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Pediatric Nursing Overview

Oct 20, 2025

Overview

This lecture review covers family-centered care, child development stages, key pediatric nursing interventions, and the recognition and management of oxygenation and perfusion disorders in children.

Family Centered Care & Communication

  • Incorporate family preferences, cultural values, and needs into care plans through open communication and collaboration.
  • Use respectful, non-judgmental language and provide clear, honest information to families.
  • Build rapport by tailoring communication to the child's developmental stage and involving parents.

Child Growth, Development, & Nursing Interventions

  • Know major theories: Erikson (psychosocial stages) and Piaget (cognitive stages) with related milestones.
  • Key Erikson stages: Trust vs Mistrust (infant), Autonomy vs Shame (toddler), Initiative vs Guilt (preschooler), Industry vs Inferiority (school-age), Identity vs Role Confusion (adolescent).
  • Key Piaget stages: Sensorimotor (0-2), Preoperational (2-7), Concrete Operational (7-11), Formal Operational (12+).
  • Anticipatory guidance includes injury prevention, nutrition, immunizations, play, and age-appropriate safety.

Safety, Nutrition, & Milestones

  • Nutrition: infants (breast/formula), toddlers (whole milk, small portions), preschool (colorful foods), school-age (calcium), teens (iron/calories).
  • Injury prevention: choking/SIDS (infant), poisoning/falls (toddler), play/water safety (preschool), sports/stranger safety (school-age), auto/alcohol (adolescent).
  • Know basic developmental milestones (e.g., "2 smiles, 4 rolls...").

Recognizing & Managing Disorders

  • Identify signs of abuse/neglect; document and act as advocate for the child.
  • Failure to Thrive: assess for feeding issues, parent-child interaction, neglect, illness.
  • Sensory disorders: screen for vision/hearing issues; know common conditions (e.g., otitis media).

Oxygenation Disorders & Interventions

  • Recognize respiratory distress: tachypnea, wheezing, retractions, low oxygen saturation.
  • Common conditions: asthma, bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, RSV, strep throat.
  • Age-appropriate pain scales: FLACC (infant/toddler), CHEOPS (toddler), Faces (preschool), Numeric (school-age/adolescent).
  • Preventative measures: vaccines, no smoking, SIDS precautions.
  • Interventions differ by age and condition; focus on airway management, oxygen, and medications as needed.

Perfusion Disorders & Management

  • Recognize symptoms of congenital heart defects, anemia, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, Kawasaki disease.
  • Key interventions: monitor for complications, administer medications, provide education for chronic illnesses.
  • Support families during terminal illness and bereavement with developmentally appropriate communication.

Contagious Diseases & Precautions

  • Know symptoms, isolation precautions, and return-to-school guidelines for diseases like chickenpox, measles, lice, and pertussis.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Family Centered Care — partnership with families in making healthcare decisions.
  • Anticipatory Guidance — proactive teaching for upcoming developmental changes and safety.
  • Failure to Thrive (FTT) — inadequate growth (below 5th percentile) due to various factors.
  • Regression — child returns to earlier behaviors during stress for reassurance.
  • Amblyopia — lazy eye causing decreased vision in one eye.
  • Strabismus — misalignment of the eyes.
  • Apnea of Prematurity — breathing pauses in preterm infants.
  • TET Spell — hypoxic episode in Tetralogy of Fallot.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review developmental tables, safety guidelines, and case studies.
  • Study relevant ATI chapters and practice assessments.
  • Make practice questions based on lecture highlights and bolded content.
  • Review simulation/lab notes and starred lecture slides.