NBNS2704 Paediatric Nursing January Semester 2023
NBNS2704 Paediatric Nursing January Semester 2023
NBNS2704 Paediatric Nursing January Semester 2023
PAEDIATRIC NURSING
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11
3
Introduction
Bronchial asthma is a pervasive chronic respiratory ailment that plagues millions of children
worldwide. Recently, an 8-year-old girl Lara was admitted to the pediatric unit with a severe
exacerbation of her bronchial asthma. Lara reported experiencing chest tightness and
difficulty breathing, which persisted even after using an albuterol-metered dose inhaler
(MDI). This report aims to gauge learners' critical thinking skills in identifying pertinent
clinical data and providing optimal management and treatment for pediatric patients. This
report will explore how to prioritise pertinent clinical data provided by Lara, highlighting the
importance of psychological, cultural and spiritual support for the patient and their parents.
Additionally, this report will delve into the intricacies of pediatric nursing care to give
learners a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively treat and manage patients with
bronchial asthma. The report's ultimate goal is to equip learners with the knowledge and
skills necessary to provide exemplary pediatric nursing care.
Oxygen saturation:
The normal range for oxygen saturation is typically between 95% and 100%. If
oxygen saturation levels drop beneath 90%, this can lead to hypoxemia, a potentially deadly
condition in young patients suffering from acute asthma attacks (Templeton et al., 2021). To
ensure adequate oxygenation is maintained, oxygen therapy such as extra oxygen may be
needed. Individuals with an acute exacerbation of asthma commonly experience hypoxemia,
which can harm essential organs. To guarantee sufficient aeration and dodge issues, tracking
oxygen saturation is fundamental. Lara's oxygen saturation in her environment is solely 89%,
which is significantly lower than the normal range of 95 to 100%. Hence the utmost priority
is to make certain that there is sufficient oxygen. Lara's respiratory system, inhalation, and
blood flow (ABCs) must be initially checked. It also necessitates evaluating Lara's level of
awareness, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and respiratory and cardiovascular rates.
These factors are vital for evaluating her health condition and guiding early treatments.
PEF reading:
The most significant volume of air a person can expel during a strenuous exhale is
peak expiratory flow (PEF). This reading can be employed to judge the seriousness of
bronchial asthma episodes, monitor treatment success, and help modify medication amounts
(Tony et al., 2022). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) guides how to interpret a PEF
meter reading based on the patient's age, gender, and height (Rees et al., 2021). The PEF
meter reading signals the level of airflow obstruction in people with bronchial asthma and is
critical to surveying the efficacy of treatment and adjusting medication doses accordingly.
Lara's top PEF gauge reading is 50%, which is a very extreme airflow limitation.
Subsequently, observing PEF readings is of utmost significance. Knowing the patient's
ordinary PEF meter readings, medication schedule, and history of asthma flare-ups can help
make treatment and management choices. Lara's PEF meter reading is much lower than her
typical baseline, demonstrating a severe asthma flare-up. The timing and selection of
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Respiratory Distress:
Lara uses her supplementary airway muscles to inhale, a sign of respiratory distress
caused by her breathing struggles. She is also speaking in abbreviated sentences. As a result,
the third essential step is to do a breathing assessment and administer appropriate respiratory
care. Lara's respiratory problems symptoms, such as tightness in the chest, shortness of
breath, and the need to use extra muscles for breathing, need to be considered. These signs of
severe airway obstruction require immediate treatment.
The inability to breathe is a life-threatening emergency that needs rapid medical
intervention. Lara's breathing rate and pattern analysis can provide insight into the severity of
her breathing problem. Retraction of the brow, nasal extension, grunting, the use of extra
muscles, and a blue cast to the skin are all tell-tale indicators of moderate to severe
difficulties (Mendes et al., 2021). Interventions may be calibrated to the level of challenge.
Breathing sounds:
If not attended to, coarse exhaling wheezes and weakened breath noises can lead to
breathing issues and respiratory distress (Glotov et al., 2020). To better the patient's
respiratory capability, it is essential to prioritise interventions. It must be determined which
interventions should be given precedence depending on the intensity of Lara's indicators.
Mild to moderate symptoms: Taking care of Lara's airway obstruction may be as
straightforward as providing her with a short-term bronchodilator such as albuterol or a blend
of inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids.
Acute symptoms: To reduce airway obstruction and enhance respiratory function, Lara may
require additional oxygen, nebulised bronchodilators, or intravenous corticosteroids (Glotov
et al., 2020). Mechanical ventilation might be necessary for some instances. After applying
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the necessary interventions, observing Lara's reaction and adjusting the treatment plan as
necessary are essential.
Body posture and colour
Lara's ashen colour and upright posture, which are symptoms of hypoxemia, require
the body to work harder to get enough oxygen. Lara's medical history, current state, and
response to treatment are all relevant factors to consider while evaluating these symptoms.
