Chapter 32: The Toddler and Family Perry: Maternal Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition

Chapter 32: The
Toddler and
Family Perry:
Maternal Child
Nursing Care, 6th
Edition
1. Which factor is most important in predisposing
toddlers to frequent infections such as otitis media,
tonsillitis, and upper respiratory tract infections?
a. Respirations are abdominal.
b. Pulse and respiratory rates are slower than those in
infancy.
c. Defense mechanisms are less efficient than those
during infancy.
d. The presence of short, straight internal ear/throat
structures and large tonsil/adenoid lymph tissue. -
ANSWER-ANS: D
Toddlers continue to have the short, straight internal ear
canal of infants. The lymphoid tissue of the tonsils and
adenoids continues to be relatively large. These two
anatomic conditions combine to predispose the toddler
to frequent infections. The abdominal respirations and
lowered pulse and respiratory rate of toddlers do not
affect their susceptibility to infection. The defense
mechanisms are more efficient compared with those of
infancy.
2. What are the psychosocial developmental tasks of
toddlerhood?
a. Development of a conscience.
b. Recognition of sex differences.
c. Ability to get along with age mates.
d. Ability to withstand delayed gratification. - ANSWERANS: D
If the need for basic trust has been satisfied, toddlers can
give up dependence for control, independence, and
autonomy. One of the tasks that the toddler is concerned
with is the ability to withstand delayed gratification.
Development of a conscience occurs during the
preschool years. The recognition of sex differences
occurs during the preschool years. The ability to get
along with age mates develops during the preschool and
school-age years.
3. A parent of an 18 month old tells the nurse that the
child says "no" to everything and has rapid mood swings.
If scolded, the child shows anger and then immediately
wants to be held. What is the nurse's best interpretation
of this behavior?
a. This is normal behavior for the child's age.
b. This is unusual behavior for the child's age.
c. The child is not effectively coping with stress.
d. The child is showing the need for more attention. -
ANSWER-ANS: A
Toddlers use distinct behaviors in the quest for
autonomy. They express their will with continued
negativity and the use of the word "no." Children at this
age also have rapid mood swings. The nurse should
reassure the parents that their child is engaged in
expected behavior for an 18 month old.
4. The nurse is planning care for a 17-month-old child.
According to Piaget, in what stage would the nurse
expect the child to be?
a. Trust
b. Preoperations
c. Secondary circular reaction
d. Tertiary circular reaction - ANSWER-ANS: D
The 17 month old is in the fifth stage of the sensorimotor
phase: tertiary circular reactions. The child uses active
experimentation to achieve previously unattainable
goals. Trust is Erikson's first stage. Preoperation is the
stage of cognitive development, usually present in older
toddlers and preschoolers. Secondary circular reactions
last from about ages 4 to 8 months.
5. Which statement describes a toddler's cognitive
development at age 20 months?
a. Searches for an object only if he or she sees it being
hidden.
b. Realizes that "out of sight" is not out of reach.
c. Puts objects into a container but cannot take them out.
d. Understands the passage of time such as "just a
minute" and "in an hour." - ANSWER-ANS: B
At this age the child is in the final sensorimotor stage.
Children will now search for an object in several potential
places, even though they saw only the original hiding
place. Children have a more developed sense of objective
permanence. They will search for objects even if they
have not seen them hidden. Putting an object in a
container but being unable to take it out indicates
tertiary circular reactions. An embryonic sense of time
exists; although toddlers may behave appropriately to
time-oriented phrases, their sense of timing is
exaggerated