Steps
Step 1
Pediatric Case Selection and Child Growth & Development Assessment Design
The core task of this step is to select a typical pediatric case and design a systematic pediatric nursing assessment plan including growth and development evaluation. The unique feature of pediatric nursing is that clients are in continuous growth and development.
• Select typical pediatric case: choose from neonatal diseases (jaundice, asphyxia, HIE), respiratory (pediatric pneumonia, asthma, bronchiolitis), digestive (diarrhea, malnutrition), infectious (HFMD, measles), congenital (CHD, PKU); obtain complete birth history, feeding history, growth history, and illness data
• Design pediatric nursing assessment framework: design assessment content in five dimensions: growth & development assessment, health history collection, physical assessment, psychosocial assessment, family assessment; select appropriate methods and tools for different age groups (newborn, infant, toddler, preschool, school-age, adolescent)
• Prepare growth assessment tools: standard pediatric scale, length board, stadiometer, head circumference tape, WHO growth standards (weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, weight-for-length, BMI-for-age), developmental screening tools (DDST, ASQ)
Deliverable: Case summary, pediatric nursing assessment framework, growth assessment tool list, age-specific assessment key points table | Quality standard: Typical case with pediatric characteristics, assessment framework covering growth and family assessment, professional and standardized tool selection
Step 2
Growth & Development Assessment and Pediatric Health History Collection
The core task of this step is to conduct accurate growth measurement and assessment of the child and systematically collect pediatric health history. Growth assessment requires precise measurement techniques and standard growth curve analysis.
• Growth measurement and assessment: measure child's weight (to 10g precision, fasting, emptied bladder/bowels, nude or single layer), length/height (recumbent length <3yrs, standing height ≥3yrs), head circumference (supraorbital ridge to occipital protuberance), chest circumference, sitting height; plot measurements on WHO growth standards; evaluate growth level, growth velocity, and proportionality
• Neurodevelopmental assessment: use DDST or ASQ for developmental screening; assess four domains: personal-social, fine motor-adaptive, language, gross motor; recommend further diagnostic evaluation for suspected/abnormal cases; observe child's behavior, language expression, social interaction, emotional state
• Pediatric health history collection: obtain health history through parent interview including general information, birth history (gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, delivery mode, perinatal conditions), feeding history (breast/formula/mixed feeding, complementary food introduction, eating habits, appetite), growth history (milestones: head control, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, talking), past history, immunization history, allergies, family history
Deliverable: Growth measurement record, WHO growth curve (with plotted values), developmental screening report, complete pediatric health history record | Quality standard: Accurate and standardized growth measurement, correct growth curve analysis, appropriate developmental assessment methods, comprehensive health history collection
Step 3
Pediatric Nursing Assessment and Care Planning
The core task of this step is to conduct systematic physical and specialty assessment of the child, establish nursing diagnoses, and develop a pediatric-specific care plan. Pediatric physical assessment requires communication skills with children and flexible examination order.
• Pediatric physical assessment: follow "distal to proximal, quiet to fussy" strategy; try to complete through play. Examination includes general state (alertness, color, cry, response), skin (color, rashes, turgor, jaundice), lymph nodes, head (fontanelle size/tension, craniotabes, eyes/ears/nose/mouth), chest (chest shape, breath sounds, heart sounds), abdomen (contour, tenderness, hepatosplenomegaly), extremities/spine, anus/genitalia, reflexes (primitive, physiologic, pathologic)
• Specialty disease assessment: conduct in-depth specialty assessment for the primary disease: e.g., for pneumonia: assess respiratory rate, depth, retractions, cyanosis degree, lung rales; record SpO2 and ABG; for diarrhea: assess dehydration degree (mild/moderate/severe), electrolyte imbalance, nutritional status; record intake/output and stool characteristics/frequency
• Develop pediatric care plan: analyze assessment data; list main nursing diagnoses (hyperthermia, impaired gas exchange, deficient fluid volume, imbalanced nutrition, risk for injury, parental knowledge deficit); prioritize; set goals and interventions appropriate for child's age (medication administration techniques, IV fixation, restraint protection, play therapy); specify parent participation content and methods
Deliverable: Pediatric nursing assessment form, specialty assessment record, nursing diagnosis list (with prioritization rationale), pediatric care plan | Quality standard: Accurate and comprehensive assessment with pediatric characteristics, correct and reasonably prioritized nursing diagnoses, individualized and actionable care plan
Step 4
Pediatric Nursing Implementation and Family Care Guidance
The core task of this step is to implement pediatric nursing interventions according to the care plan while providing family care guidance for parents. Pediatric nursing not only cares for the child but also educates and supports parents, helping families master care skills.
• Implement pediatric nursing interventions: perform pediatric nursing procedures: temperature measurement and fever management (physical cooling methods, antipyretics use), respiratory care (nebulization, chest physiotherapy, suctioning, oxygen therapy), oral medication administration (techniques, positioning), IV therapy (scalp vein or cannula fixation, rate control, restraint care), dietary care (age and condition-appropriate diet, feeding methods), skin care (diaper dermatitis prevention and care, umbilical cord care for newborns)
• Monitor condition changes: closely monitor vital signs, consciousness, cry, color, peripheral circulation, intake/output, symptom changes; observe medication efficacy and adverse reactions; pay special attention to early signs of sudden deterioration (worsening dyspnea, seizures, gray complexion, poor response); promptly report to physician and assist with resuscitation
• Family care guidance: provide systematic care guidance for parents including disease knowledge, medication guidance (dosage calculation, administration methods, adverse reaction observation), nursing skill instruction (temperature measurement, physical cooling, chest physiotherapy, skin care, feeding), condition observation key points (when to return or go to ER), home environment adjustment, nutrition and feeding, preventive health care; use teach-back to ensure mastery
Deliverable: Pediatric nursing record, condition observation and management record, parent health education record, family care guidance manual | Quality standard: Standardized and gentle nursing procedures with pediatric characteristics, detailed and timely condition monitoring, systematic and practical family guidance with good parental mastery
Step 5
Pediatric Nursing Case Summary and Health Promotion Report Writing
The core task of this step is to write a pediatric nursing case report and child health promotion report, summarizing nursing experience. Pediatric nursing not only focuses on disease treatment but also on children's growth, development, and health promotion.
• Write pediatric nursing case report: following pediatric case report standards including case introduction, growth & development assessment, nursing assessment, nursing diagnoses, care plan and implementation, nursing outcomes, discussion and reflections; focus on pediatric nursing specifics (growth evaluation, child communication, parent participation, play therapy, safety care)
• Develop child health promotion plan: based on the child's specific situation (age, disease, growth status, family environment), develop individualized health promotion plan including nutritional guidance, exercise, sleep management, immunization, safety protection, psychological/behavioral health, regular check-up recommendations
• Create parent health education materials: develop illustrated parent education manual or PPT in easy-to-understand language; covers disease care, home care skill instruction, feeding and nutrition, growth monitoring, common problem management, preventive health care, child safety; suitable for post-discharge reference
Deliverable: Pediatric nursing case report, child health promotion plan, parent health education manual | Quality standard: Complete case report with pediatric characteristics, individualized and practical health promotion plan, vivid and easy-to-understand education materials