Hypoxemia therapy must begin immediately to prevent further organ damage and respiratory
discomfort (Deana et al., 2019). Lara's airway blockage might be relieved, and her breathing
improved with the use of short-term bronchodilators like albuterol or with the use of inhaled
bronchodilators and corticosteroids. The only way to ensure Lara does not die is to check her
oxygen levels and supplement them as needed constantly. In severe cases, Lara may also
need nebulised bronchodilators, injectable corticosteroids, or mechanical ventilation to
relieve her breathing difficulties and open her airway (Iio et al., 2020). Regularly measuring
Lara's oxygen levels and changing her dose is a preventive measure. It is crucial to track
progress or decline after commencing treatment.
Psychological
Making sure kids are mentally well is super important when they are stuck in the
hospital. Hospital visits can freak out kids like Lara, who are already anxious and scared
about being sick and away from their usual surroundings and families. That is where playtime
comes in as a major tool for letting children express themselves, talk about their feelings, and
work through any problems they arere having. The Malaysian Pediatric Association backs up
playing as an effective way to help all kinds of issues, like feeling nervous, down,
traumatized, or having trouble with behaviour (Ong, 2023). Plus, it gives the children a safe
spot to think about their emotions and worries while they are in the hospital.
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Brilliant new ways to help with a child's mental health involve getting into a relaxed
state of mind where the children just vibe with their thoughts and feelings. Examples of these
are relaxing with mindfulness meditation or working on their breathing. These mind tricks
have helped children of 7-12 years to deal with their stress, worries, and blues. Like, for
example, Fadzil et al. did a study back in 2021 with teens who had asthma and found that
mindfulness techniques made them feel happier and healthier. These techniques are becoming
more and more popular to help children feel better mentally, and there is still a lot more to
learn about them.
Apart from therapy and mindfulness, healthcare professionals can also provide
emotional support through effective communication and relationship-building.
Communication plays a key role in building trust, understanding, and friendship between the
healthcare team, child, and family (Abusafia et al. 2021). To have a successful conversation,
providers should communicate in a way that Lara can understand, explain things clearly and
briefly, and encourage feedback. Additionally, active listening, validation, reassurance, and
empathy are all essential to providing emotional support (Suwinyattichaiporn, Guerrero &
Generous, 2021). These vital ingredients create a safe and comfortable space for Lara and her
family to talk openly and honestly about their feelings and worries.
Cultural
Being culturally aware is a major part of taking care of children in the medical field. It
means showing respect for the patient and their family come from by paying attention to their
culture, language and religion. Doing this can lead to better moods from the patient, more
trust in their treatment, and better health overall.
Lara is a child growing up in Malaysia, and she might have some specific cultural
needs that her doctors and nurses need to understand. Malaysia is home to over 31.9 million
people with different backgrounds, so doctors and nurses have to pay attention to things like
the Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures and beliefs (Tideman & Tengelin, 2019). Also,
getting the whole family involved in the care plan and decision-making is crucial when it
comes to cultural support. In Malaysia, family is super important and has a big say in
healthcare decisions. According to the MPA guidelines, healthcare workers have to make
sure the family is included in the plan and decision-making, teach them stuff that works for
their culture and be respectful if an interpreter is needed (Hamzah et al. 2019) And if the
family wants something specific, healthcare workers have to try to make it happen.
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Spiritual
Giving spiritual support is crucial to help patients heal and feel good overall. For
Lara, healthcare professionals could provide spiritual support to tackle the stress that might
come up because of her condition. Here is how they can offer it:
Ask about Lara's personal beliefs: Care specialists should ask Lara about her beliefs
in God or her religious background. They can talk about prayer, meditation, and other things
that bring her peace.
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Offer emotional support: Healthcare people should be available to chat and show
empathy to Lara. They can point her to a religious leader or therapist, find resources, talk to
her about her feelings, and let her know they care.
Teach spiritual coping strategies: Strategies like prayer and meditation are known to
help patients cope and feel better (Asma & Nurumal, 2022). The team can show Lara how to
practice them to deal with her asthma stress.
Create a relaxing environment: Staff can help Lara relax by making her room peaceful. They
can play music, use nice smells, and give her a quiet spot to do her thing (Albaqawi et al.
2019).
Conclusion
The case of Lara, an 8-year-old girl with acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma,
exemplifies the crucial role of providing comprehensive care that addresses pediatric patients'
physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual needs. Healthcare providers can develop a
comprehensive care plan that prioritizes appropriate clinical data to ensure optimal outcomes
for their patients. In Malaysia, the importance of providing holistic care for pediatric patients,
including those with bronchial asthma, is recognized by the Malaysian Pediatric Association.
Healthcare professionals can deliver personalized care by integrating cultural and spiritual
practices into care plans. Secondary data and statistics indicate the effectiveness of
incorporating cultural and spiritual practices in the treatment of pediatric patients with
chronic conditions like bronchial asthma. Overall, this assignment emphasizes the
significance of providing comprehensive care that attends to pediatric patients' physical,
psychological, cultural, and spiritual needs. By doing so, healthcare providers can optimize
outcomes and enhance the overall well-being of their patients, promoting a more holistic
approach to pediatric care.
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