A 14-year-old female client with constitutional growth delay tells a nurse, "I am not getting any taller! I am the same height I was last year!" How should the nurse respond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Constitutional growth delay is a common variation of growth and development where a child's growth and development slows down temporarily. In most cases, the child will eventually grow at a normal rate, but just later than usual. Therefore, the nurse should reassure the client that she will eventually reach her full height by adulthood. The other options are not appropriate because referring to an endocrinologist and prescribing growth supplements is not necessary and giving a negative answer can cause emotional distress.

A 14-Year-Old Female Client with Constitutional Growth Delay Tells a Nurse