Childrens Respiratory Floor

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2014

I would review asthma, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis as these are the most common pediatric diagnoises

brattygrl · Aug 14, 2014

And just ALWAYS keep in mind that airway/breathing is to kids as cardiac is to adults.

Never under estimate how quickly a kid can turn bad on you, even with just asthma or bronchiolitis. A happy wheezer can only compensate for so long without intervention.

Be sure to ask plenty of questions and pay attention. Dont underestimate how sick some of these kids can get.

Sorry. I just get a bit passionate about this kind of thing. I've seen kids get tubed over "just asthma" and have put more than one in a body bag. Not trying to scare you. Just want you to have a healthy fear of potentials.

And please, whenever possible, get a resting respiratory rate, even if you have to count it from the doorway. Try not to wait until kid is screaming. It could mean missing the RR of 80.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck!

Summer Days · Aug 18, 2014

It'll serve you good to remember that the diameter of a pediatric trachea is like that of a small sized straw. So imagine a wheezing ped pt with a trachea as such and with an immature respiratory system gasping for air; things can go haywire in a tenth of a second and for that you need to know peds cpr very well. Know your interventions for restrictive airway disease. Learn the immunizations and always check pt's medical record to see if immunizations are UTD (up to date). You will do alot of pt teaching that involves the family.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Aug 18, 2014

you will certainly learn to distinguish lung sounds!

Patient teaching should include asthma and allergy prevention/care.

Remember, some adults walk around daily with HR below 60 bpm, but for a kid that means CPR should be initiated!