A nurse is assessing a 3-year-old child and suspects the child may have a developmental delay. Which of the following actions is a priority for the nurse to take?

A. At this stage, the child has not yet been formally diagnosed, so providing education about a specific delay is premature and could cause unnecessary anxiety or misinformation. B. The priority action is to communicate the nurse’s assessment to the primary care provider. The provider can perform a comprehensive evaluation, confirm or rule out developmental delays, and initiate appropriate referrals or interventions. Early identification and referral are essential to maximize the child’s developmental outcomes. C. While providing resources can be helpful later, this is not the priority before a formal evaluation. Premature dissemination of resources may overwhelm parents or imply a diagnosis that has not been confirmed. D. Referral to early intervention is important but generally occurs after the provider evaluates and confirms that the child meets criteria for services. The nurse’s first step is to communicate the concern to the provider.