A mother brings her male preschooler to the clinic because he has had diarrhea, vomiting, and high fevers for the past three days. The child begins to cry and cling to his mother when the nurse enters the examination room. Which action should the nurse implement to get the child to cooperate?

Choice A reason: Assessing while the child cries may yield inaccurate findings (e.g., elevated heart rate) and increase distress, hindering cooperation in a preschooler already ill and scared. Choice B reason: Extra staff might overwhelm the child further, escalating fear and resistance; it’s less effective than building trust individually in this non-emergent situation. Choice C reason: Talking to the mother and focusing on a toy builds rapport, distracts the child, and reduces anxiety, leveraging preschooler psychology for cooperation during the exam. Choice D reason: Explaining to a preschooler may not overcome fear due to limited comprehension; concrete reassurance (e.g., toys) works better than abstract reasoning here.