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10 - The acutely ill or injured child and adolescent: Nursing assessment and interventions
- from Part C - Nursing children and young people
- Edited by Jennifer Fraser, University of Sydney, Donna Waters, University of Sydney, Elizabeth Forster, Griffith University, Queensland, Nicola Brown
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- Book:
- Paediatric Nursing in Australia and New Zealand
- Published online:
- 05 January 2022
- Print publication:
- 05 January 2022, pp 255-292
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- Chapter
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Summary
Children contract infections regularly during early childhood, so they can experience episodes of acute illness. They are also at greater risk of injury. For the most part, these episodes are of short duration and resolve with the care of parents at home, sometimes with support from community healthcare professionals such as a general practitioner. However, in some instances the illness can reach a level of severity that requires nursing care and medical treatment in a hospital setting. Infants and children are still developing, so they have physiological and anatomical differences from adults that require specialist skills and knowledge. Hospital environments can be challenging for both the young child and their family. In this chapter, some key nursing considerations and interventions for the acutely unwell and injured child and adolescent will be discussed. This is followed by an exploration of some of the illnesses and injuries children and adolescents can acquire that may require hospital care. You will be asked to reflect upon the nursing management of some of these conditions through review of case studies and reflective questions.
9 - Evidence-based nursing assessments and interventions: The acutely ill young person
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- By Nicola Brown, Tresillian Family Care Centres, Nerralie Shaw, Sydney Children's Hospital
- Jennifer Fraser, University of Sydney, Donna Waters, University of Sydney, Elizabeth Forster, University of Southern Queensland, Nicola Brown
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- Book:
- Paediatric Nursing in Australia
- Published online:
- 21 June 2018
- Print publication:
- 18 May 2017, pp 179-194
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- Chapter
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Summary
Learning objectives
In this chapter you will:
• Develop your understanding of evidence based nursing assessments and interventions used in the care of acutely ill young people
• Develop your understanding of the aetiology, signs and symptoms of key acute illnesses experienced by young people in Australia
• Consider the developmental needs of young people in the planning and implementation of nursing care
• Explore the impact of illness and hospitalisation on young people
Introduction
In this chapter, we focus on the nursing care of young people, or adolescents. The transition to adolescence is a complex and critical period of development, with significant social, emotional and physical changes. Similar to childhood, adolescent development and maturation is complex, and differs between individuals. When planning nursing care, consideration for the individual adolescent, their characteristics and their stage of development is essential.
The reasons why adolescents require admission to hospital are more likely to be related to an injury or chronic condition. While most injuries are mild, and can be managed at home by parents, there are times when care and treatment for injury or illness results in the admission of the young person to hospital. The nursing care of children and young people with a chronic condition is addressed in Chapter 10. In this chapter, we will focus on the care of young people who need nursing care due to common acute injuries. In addition, the management of young people with appendicitis will also be explored in this chapter, as the peak incidence of this condition occurs in young people. Adolescence is a time when many young people begin to experiment with alcohol and other substances, and this can result in acute and unexpected illness. Thus the management of a young person with alcohol ingestion is also reviewed.
Key issues for young people during Hospitalization
Injury, illness and admission to hospital can be significant interruptions in the life of a young person. Wherever possible, we do our best to minimise the disruption by avoiding admission and providing ambulatory care in the community when it is available and appropriate to do so. However, some situations do require admission; when this occurs, ideally a young person is best cared for in an adolescent unit – an environment that understands the unique psychosocial and physical needs of adolescents.