Pediatric nurses play a paramount role in promoting health within the pediatric population and recognizing the family unit as consideration for planning care. In pediatrics, just like in any other field of medicine, nurses make up for the majority of the workforce. This means that pediatric nurses serve as the main mediators between families, children, and various healthcare plans and programs available to them (Guises, 2014). Pediatric nurses can promote health in various ways, but mostly through the direct, hands-on approach, and through education. Even though pediatric nurses are always available, in the majority of scenarios, it is parents who will take primary care of the child. A nurse can assist them by providing all the necessary advice and information required to take proper care of the child at various stages of their development (Guises, 2014).
When developing a plan of care for the child, it is very important to consider its stage of development. Depending on this stage, the child may have different physical and psychological needs, as well as be exposed to different kinds of high-risk behaviors. Children at the early stages of infancy tend to be vulnerable to anything that might cause them to harm due to a lack of understanding or care for personal safety (“Child development theorists,” n.d.). At the same time, an older and more developed child could have deeper psychological needs than mere physical care provided by a parent or a nurse.
For a child below one year of age, the feeling of safety and trust is considered one of the most important psychological aspects of their being. It is very important for the child’s parents to realize that at this stage of development there is nobody else in the world that the child cares about or trusts more. In developmental care for toddlers, parental presence is mandatory, as, without the physical presence of the mother or father, the child would feel lost, frightened, and insecure. At the same time, the pediatric nurse would not carry the same level of trust for the child and will be unable to provide comfort. Newborn children tend to have very specific physical needs such as the need for breast milk, which cannot be fully replaced by artificial supplements, as breast milk contains a unique mixture of vitamins necessary for child growth. The concept of breastfeeding is important and must always be included in a young child’s care plan (Kornides & Kitsantas, 2013).
Complementary and alternative medical therapy plays an important role in pediatric care. According to Barnes, Bloom, and Nahin (2007), the use of CAM therapy tactics varies between 13 and 68%. The percentage and the level of success of CAM therapy depend on the nature of the medical emergency and the age of the child. Naturally, no doctor will use homeopathy to treat a condition that could only be solved via surgery. Still, CAM therapy is viewed as favorable for toddlers and newborn babies for several reasons. First, it promotes herbal medications, as the side effects of standard medications may be too much for the newborn organisms. Second, dietary advice and physical exercise are important for proper baby development, as the digestive tract flora is formed from very early ages, and proper dietary choices early on would prove to be a long-term investment into a child’s healthiness and growth. Massages for babies, on the other hand, are an excellent way of helping the child that has stilted initial growth to catch up, as muscle and nerve stimulation during massages can help overcome whatever conditions are blocking its physical growth (Field, 2014).
When it comes to safety and health considerations, many parents do not know what kinds of dangers their children are exposed to at different ages. For newborn babies and toddlers, who are already capable of moving around the house while crawling, the most important health consideration resides in the relative dangers of the environment. Hazards are numerous, ranging from sharp corners of the furniture to small items that can be ingested to house animals and electric sockets (Holmes, Keane, & Rode, 2012). It is important to inform the parents about all of these dangers and design a care plan that will account for these dangers. It is important never to leave a toddler without supervision, as it is impossible to isolate the entire house from harm. This stresses out the importance of having at least one parent dedicated to taking care of the baby at all times. Sharp corners of the furniture ought to be covered in soft protective cloth, all items that pose a danger should be removed or put above the baby’s reach. Electric sockets should be plugged with special plugs that could be bought at a store. In addition to safety measures, the parents must be instructed about dietary choices and baby hygiene (Holmes et al., 2012). Many parents do not know how often to change the diaper or even how to do so, due to a lack of experience, especially if it is their first child. It is up to the nurse to provide all the required knowledge and demonstrate the techniques in practice.
References
Barnes, P.M., Bloom, B., & Nahin, R.L. (2007). Complementary and alternative medicine use among adults and children. National Health Statistics Report, 10, 1-23.
Child development theorists. (n.d.). Web.
Field, T. (2014). Massage therapy research review. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 20(4), 224-229.
Guises, E. (2014). The role of pediatric nurses in health education. Soins. Pediatrie, Puericulture, 277, 39-42.
Holmes, W.J.M., Keane, B., & Rode, H. (2012). The severity of kettle burns and the dangers of the dangling cord. Burns, 38(3), 453-458.
Kornides, M., & Kitsantas, P. (2013). Evaluation of breastfeeding promotion, support, and knowledge of benefits on breastfeeding outcomes. Journal of Child Healthcare, 17(3), 274-263.