When teaching a student nurse about performing an assessment on a neonate, a nurse strokes the sole of the infant's foot, which causes fanning of the toes while the great toe pulls upward. The nurse teaches the student nurse that this assessment finding is
A) Indicative of cerebral edema.
B) A normal assessment finding.
C) Indicative of a genetic anomaly.
D) An abnormal assessment finding.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This assessment finding is known as the Babinski reflex and is a normal finding in infants up to 2 years of age. It indicates proper neurological development and should disappear as the child grows older. Presence of the Babinski reflex in an older child or adult can indicate neurological damage or disease.

When Teaching a Student Nurse About Performing an Assessment on a Neonate