During a well-child visit, a parent asks why their 7-month-old has started to reach for objects with one hand before picking up smaller items with the fingers. Which explanation should the nurse give?
"Your baby is demonstrating proximal-to-distal development, gaining control from the center outward"
Your baby should use both hands equally at this age"
"This is a sign of delayed fine motor development"
"Your baby is skipping developmental milestones"
The Correct Answer is A
A. Infant motor development follows a proximal-to-distal pattern, meaning control develops from the center of the body outward. At 7 months, infants first gain control of shoulders and arms, allowing them to reach with the whole hand. Later, fine motor skills like the pincer grasp (using thumb and forefinger) develop around 9–12 months, enabling the child to pick up small objects. This progression is typical and expected.
B. At 7 months, infants are still developing bilateral coordination. It is normal for a baby to favor one hand or alternate hands inconsistently. Expecting equal use of both hands at this stage reflects a misunderstanding of normal motor development.
C. Fine motor skills, such as using the thumb and forefinger to grasp small objects, emerge later. Reaching with the whole hand at 7 months is part of normal development. Labeling it as delayed is incorrect and may cause unnecessary concern.
D. The infant is following the typical developmental sequence, progressing from gross motor to fine motor control. Reaching with one hand before using the pincer grasp does not indicate skipped milestones. Developmental milestones are achieved in a predictable order, and this behavior is within normal limits.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A"]
Explanation
A. The client shows signs of magnesium sulfate toxicity: oliguria (urine output <30 mL/hr) and absent deep-tendon reflexes. These are potentially life-threatening signs that require immediate intervention, including preparing for emergent delivery if maternal or fetal status is unstable. Stopping the magnesium infusion and preparing for emergency interventions is critical.
B. Administering Vitamin K is not indicated in this scenario. Vitamin K is used to treat or prevent coagulopathy, such as in newborns or clients on certain anticoagulants, but it does not counteract magnesium toxicity.
C. Increasing the magnesium sulfate infusion would worsen toxicity. The correct action is to stop the infusion immediately and prepare to administer calcium gluconate as an antidote if prescribed.
D. Assessing maternal glucose levels is unrelated to the immediate concern of magnesium toxicity. While glucose monitoring may be part of overall prenatal care, it is not a priority in this emergent situation.
E. Placing the client in Trendelenburg position is not indicated. Positioning does not treat magnesium toxicity and could worsen respiratory compromise in a client with severe preeclampsia. The priority is stopping magnesium, assessing maternal and fetal status, and preparing for emergency delivery if necessary.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Feeling hot when the room is cold is not a typical sign or complication of severe preeclampsia. This symptom is more related to general temperature sensitivity and does not indicate the hematologic or vascular complications associated with preeclampsia.
B. Evidence of bleeding, including gums bleeding, petechiae, and purpura, may indicate thrombocytopenia or a progression toward HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets), a severe complication of preeclampsia. These findings suggest impaired coagulation and increased risk of bleeding, which are life-threatening if not promptly managed. Monitoring for such hematologic complications is essential in severe preeclampsia.
C. Edema of the lower extremities is common in normal pregnancy and mild preeclampsia, but it is not a specific sign of a serious complication. While generalized edema can indicate worsening preeclampsia, isolated lower-extremity edema is not as closely associated with life-threatening complications as bleeding or hematologic abnormalities.
D. Periods of fetal movement followed by quiet periods are typical fetal behavior and do not indicate a maternal complication of preeclampsia. Monitoring for changes in fetal movement is important, but this finding alone does not reflect maternal complications of severe preeclampsia.
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