Final answer:
A pediatric patient is at risk of nutritional screening when experiencing a change in rate of growth. This can indicate potential health or nutritional issues, and it is important to monitor growth rates consistently during development.
Step-by-step explanation:
When reviewing 2 years of serial data on a CDC growth chart, a pediatric patient is identified to be at risk on nutritional screening when experiencing an A. Change in rate of growth. A change in the rate of growth can be indicative of a health issue or nutritional deficiency. Continuation on his or her line of growth is normal, while a growth spurt is a natural part of development, and a plateau in growth can sometimes be normal, depending on the age and development phase of the child.
Growth and development are most rapid during infancy and slower throughout the rest of childhood until adolescence. Therefore, consistent monitoring of a child's growth rate is essential to ensure they are developing normally. A stunting growth deficit is diagnosed in children who are at least two standard deviations below the median height for their age in a reference population and can be a sign that the child is at nutritional risk.