Pediatric ATI Practice Exam

During a checkup, a nurse finds a 12-month-old infant unusually timid. What is the most appropriate action?

1. Encourage the infant to interact with the staff.

2. Assess the infant's gross motor skills.

3. Document the finding in the health record.

4. Discuss the observation with the parents.

The correct answer is: Discuss the observation with the parents.

Observing unusual timidity in a 12-month-old infant can be significant and warrants a thoughtful approach. Discussing the observation with the parents is the most appropriate action because parents are often the best resource for understanding their child's typical behavior and development. It allows the nurse to gather additional context about the infant's behavior in other settings and circumstances, and the parents may have insights regarding any recent changes in the child's environment or routine that could contribute to the observed timidity. Open communication with the parents can help alleviate concerns and foster a collaborative relationship, enabling the nurse to provide tailored advice or support. Furthermore, if the behavior is concerning, this discussion could lead to an appropriate referral or the implementation of strategies to encourage social interactions if needed. Encouraging the infant to interact with the staff without first understanding the full context may not be effective or could potentially exacerbate the infant's discomfort. Assessing the infant's gross motor skills or simply documenting the finding may yield valuable information but do not directly address the immediate observation of the infant's behavior, nor do they involve the parents in understanding and responding to their child's needs. Therefore, initiating a dialogue with the parents is the most effective and holistic approach in this situation.