Parents of a child recently diagnosed with Down syndrome relate to the nurse that they "feel guilty about causing the condition." The best response by the nurse is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome, and while there is an increased risk for women over the age of 35 giving birth to a child with Down syndrome due to a greater chance of errors occurring during cell division, the exact cause is unknown. It is important for the nurse to reassure the parents that they did not cause their child's condition and that they should not feel guilty.

Parents of a Child Recently Diagnosed with Down Syndrome Relate