Chapter 1: Perspectives of Pediatric Nursing
Health Care for Children
● Healthy People 2020
o Framework for identifying essential components for child health promotion programs
o Designed to prevent future health problems in children
o Goal to increase quality and length of healthy life and eliminate health disparities
● Substance abuse
● Dental caries---single most common chronic disease of childhood
o Begins practicing dental hygiene beginning w/ the first tooth eruption; drinking fluoridated water, including
bottled water; and instituting early dental preventive care
● Violence
● Mental health disorders
Child Health Promotion
● Provides opportunities to reduce differences in current health status among members of different groups and ensure
equal opportunities and resources to enable all children to achieve their fullest health potential
● “Bright Futures”---book on kind of what to expect in the upcoming months or years –also provides family support,
physical activity, healthy weight, dental carries
o Really hits hard on safety!
Case Study
● A group of nursing students have been asked to participate in a pediatric health fair. They will talk to participants
about health care for children. The nursing students know that the health fair will include both parents and children
of all ages.
1
,Leading Health Indicators (Healthy People 2020)
1) Physical inactivity
2) Overweight and obesity (#1 nutritional problem in children)
o Greater than the 95th percentile---child is considered obese
3) Tobacco use
4) Substance abuse
5) Responsible sexual behavior
6) Mental health
7) Injury and violence
8) Environmental quality
9) Immunization
10) Access to health care
Development
● Developmental processes are unique to each stage of development:
o Infant
o Toddler
o Early Childhood
o Adolescence
● Continuous screening and assessment are essential for early intervention when problems are found.
Nutrition in Infancy
● Breast-feeding is BEST
o Human milk is the preferred form of nutrition for all infants
o Provides
▪ Micronutrients
▪ Immunologic properties
2
, ▪ Enzymes that enhance digestion and absorption
Nutrition in Childhood
● Lifelong eating habits established by age 3
● Parent teaching
● Eating preferences and attitudes related to food are established by:
o Family influences
o Culture
● Homelessness and low income associated with lack of resources to provide children with adequate, nutritious meals.
Case Study (Cont.)
● When talking to parents about childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, which topics should the nursing students
discuss with the parents? Select all that apply.
a) Obesity in children and adolescents is defined as a body mass index at or greater than the 95th percentile
for youth of the same age and gender.
b) Easy access to television and video games has increased the incidence of obesity.
c) Lack of physical exercise contributes to obesity.
d) The importance of allowing children to choose their favorite foods every day, including sweets such as
dessert.
e) The importance of maintaining a normal body weight.
f) Overweight youth have increased risk for not only type 2 diabetes, but also high blood pressure and
dyslipidemia.
Dental Care
● Dental caries are preventable
o Dental hygiene beginning with first tooth eruption
o Role of fluoridated water
o Early dental preventive care
3
, o Parent and child teaching
Case Study (Cont.)
● The single most common chronic disease of childhood is?
a) Arthritis
Cancer
b) Dental caries
c) Diabetes
Immunizations: Role of Nurse
● Review individual immunization records at every clinic visit
● Avoid missing opportunities to vaccinate
● Encourage parents to keep immunizations current (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009)
● Keep up with changes in immunization schedules, recommendations, and research related to childhood vaccines
● www.cdc.gov/vaccines
● HPV--- usually given at 11 yrs of age
o Girls pass out from HPV vaccine—less likely to happen if given at a younger age (9yrs)
Childhood Health Problems
● Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, p. 3
● Childhood Injuries, p. 3
● Violence, p. 6
● Mental Health Problems, p. 6
Case Study (Cont.)
4
Health Care for Children
● Healthy People 2020
o Framework for identifying essential components for child health promotion programs
o Designed to prevent future health problems in children
o Goal to increase quality and length of healthy life and eliminate health disparities
● Substance abuse
● Dental caries---single most common chronic disease of childhood
o Begins practicing dental hygiene beginning w/ the first tooth eruption; drinking fluoridated water, including
bottled water; and instituting early dental preventive care
● Violence
● Mental health disorders
Child Health Promotion
● Provides opportunities to reduce differences in current health status among members of different groups and ensure
equal opportunities and resources to enable all children to achieve their fullest health potential
● “Bright Futures”---book on kind of what to expect in the upcoming months or years –also provides family support,
physical activity, healthy weight, dental carries
o Really hits hard on safety!
Case Study
● A group of nursing students have been asked to participate in a pediatric health fair. They will talk to participants
about health care for children. The nursing students know that the health fair will include both parents and children
of all ages.
1
,Leading Health Indicators (Healthy People 2020)
1) Physical inactivity
2) Overweight and obesity (#1 nutritional problem in children)
o Greater than the 95th percentile---child is considered obese
3) Tobacco use
4) Substance abuse
5) Responsible sexual behavior
6) Mental health
7) Injury and violence
8) Environmental quality
9) Immunization
10) Access to health care
Development
● Developmental processes are unique to each stage of development:
o Infant
o Toddler
o Early Childhood
o Adolescence
● Continuous screening and assessment are essential for early intervention when problems are found.
Nutrition in Infancy
● Breast-feeding is BEST
o Human milk is the preferred form of nutrition for all infants
o Provides
▪ Micronutrients
▪ Immunologic properties
2
, ▪ Enzymes that enhance digestion and absorption
Nutrition in Childhood
● Lifelong eating habits established by age 3
● Parent teaching
● Eating preferences and attitudes related to food are established by:
o Family influences
o Culture
● Homelessness and low income associated with lack of resources to provide children with adequate, nutritious meals.
Case Study (Cont.)
● When talking to parents about childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, which topics should the nursing students
discuss with the parents? Select all that apply.
a) Obesity in children and adolescents is defined as a body mass index at or greater than the 95th percentile
for youth of the same age and gender.
b) Easy access to television and video games has increased the incidence of obesity.
c) Lack of physical exercise contributes to obesity.
d) The importance of allowing children to choose their favorite foods every day, including sweets such as
dessert.
e) The importance of maintaining a normal body weight.
f) Overweight youth have increased risk for not only type 2 diabetes, but also high blood pressure and
dyslipidemia.
Dental Care
● Dental caries are preventable
o Dental hygiene beginning with first tooth eruption
o Role of fluoridated water
o Early dental preventive care
3
, o Parent and child teaching
Case Study (Cont.)
● The single most common chronic disease of childhood is?
a) Arthritis
Cancer
b) Dental caries
c) Diabetes
Immunizations: Role of Nurse
● Review individual immunization records at every clinic visit
● Avoid missing opportunities to vaccinate
● Encourage parents to keep immunizations current (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009)
● Keep up with changes in immunization schedules, recommendations, and research related to childhood vaccines
● www.cdc.gov/vaccines
● HPV--- usually given at 11 yrs of age
o Girls pass out from HPV vaccine—less likely to happen if given at a younger age (9yrs)
Childhood Health Problems
● Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, p. 3
● Childhood Injuries, p. 3
● Violence, p. 6
● Mental Health Problems, p. 6
Case Study (Cont.)
4
