The nurse is assessing a 12-month-old boy with an English-speaking father and a Spanish-speaking mother. The boy does not say 'mama' or 'dada' yet. What is the priority intervention?

The correct answer is C, Perform a developmental evaluation of the child. This is the priority intervention because the child's delayed speech development may indicate a potential issue that requires further assessment. By conducting a developmental evaluation, the nurse can identify any underlying developmental delays or language disorders that may be affecting the child's speech. Encouraging the parents to speak English (choice A) may not address the root cause of the delay. Referring the child to a developmental specialist (choice B) is premature without first evaluating the child's development. Asking the mother about Spanish words (choice D) is not as comprehensive as a formal evaluation.