Nursing Care Plan for Pediatric Patient
Pediatric patients have unique healthcare needs that require a specialized approach to treatment. A pediatric nurse must understand and establish these clinical needs before beginning treatment. By doing so, they can take the appropriate measures before, during, and after treatment.
The main challenge lies in communicating and understanding their feelings and thoughts. This is especially difficult for very young patients who cannot speak. As such, a pediatric nurse must be highly skilled in communication.
The care planning process for pediatric patients can be simplified into the following steps.
• Build Relationships
The first step in the care planning process is understanding the child and family’s needs and strengths. This begins with building a trusting relationship with your young patient and their parents as well. You can try greeting the children first to help them feel important. After engaging the child for a few seconds, you can proceed and greet their parents. Be as interactive as possible with your patient to help release any tension and make them feel comfortable.
As you interact with them, try to assess the family’s needs, strengths, and gaps and try to address existing medical, behavioural, environmental, social, and financial concerns that may affect the treatment process.
• Assessment
Assessment requires the collaboration of your patient. After developing a trusting relationship, this becomes a very easy process. Continue engaging and interacting with them even as you assess them to make them feel at ease. For instance, before conducting a lung assessment or taking their temperatures, allow them to look at the stethoscope and make a few joking comments. Also, ensure you let them know what you are about to do in simple terms in an honest, relaxed tone.
• Diagnosis
Do a comprehensive assessment before arriving at a final diagnosis. Try communicating with parents to probe for more information that can influence the diagnosis. Ask for prior illnesses, surgeries, or whether the patient is currently under any medication. Parents tend to get worried if they don’t understand their child’s medical condition. Explain to them slowly to make them understand the diagnosis and address their concerns.
• Care of plan
If you are confident with diagnosis, ensure to communicate it to the parents and suggest the best possible care plan for the child. The parents have an enormous influence on the response and behavior towards treatment. For young teenagers, you can try talking to them to establish their preferences and also explaining the process and the benefits.
The nature and diversity of pediatric patients can be overwhelming to a pediatric nurse. From infants, young children, teenagers, to mentally challenged children. To be a successful pediatric nurse, let your guard down and try communicating with your patients at their level in a way they understand best.
