parameters: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color. Each parameter is scored from 0 to 2, with 2 being the highest score. Let's evaluate each parameter:

1. Heart rate: 150 beats/minute --> Score of 2.
2. Respiratory effort: Vigorous cry present --> Score of 2.
3. Muscle tone: Good muscle tone with total flexion --> Score of 2.
4. Reflex irritability: Quick reflex irritability noted --> Score of 2.
5. Color: Dusky and cyanotic skin color --> Score of 1.

Now, we sum up the scores: 2+2+2+2+1=92+2+2+2+1=9

Therefore, the Apgar score for this infant is 9.