The developmental markers a nurse
Consider the following patient scenario:
A mother comes in with 9-month-old girl. The infant is 68.5cm in length (25th percentile per CDC growth chart), weighs 6.75kg (5th percentile per CDC growth chart), and has a head circumference of 43cm (25th percentile per CDC growth chart).
Describe the developmental markers a nurse should assess for a 9-month-old female infant. Discuss the recommendations you would give the mother. Explain why these recommendations are based on evidence-based practice.
Sample Answer
- Gross motor skills: The infant should be able to sit without support, stand with help, and cruise along furniture. They should also be able to roll over in both directions.
- Fine motor skills: The infant should be able to grasp objects with their whole hand, transfer objects from one hand to the other, and bang two objects together. They should also be starting to explore their environment by putting objects in their mouth.
- Language development: The infant should be babbling and cooing, and they should be starting to understand simple words and phrases. They may also start saying their first words, such as “mama” and “dada.”