Final answer:
A nurse using developmental theory focuses on the orderly and predictive process of growth and development in children, taking into account physical, cognitive, and psychosocial domains.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is caring for pediatric patients and using the developmental theory to plan nursing care, the focus of the nurse's care is typically centered on how humans experience an orderly and predictive process of growth and development. This approach draws from the numerous theories studied by developmental psychologists, which view development as a lifelong process and can encompass various domains such as physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Therefore, the nurse would be particularly attentive to how the children are progressing through various developmental stages, and how they are achieving related milestones within an expected time frame, making sure to consider their emotional, social, and personality development in addition to physical growth.