Question

A father brings his 12-month-old son in for the child's regular well-infant examination. The nurse knows that the best approach to the physical examination for this patient will be to:

a. have the infant sit on the parent's lap to complete as much of the examination as possible.
b. place the infant on the examining table with parent out of view.
c. perform examination in head-to-toe direction.
d. completely undress the child and leave him undressed during the examination.

Answer 1

The best way to conduct a physical exam on a 12-month-old infant is to have them sit on the parent's lap. This helps in providing comfort to the child and allows the healthcare provider to assess important developmental milestones and the infant's growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

When conducting a physical examination on a 12-month-old infant, the best approach according to nursing practices is a. have the infant sit on the parent's lap to complete as much of the examination as possible. This provides the child with comfort and security, which can lead to a more successful and less stressful exam both for the infant and the healthcare provider. Key developmental milestones to be considered during such an examination include the infant's ability to stand while holding onto furniture, watching dropped toys, cooperating with dressing, waving goodbye, and babbling a few words. These milestones may vary among infants of the same age as developmental timing is not exact.

Furthermore, the baby's growth during infancy is monitored by comparing their weight and length with standard values for their age. Any significant deviations may prompt further inquiry into the child's nutrition or health. By the 12-month mark, an infant's dental development is underway as they start teething, making oral health an additional point of consideration in the examination.