solved

Question
Answered step-by-step
Asked by AgentTurkey2239

The childhood age range includes three major developmental stages. It’s important for the nurse to have knowledge of each stage to ensure performing a thorough assessment. (Grand Canyon University (Ed), 2018) Both physical assessments for an adult and child include obtaining a health history. The adult patient will be the one to provide this information, whereas the child patient will have a caregiver to be their historian. (Grand Canyon University (Ed), 2018) During the assessment, the nurse will observe the behaviors of the caregiver and the interaction between the child and the caregiver. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) The approach used to perform a physical assessment on an adult versus a child is different as well. When performing a physical assessment on a child, the nurse will build rapport by explaining the steps in a fashion that meets the child’s level of understanding. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) The nurse can gain the child’s trust by being honest about what is to be expected. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) A great way to provide comfort and a relaxed environment for the child is by the use of distraction. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021)

Some ideas of how to distract a child are by tapping, singing, storytelling, and playing the game “I Spy.”  Another difference between assessing an adult and a child is the order of the exam. When performing a physical assessment on an adult, the nurse will work in a head-to-toe fashion. (Grand Canyon University (Ed), 2018) This fashion is not the same for the assessment of a child. With a child, the nurse will work in from most comfortable to least comfortable and will leave the painful areas of examination for the end. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) There are also differences in equipment used and areas assessed while obtaining the vital signs of a pediatric patient and an adult patient. Because most children are smaller than adults, the pediatric blood pressure cuff is much smaller than the one used for adults. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) Obtaining height and weight is done for both an adult and a child. However, for a child, the data is plotted on a growth chart to ensure the child is developing appropriately to their age. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) One last difference to be noted is the assessment of the child’s gait during their physical exam. The nurse will assess for the presence of in-toeing, out-toeing, knocked knees, limp legs, and bowlegs. (University of Utah (Ed), 2021) Because every stage of development during the childhood years includes vast changes, it’s important for the nurse to have a strong understanding of each in order to deliver a safe and patient-centered assessment. (Walker, 2018)

 

SCIENCE
HEALTH SCIENCE
NURSING
NRS 434

******CLICK ORDER NOW BELOW AND OUR WRITERS WILL WRITE AN ANSWER TO THIS ASSIGNMENT OR ANY OTHER ASSIGNMENT, DISCUSSION, ESSAY, HOMEWORK OR QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE. OUR PAPERS ARE PLAGIARISM FREE*******."