Pediatric Assessment Flashcards
What is a complete physical assessment?
- Initial detailed assessment completed on admission or at annual check-ups
- Physical exam
- Health history
- If infant, birth information
- Demographic data
- Current health problems
What is a complete physical assessment?
- Initial detailed assessment completed on admission or at annual check-ups
- Physical exam
- Health history
- If infant, birth information
- Demographic data
- Current health problems
What is a focused-shift assessment?
- Completed on successive shifts
- Physical exam directed at current health problems
- Information pertinent to daily care
- Quick
Describe a general approach to the pediatric assessment.
- Consider the age/developmental stage of child
- Introduce yourself to the child and family and establish rapport. Use play techniques for infants and young children.
- Gather as much information as possible by observation first. “doorway assessment”
- Use systematic approach; but be flexible to accommodate child’s behavior.
How can you take into account the age and developmental stage of the child?
Implement language and communication techniques consistent with child’s developmental level and family’s needs.
What is a “doorway assessment”?
This is very important with younger children who may be afraid of you. Gather what you can from the doorway.
What systematic approach would you use with assessment of younger kids?
- Examine least intrusive areas first (i.e. hands, arms, feet) and painful and sensitive assessment last (i.e. ears, nose, mouth)
- Determine what parts of the exam is to be completed before possible crying or lack of cooperation (i.e. heart, lungs & abdomen)
- Where possible, assessments should be clustered with other care at a time when the child is relaxed and compliant.
What vital signs do you need to know?
Hypotension: < 70 + (2 x age)
Doubles birth weight by 6 months
Triples birth weight by 1 year
Quadruples weight by 2 years
*TEMP 35.5-37.5 oral (95.9-99.5 F)- May vary by source/method
Temp > 101.5 (38.5 C) - Childrens 38, 100.4 is considered febrile
What assessment of systems will you include?
- General Appearance
- Neuro
- Integumentary
- Respiratory
- Cardiovascular/Circulatory
- Abdominal/GI/GU
- Musculoskeletal
- Focused
- Other
- Safety
What will you consider what evaluating general appearance of a child?
- Lethargic or active
- reflexes
- Agitated or calm
- Compliant or combative
- Infants
- Parent - infant interaction
- Strong cry - consolable or inconsolable?
- Young Child/Adolescent
- Mood and affect
- Personal hygiene
- Communication
What will you assess in a neurological exam?
- Development
- Orientation
- PERRLA
- Sleep
- Pain
- Vision
- Hearing
What are some considerations for a neuro exam?
Infant – primitive reflexes, raising head, tracking objects, turning, sitting, standing; fontanelles
- posterior closes: 1-2 months, anterior closes: 9-18 mos
Toddler – crawling, walking, talking 2-3 word sentences
Preschooler – increases in motor skills and language
School-Age and Adolescent – increases in communication skills
What will you assess in an integumentary exam?
- Pigmentation
- Turgor - abdomen
- Lesions
- Bruising
- Wounds
- Scars
- Mucosa - pink and moist
- Body Temperature
What are some considerations for an integumentary exam?
Infants – check skin turgor in the abdomen or groin (versus hand or arm in older child and adult)
Mucosa pink and moist
What are the aspects of the respiratory assessment?
- infants are obligatory nose breathers
- Noises, secretions, cough
- Respiratory rate, rhythm
- Air movement
- Breath sounds
- Work of breathing (accessory muscles, retractions, nasal flaring)
- Oxygen requirement and delivery mode
- Respirations for FULL minute
- infants - apnea up to 20 seconds, so important to count RESP for FULL minute