Pediatric Nursing Demystified

Develop an action plan that addresses the needs of the pediatric client

and family from admission through discharge back into the community

and home setting.

Nursing alertWhen possible, determine who has legal custodial rights and can

make decisions regarding the child beforecritical decisions must be made.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS

Social factors such as living environment and community relationships, in

addition to economic factors such as poverty, unemployment, or homelessness,

can impact the health of a child and family because of limited access to clean water,

food, shelter, or health. Some groups are considered high-risk populations,

groups of people at higher risk for illness than the general population, due to

social,economic, or cultural factors. Be aware of these key social factors:

Poverty may limit access to healthy food leading to nutritional deficits.

Lack of access to health care decreases health promotion and maintenance

and contributes to late diagnosis of illness and delayed treatment.

Unemployment contributes to poverty and possible homelessness,

increasing exposure to overcrowded shelters, dangerous situations, and

illness.

High-risk behaviors such as unprotected sex, drugs, and reckless driving

can lead to unwanted pregnancy, infections, addiction, and injury.

Teen pregnancy can result in poor prenatal care, premature birth, and birth

defects as well as poor parenting, leading to physiologic and psychological

damage to the pediatric client.

Family disruption due to factors such as drug or alcohol abuse, mental

illness, domestic violence, or divorce can destabilize the child’s life,

leading to distress.

Community instability because of gang activity, crime, violence, high

unemployment, and poverty can result in decreased available health

resources.

NURSING IMPLICATIONS

Perform community assessment to identify contributing factors to pediatric

illness and risk factors for additional health problems.

Address community resource needs prior to discharge; follow up in com-

munity or home setting after discharge.

Work collaboratively with community agencies to provide comprehensive

care to the pediatric client and family and facilitate follow-up assessment

and evaluations.

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(^6) Pediatric Nursing Demystified