Final answer:
The nurse should ask 'What did your child eat for breakfast?' to best assess a child's nutritional status who may be experiencing physical neglect. This specific question can provide insights into the child's daily diet.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to best assess the nutritional status of a child who may be experiencing physical neglect, the nurse should ask the parents, 'What did your child eat for breakfast?' This question is specific, and factual, and can potentially give insights into the child's daily diet. 'Has your child always been so thin?' is more subjective and may lead to defenses from the parents.
'Is your child a picky eater?' is irrelevant if the parents are not providing sufficient food. And 'Do you think your child eats enough?' is a yes/no question that does not offer much insight into the actual nutritional intake.
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