A nurse on a pediatric unit is caring for a toddler who has poor dietary intake. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. "Sit on the edge of the bed while I tap your knee." The patellar reflex, also known as the knee-jerk reflex, is tested by tapping the patellar tendon while the client’s leg dangles. This does not assess the Babinski reflex, which involves stroking the sole of the foot.
B. "Lie down and I will stroke the bottom of your foot." The Babinski reflex is tested by stroking the lateral aspect of the sole from heel to toe. A normal response in adults is toe flexion, while dorsiflexion of the great toe with fanning of the others is abnormal and indicates neurological dysfunction.
C. "Place your foot in my hand and I will tap the back of your heel." This describes testing for the Achilles tendon reflex, which assesses the function of the S1 spinal nerve. The Babinski reflex requires a stroking motion along the foot’s sole rather than tapping the heel.
D. "Relax your arm across your chest and I will test your elbow extension." This describes testing the triceps reflex, which assesses the function of the C6-C7 nerve roots. The Babinski reflex is specific to neurological assessment of the lower extremities.

A. "I can have two glasses of wine with dinner." While moderate alcohol consumption may be acceptable, guidelines typically recommend limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day for women. Two glasses of wine may exceed this recommendation, and excessive alcohol can contribute to higher blood pressure.
B. "I will set my blood pressure goal at 130 over 84." The target blood pressure for individuals with mild hypertension is usually less than 130/80 mmHg. Setting a goal of 130/84 does not meet the recommended guidelines for managing hypertension effectively.
C. "I should exercise for 15 minutes two times per week!" While any exercise is beneficial, the general recommendation for adults is to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, which translates to about 30 minutes on most days. Exercising only two times per week for 15 minutes is insufficient for achieving cardiovascular health and blood pressure management.
D. "I should decrease my salt intake to 2 grams per day." Decreasing salt intake to 2 grams per day indicates an understanding of dietary recommendations for managing hypertension. The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium intake to no more than 2,300 mg per day, and further reduction to 1,500 mg may be beneficial for those with hypertension. Reducing salt can help lower blood pressure effectively.