In which situation would the nurse consider family members as the primary source of information?

• A. Client is an infant or child
• B. Client is brought in as an emergency
• C. Client is critically ill and disoriented
• D. Client is an adult with stable condition

Answer: (A)

In pediatric care, children can’t reliably describe their symptoms or provide a complete medical history, so family members become the primary source of information. Parents or guardians know the child’s baseline—how they normally behave, eat, sleep, and develop—and can report recent changes, medications, allergies, past illnesses, and exposures. This input helps the nurse quickly establish a baseline and identify new or worsening problems, which is essential for infants and young children who can’t communicate their experiences. In contrast, adults who are able to respond and understand questions are usually the best source for their own history.