Final answer:
The nurse should first gather more information about the child's behavior and consider a full assessment to determine if the activity level is typical for their developmental stage or if there may be a disorder like ADHD. The nurse should also consider the role of parenting style in the child's behavior, in light of Erikson's theory of initiative versus guilt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most appropriate initial response from a nurse to a parent who reports that their preschool-age child is hyperactive would be to gather more detailed information. The nurse can start by asking the parent specific questions regarding the child's behavior, such as when the hyperactivity tends to occur, if there are any particular triggers, and how the child's behavior compares to other children of the same age. Understanding the context of the child's behavior is crucial for determining whether their activity level is within normal developmental ranges or indicative of a disorder such as ADHD.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increasing prevalence of parent-reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children. However, diagnosing ADHD in preschoolers requires careful evaluation as high energy levels and short attention spans are also typical of this developmental stage. Therefore, the nurse should consider a full assessment of the child and possibly refer to a pediatrician or child psychologist for further evaluation.
In the context of Erikson's theory of initiative versus guilt, it is also important for the nurse to consider the parenting style and the child's environment. Over-controlling parents may stifle a child's initiative, leading to behaviors that could be misconstrued as hyperactivity when, in fact, the child may be struggling with asserting autonomy and experiencing guilt over their natural drive to explore and take initiative.