Potter and Perry, Fundamentals: Chapter 11 - Developmental Theories

When caring for a middle-aged adult exhibiting maladaptive coping skills, the nurse is trying to determine the cause of the patient's behavior. From a growth and development perspective, what should the nurse recall? a. Individuals have uniform patterns of growth and development. b. Health is promoted based on how many developmental failures a patient experiences. c. Culture usually has no effect on predictable patterns of growth and development. d. When individuals experience repeated developmental failures, inadequacies sometimes result. The nursing instructor will need to provide further instruction to the student who states a. "Intellectual development is affected by cognitive processes." b. "Socioemotional processes can influence an individual's growth and development." c. "Breast development is an example of a change resulting from biological processes." d. "An individual's biological processes determine physical characteristics and do not affect growth and development." Which of these statements would be most appropriate for a nurse to state when assessing an adult patient for growth and developmental delays? a. "How many times per week do you exercise?" b. "Are you able to stand on one foot for 5 seconds?" c. "Would you please describe your usual activities during the day?" d. "How many hours a day do you spend watching television or sitting in front of a computer?" The nurse knows that a priority reason for being knowledgeable about biophysical developmental theories is to a. Understand how the physical body grows. b. Predict definite patterns of cognitive development. c. Anticipate how patients' social behaviors develop. d. Describe the process of psychological development. While assessing an 18-month-old toddler, the nurse distinguishes normal from abnormal findings by remembering that Gesell's theory of development states a. "The developmental stage of the toddler is affected solely by environmental influence." b. "Developmental patterns are not affected by gene activity." c. "Skill development should be identical to that of other toddlers in the playroom." d. "Environmental influence does not affect the sequence of development." When utilizing Freud's psychoanalytical/psychosocial theory, the nurse recalls that a. Adult personality is the result of resolved conflicts between sources of sexual pleasure and the mandates of reality. b. Development occurs throughout the life span and focuses on psychosocial stages. c. The genital stage precedes the phallic stage of development. d. Problems evident in adult life are due to early successes and resolution of earlier developmental stages. The nurse is teaching a young adult couple about promoting the health of their 8-year-old child. The nurse knows that the parents understand the developmental stage their child is in according to Erikson when they state, "We should a. Provide proper support for learning new skills." b. Encourage devoted relationships with others." c. Limit choices and provide harsh punishment for mistakes." d. Not leave our child at school for longer than 3 hours at a time." Jean Piaget's cognitive developmental theory focuses on four stages of development, including a. Formal operations. b. Intimacy versus isolation. c. Latency. d. The postconventional level. According to Piaget's formal operations level, a 13-year-old adolescent will likely a. Hit other students to deal with environmental change. b. Use play to understand her surroundings. c. Question her parents about an upcoming presidential election. d. Question where the ice is hiding when ice has melted in her drink. According to Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the nurse should allow a hospitalized 4-year-old patient to safely play with a. The pump administering intravenous fluids. b. The blood pressure cuff. c. A baseball bat. d. A book to read alone in a quiet place. Which of these manifestations, if identified in a 6-year-old patient, should the nurse associate with a possible developmental delay based on Piaget's theory? a. The child speaks in complete sentences but often talks only about himself. b. The child still plays with a favorite doll that he has had since he was a toddler. c. The child continues to suck his thumb. d. The child describes an event from his own perspective, even though the entire family was present. An 18-month-old patient is brought into the clinic for evaluation because the mother is concerned. The 18-month-old child hits her siblings and says only "No" when communicating verbally. According to Piaget's theory, what recommendation should the nurse make a priority? a. Consult the social worker because the child is hitting other children. b. Reassure the mother that the child is developmentally within specified norms. c. Encourage the mother to seek psychological counseling for the child. d. Remove all toys from the child's room until this behavior ceases. A formerly independent and active older adult becomes severely withdrawn upon admission to a nursing home. When approaching this patient, which intervention should the nurse plan first? a. Offer a reward for participation in all events. b. Encourage the patient to attend all social events scheduled for the patients. c. Allow the patient to incorporate personal belongings into her room. d. Advise the patient of the importance of attending mandatory activities. The parents of a 14-year-old boy express concern over their child's rebellious behavior. The nurse should plan to respond to the parents' concern by informing them that their a. Child should be referred to a juvenile correctional facility. b. Child's behavior is normal because the adolescent is trying to adjust to his emerging identity. c. Child's behavior is a matter of concern because he is likely conflicted about establishing companionship with a partner. d. Child's behavior is expected because he is expressing his need to support future generations. The teaching plan for a 3-year-old child who is at risk for developmental delay should include which of these instructions for the parents? a. Encourage play as your child is exploring his or her surroundings. b. Insist that your child discuss various points of view, not just his or her own. c. Discuss world events with your child to foster language development. d. Actively encourage your child to read lengthy books to expedite reading and writing abilities. A nurse should instruct the parents of a 10-year-old child to keep which of the following theoretical principles in mind when dealing with a behavioral problem at home? a. Strategies that worked well with the first child will be equally as effective for the second child. b. Encourage the child to volunteer some time at a local hospital to instill a sense of fulfillment. c. Bargaining about chores in exchange for privileges may be an effective method of encouraging helpful activities. d. Do not offer praise for accomplishments and punishment for behavioral issues. The parents of a 15-month-old child express concern to the nurse about their child's thumb-sucking habit. Which of these explanations related to the child's age and developmental level would be most appropriate for the nurse to give the parents? a. Thumb sucking at this age indicates a developmental delay and should be further assessed. b. Sucking achieves a pleasing result for infants, and generalizing that action by thumb sucking is normal. c. Thumb sucking at this age demonstrates a transition away from egocentric thinking. d. At this age, thumb sucking will enhance language development. Which of these approaches would be most appropriate for the nurse to use when teaching a 4-year-old patient about a scheduled surgery? a. Give the parents a book to read about the procedure and do not discuss the procedure with the child to decrease anxiety. b. Set boundaries before teaching by telling the child that she can ask only three questions because time is limited. c. Insist that the parents wait outside the room to ensure privacy of the child. d. Allow the child to touch and hold medical equipment such as thermometers and syringes. When developing a plan of care concerning growth and development for a hospitalized adolescent, what should the nurse do? (Select all that apply.) a. Stick with one developmental theory for consistency. b. Apply developmental theories when making observations of the individual's patterns of growth and development. c. Compare the individual's assessment findings versus established normal findings. d. Recognize his/her own moral developmental level. e. Apply a unidimensional life span perspective. The nurse is planning playroom activities for a hospitalized 6-year-old patient. Which of the following age appropriate items that the nurse should ensure are available? (Select all that apply.) a. Crayons and paper b. Children's books c. 500-piece puzzle d. Building blocks e. Magazines and newspapers

ANS: D "If individuals experience repeated developmental failures, inadequacies sometimes result" is a true statement. Developmental failures could manifest with ineffective coping skills. However, when an individual experiences successes, health is promoted. Patients have unique patterns of growth and development that are not uniform. Nurses must consider the influence of culture and context on growth and development.

Principles of development

Continuous process through life, orderly sequence, predictable but unique ranges, systems mature at different rates, more rapid in early periods.

bio physical development

How are physical bodies grow and change

biological process

Personality, emotions, relationships with others

biological process

Physical growth and development