Big nurse in a small world: in-depth and easy-to-understand pediatric nursing knowledge

As a pediatric nurse dedicated to caring for children's health, I know that in this small world full of curiosity and vitality, our role is far more than a simple "caregiver". Today, I will share with you some basic knowledge of pediatric nursing, hoping to provide a useful reference for readers.

1. Physiological characteristics of pediatric patients

Growth and development: Children are in a rapid growth and development stage, and height, weight, head circumference and other indicators will change with age. Pediatricians will use growth curve charts to monitor children's growth and development so that any abnormalities can be detected and intervened in time.

Immune system: Children’s immune systems are not fully developed yet, so they are more susceptible to infections. Vaccination is an important way to protect children from many infectious diseases.

Metabolic and nutritional needs: Children's energy and nutritional needs are different from those of adults. Newborns have a faster metabolism, so they usually need to pay attention to electrolyte balance and liver function maintenance. School-age children have a more stable metabolism, but they grow and develop faster, so they need to have greater nutritional needs and also need to control their calorie intake to avoid health problems such as obesity.

Nervous system: Children's nervous systems are still developing, so their attention, memory, and reaction abilities may differ from those of adults.

Psychological and emotional: Children's psychological and emotional development is also constantly changing and requires special attention. They may be more susceptible to emotional fluctuations. Therefore, when communicating with children, appropriate language and methods need to be used to build trust.

Drug metabolism: Children may metabolize drugs at a different rate than adults, so the drug dosage may need to be adjusted based on age, weight, and other factors.

Common diseases and symptoms: Common diseases and symptoms in children are different from those in adults, such as respiratory infections, diarrhea, fever, etc. Healthcare professionals need to have a deep understanding of these diseases in order to provide appropriate treatment and care.

2. Common pediatric nursing knowledge

1. Infusion care

Before infusion, a comprehensive assessment of the child should be conducted, including age, weight, condition, allergy history, etc. At the same time, appropriate infusion fluids and equipment should be selected, such as sterile infusion sets, needles, tourniquets, etc. In addition, necessary disinfection supplies and dressings should be prepared. For nervous or frightened children, toys, stories or games can be used to comfort them and help them relax. Subsequently, a suitable puncture site is selected, usually the vein on the back of the hand or forearm. After selecting the site, strict skin disinfection should be performed to prevent infection. When disinfecting, sterile cotton balls or cotton swabs should be used to apply disinfectant in a spiral manner from the center to the outside. Before puncture, the limb should be tied with a tourniquet to fill the vein. Then, the skin is tightened with the left hand, and the needle is held in the right hand to puncture the vein at an angle of 15-30 degrees. After the puncture is successful, the tourniquet should be loosened immediately and the needle should be fixed with tape or a special fixator. During the infusion process, the child's reaction and the condition of the infusion set should be observed regularly, such as the drip rate, liquid color, and the presence of bubbles. At the same time, children's vital signs and urine output and other indicators should be monitored.

2. Common diseases and care

1. Upper respiratory tract infection:

Symptoms: cough, runny nose, fever, etc.

Care methods:

Keep the indoor air moist by using a humidifier or placing a basin of water to increase the air humidity;

Encourage your child to drink plenty of water to maintain water balance and avoid dehydration;

Measure body temperature regularly and if fever occurs, give antipyretics such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen as prescribed by your doctor;

Encourage your child to rest and avoid strenuous exercise to reduce symptoms;

Avoid contact with other children who have upper respiratory tract infections to prevent transmission.

2. Acute diarrhea:

Symptoms: Frequent watery or loose stools, which may be accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting, etc.

Care methods:

Oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration;

Avoid giving your child greasy, spicy or irritating foods to avoid aggravating diarrhea;

Pay attention to hand hygiene and teach children the correct way to wash their hands to prevent cross infection;

Change your child's diapers regularly and keep their buttocks dry and clean to prevent diaper rash.

3. Bronchial asthma:

Symptoms: Recurrent wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, etc.

Care methods:

Establish an asthma management plan, including regular inhaler dosing and methods for monitoring asthma symptoms;

Avoid contact of children with allergens, such as dust mites, pollen, pet hair, etc.

Strengthen physical exercise to improve children's physical fitness and immunity;

Teach your child how to use an inhaler so they can respond to an attack.

4. Urinary tract infection

Symptoms: frequent urination, urgency, pain when urinating, etc.

Care methods:

Encourage your child to drink plenty of water to promote urine excretion;

Take antibiotics on time to ensure the condition is under control;

Pay attention to personal hygiene, especially girls should use the correct wiping method.

3. Psychological care

Establishing a good trusting relationship with children is the foundation of psychological care. Through patient listening, care and understanding, children can feel respected and accepted. When children face illness or treatment, they may feel scared, anxious or depressed. Medical staff should provide emotional support, encourage them to express their feelings, and give positive feedback and comfort.

In short, nurses play multiple roles in the small world of children - caregivers, educators, advocates and coordinators, providing children with comprehensive and personalized care to ensure their healthy growth. I hope this article can help everyone better understand pediatric nursing knowledge and promote the healthy and strong growth of children! (Yang Chunli, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)