- Communication is critical to obtain information from and relay infor-
mation to the child and family in the process of assessing and plan-
ning for client care; family members know more about the child and
their information should be valued. - Cultural and ethnic differences and preferences should be considered
and accommodated when possible during the nursing care process. - History assessment is important to determine exposures and chronic
conditions, as well as habits that may influence a pediatric client’s
health status. - Nutritional assessment and support is important to maintain and to
restorethe health status of a child or adolescent. - Childhood obesity is a major concern and risk factor for obesity in
adults. - Family assessment is important to determine support for the child during
and after an illness. - A physical examination should be performed systematically to deter-
mine symptoms of conditions that require treatment and that may
impact a child’s growth and development. - Blood pressure, pulse, and respirations vary with age, consider normal
based on average value for age. - Assessment procedures may need to be altered depending on pediatric
condition—such as light palpation only for a child with a Wilms
tumor—to avoid injury to client. - Involve the client and family in the assessment and diagnostic proce-
dures with clear explanation of expected assistance. - Clearly explain what will be felt, seen, heard, or smelled by the child
in preparation for a procedure. - Normal diagnostic findings and values should be interpreted based on
the age of the child or adolescent to determine what is truly abnormal. - Assess for allergy to seafood, shellfish, or iodine because some proce-
dures may require contrast dye that contains iodine.
CHAPTER 3/ Pediatric Assessment^47
FINAL CHECKUP
- What type of community assessment should be done to determine if Dawn,
a 5-year-old who is blind after a recent accident, should be discharged home?
a. Home
b. Neighborhood
c. School
d. All of the above
?