Final answer:
The nurse assesses cognitive and psychosocial skills such as decision-making, symbolic thinking, social initiation, and a sense of purpose to determine if a preschooler has met developmental guidelines. Physical development is also checked against known developmental milestones, like motor skills and balance. These assessments ensure the child's development aligns with what is expected for their age group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's assessment for determining if a client has met the developmental guidelines for a preschooler would involve evaluating certain cognitive and psychosocial skills. In the cognitive domain, preschoolers demonstrate the ability to count, name colors, tell their name and age, make simple decisions, and grasp basic time concepts. The nurse may also look for symbolic thinking that is evident in their pretend play and their ability to ask questions like "Why?". Additionally, a nurse would assess the child's psychosocial development, ensuring the child is initiating activities, asserting control, and feeling a sense of purpose in social interactions — aligning with Erickson's theory of initiative versus guilt.
For physical development, a nurse would note if the child has mastered certain motor skills like using a tripod grasp to hold a crayon, skipping on alternate feet, and balancing on one foot for a reasonable amount of time. All these factors help health professionals to determine whether a child's development is on track according to the normative approach which utilizes developmental milestones as guidelines.