During a well-baby visit, the nurse measures the height and weight of an infant and plots the measurements on the baby's growth chart. The nurse notes a slowed growth pattern

Question

Which of the following would be an appropriate action for the nurse to take? 1. Obtain an endocrinologist referral.
2. Perform a nutritional assessment.
3. Wait until the next visit to intervene.
4. Assess for circulatory problems.

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: Referring the baby to an endocrinologist would be done by the health care provider, not the nurse, as this is outside the nurse's scope of practice.
Rationale 2: The nurse should perform a nutritional assessment because slowed growth is an early indicator of inadequate nutrition. It is expected that the rate of growth will remain consistent throughout infancy.
Rationale 3: The nurse should not wait until the next visit to intervene as early intervention, which commonly involves parent education and support, can often resolve problems.
Rationale 4: Before looking for other causes of slowed growth, the nurse should first assess the baby's nutritional status. Assessing for circulatory problems might follow if adequate nutrition has already been established.