Assessment of Kids 32 Flashcards
What does the focus of the assessment depend on?
Purpose of visit and needs of the child
What is the foundation upon which the nurse determines the needs of the child?
A thorough and thoughtful assessment
What will a health history provide the nurse?
A picture of the child’s experiences and highlights areas of concerns
When should you gather materials for an interview?
Before the interview begins
What should you consider before/during taking a health history?
- Family roles/values
- Age/developmental stage of child
- Observe child-parent interaction
What to do when approaching the caregiver?
- greet parent/child by name
- occupy child
- open ended questions
- be patient
- keep parents focused
How to approach the child?
- professionally friendly
- NO white coats
- appear non-threatening
- catch child’s attention
- approach at eye level
- give child some control
You should always approach a child at what level?
Eye level
Communicating w/ Toddler/Preschool
- involve in convo and verify w/ parent
- point to where it hurts
Communicating w/ School-aged Children
- get all info from child first
- fill in the gaps w/ parents
Communicating w/ Adolescents
- establish trust
- ask if they want family in the room
- ask about interest
- be careful w/ non-verbal com
- do NOT use slang words
Therapeutic Communication Techniques
- active listening
- open-ended questions
- eliminate barriers
- establish medical home
- questionnaires
What should you establish w/ questionnaires?
- appropriate reading level
- primary language
What are the components of a health history?
- demographics
- past health history
- review of systems
- family history
- developmental history
- functional history
- home environment
Demographics
name, birthday, gender, primary language
Past Health History
allergies, immunizations, operations, medication, menstrual history, health problems
How far back should you go in the families health history?
3 generations
Developmental History
milestones, speech, feeding, daycare/school
Functional History
dental, nutrition, physical activity, tv time, sleep, elimination, sexual activity
Home Environment
- who lives in the home
- do parents work
- when was their home built
How to prepare for the physical examination?
- gather supplies
- one tool at a time
- toys/distractions
- be confident
- warm is better than cold
When should you count the babies respiratory and heart rate?
before undressing the baby
When is it best to examine the infant?
1-2 hours before feeding
What to do for Baby Physical Exam?
- parent/caregiver hold baby
- auscultate heart, lungs, and abdomen while quiet
- head-to-toe assessment
- warm hands and stethoscope
- soft soothing voice
- bright colors
What to do for Toddler Exam?
- incorporate play
- sit with caregiver/parent
- let them touch equipment
- praise them
- tell them what you’re going to do
What to do for Preschooler Exam?
- may fear body invasion
- withdraw from procedure viewed as intrusive
- have sense of initiative
- give them choices
- praise them
What to do for School Age Exam?
- be concrete, objective, and realistic
- do NOT use medical jargon
- explain how things work
- privacy
What to do for Teen Exam?
- provide privacy
- attitude of respect
- head-to-toe approach
- limit exposure to area being examined
Steps of Physical Examination
Observation
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation
How would you take the temperature of a child < 3 years?
pull earlobe back and down
How would you take the temperature of a child > 3 years?
pull earlobe up and back
Infant heart rate
80-150
Infant respirations
25-55
Toddler heart rate
70-120
Toddler respirations
20-30
Preschool heart rate
65-110
Preschool respirations
20-25