Pediatric Nursing (NURS 30020) 
Competencies: Skills gained in course 
  • Anatomy and physiology differences present in pediatric patients
  • Developmental differences in pediatric patients of different ages
  • Family-centered care and the significance of family support in times of child hospitalization
  • Critical thinking and nursing process in healthcare needs of children and their families
  • Implementing interventions that are specific to the pediatric patient
  • Effective communication with children of different ages, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities
  • Accountability as a nurse
  • Nursing roles in the care of pediatric patients 
  • The importance of using evidence based practice and research in clinical care
  • Assessment of infants, children and adolescents 
  • Pediatric fluid and electrolyte balance
  • Pediatric gastrointestinal function
  • Pediatric pain assessment and management
  • Pediatric respiratory function
  • Pediatric nutrition
  • Pediatric mental health and cognition
  • Pediatric eye, ear, nose and throat function 
  • Pediatric social and environmental issues
  • Pediatric musculoskeletal function
  • Pediatric cardiovascular function
  • Pediatric hematological function
  • Pediatric genitourinary function
  • Pediatric endocrine function
  • Pediatric infection and communicable diseases
  • Pediatric neurologic function
  • Pediatric alterations in cellular growth
  • Pediatric life-threatening illness or injury
  • Pediatric end of life care and bereavement 

Personal Reflection: What did you gain from course? 
In this course, I learned about the true differences between pediatric and adult patients. Pediatric patients require special attention, communication, care, and intervention among other things. I learned about techniques that are effective in soothing and caring for pediatric patients. The concept of recognizing specific complications for the patient and anticipating them was emphasized in this course. The importance of safe dosage of medication and recognizing pediatric considerations in administering medication was emphasized in clinical practice. I learned that the family is very important when a pediatric patient is hospitalized and is experiencing an illness. Education is very important in helping parents, siblings and the patient in understanding their condition, symptoms and treatment. I was surprised by how fast a child's condition can change; especially how different lung sounds are before and after respiratory treatments. Emphasis was placed on helping the entire family adapt to hospitalization. 

Patient Teaching

Throughout this semester, I have tried to teach my patient at least one thing per day and more, if tolerated including: 
  • The purpose and use of incentive spirometry before operative procedures
  • Side effects of medications especially corticosteroids 
  • The importance of infant safety (in crib) 
  • Expected nutritional intake in comparison to actual nutritional intake in infant 
  • The significance of effective and consistent hand washing 
  • Smoking cessation information to parents
  • Importance and demonstration of suctioning infants (especially during respiratory illness)  
  • Assessment of cough characteristics (dry or moist, color and consistency of what is coughed up, when the cough occurs etc) 
  • Importance of timing and assessing seizure activity in order to report it to physician 
  • Management of pain early in order to prevent it from getting more severe
 
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