A nurse observes a 3-year-old client willingly sharing candy with a sibling. According to Peplau, which psychological stage of development should the nurse recognize that this child has completed?
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A
Learning to count on others
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B
Learning to delay satisfaction
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C
Identifying oneself
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D
Developing skills in participation
The choice that aligns with the client data is Learning to delay satisfaction.
A. Learning to count on others
This might be chosen when the idea in “Learning to count on others” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
B. Learning to delay satisfaction
This is supported by the detail that The nurse should recognize that this client has completed the Learning to delay satisfaction stage of development according to Peplaus interpersonal theory. This stage typically occurs in toddlerhood when one learns the satisfaction of pleasing others. Need: Psychosocial Integrity Developmental theories help the nurse connect present coping and relationship patterns to age-expected tasks, which can inform realistic goals, communication style, and supportive interventions. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.
C. Identifying oneself
This could seem tempting if the idea in “Identifying oneself” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
D. Developing skills in participation
This might be chosen when the idea in “Developing skills in participation” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
Conclusion
The scenario is best handled by identifying what the nurse must interpret or prioritize first and then choosing the statement that fits that requirement with the least distortion. The distractors have surface appeal, but they do not align as tightly with the clinical cue embedded in the stem.