Developmental Characteristics & Nursing Interventions

Question 1

Infant (Birth – 12 Months)

Developmental Characteristics

Answer 1

Need to have basic needs met
Attachment to primary caretaker
Oral Stage
Limited ability to communicate

Question 2

Infant (Birth – 12 Months)

Nursing Interventions

Answer 2

Allow time for adequate bonding and parenting.
Prepare parent for procedures and allow them to comfort infant.
Have parents bring in familiar objects and pictures to decorate crib.
Provide somatosensory stimulation (hold, rock, talk).
Provide appropriate bright colored toys.
Decrease number of caregivers.
Provide opportunities for self-comfort.

Question 3

Toddler (1 to 3 years) Developmental Characteristics

Answer 3

Seeks independence
Negativism
Threatened by changes in routine
Curious explorer
Sensorimotor cognition
Limited ability to communicate, reason, and understand time

Question 4

Toddler (1 to 3 years) Nursing Interventions

Answer 4

Allow time for adequate bonding and parenting.
Have parents bring in familiar objects and pictures to decorate crib.
Provide somatosensory stimulation (hold and rock).
Encourage the child to make choices and participate in care when possible.
Allow as much mobility as possible.
Incorporate daily routine into care.
Allow for verbal (crying) and motor protesting
Tell child immediately before a procedure that it will occur and explain in simple terms.

Question 5

Preschool ( 3 to 5 years) Developmental Characteristics

Answer 5

Strict conscience – feelings of being punished
Egocentric
Preoperational cognition
Inquisitive
Acquiring better language skills
Rich fantasy life and magical thinking

Question 6

Preschool ( 3 to 5 years) Nursing Interventions

Answer 6

Involve parents in care.
Have parents bring in familiar objects (transition) and pictures to decorate room.
Encourage the child to make choices and participate in care when possible.
Be realistic and truthful, explaining at child’s level of understanding.
Reinforce that hospitalization is not punishment.
Give explanations before procedures through role play, use of puppets and use of safe hospital equipment.
Allow expression of feelings through play and verbalization.
Utilize band-aids liberally.

Question 7

School Aged (6 to 12 years) Developmental Characteristics

Answer 7

Concrete cognition
Active learners
Well developed language skills and concept of time
Concerned about body image

Question 8

School Aged (6 to 12 years) Nursing Interventions

Answer 8

Involve parents in care
Encourage child and parents to make choices and participate in care when possible
Give child tasks to help with.
Explain procedures in advance using models, drawings, or other audiovisual material.
Respect child’s modesty

Question 9

Adolescent (13 to 18 years) Developmental Characteristics

Answer 9

Can deal with reality
Abstract cognition
Rapid mood swings
Rapidly changing body image

Question 10

Adolescent (13 to 18 years) Nursing Interventions

Answer 10

Encourage adolescent to make choices and participate in care when possible
Give realistic and truthful explanations
Use body diagrams or models to explain procedures and use correct terminology to describe procedure
Provide as much information as the adolescent is able to handle
Involve parents in care, but give adolescent time alone with nurse to ask questions, clarify information, and discuss concerns
Encourage adolescent to ask for pain medications as needed
Maintain privacy
Allow peers to visit