Need to interview adolescent nurse...please help

TexasPediRN · Jan 12, 2006

Since I dont know your questions, I dont know if I'll be able to help.

If you post them I can try! You can PM me with them if you'd like.

-Meghan

AprylLPN · Jan 12, 2006

Let's see...

What challenges do you face dealing with hospitalized adolescents that are specific to that age group?

What illnesses or diseases seem to requires hospitalization for most teens?

What type of teaching is done with teens and how do you gain trust and understanding from a teen?

How do you transition a teen with a lifelong illness, such as diabetes, into adulthood and more independence?

What is the average hospital stay for a teen?

I think this would be all the questions I would need answered. And I would greatly appreciate any and all additional information that you might feel would be important to understand.

Thanks so much,

SPNapryl

FarmgrrlRN · Jan 12, 2006

1. non-compliance

2. on my unit: renal pts (ESRD, acute transplant rejection --->non-compliance big time), asthma, (we don't usually see diabetics on my unit)

3. Gain trust by being honest, talk to them as young adults (not like children)

4. Empower them, let them take on more responsiblity in managing their disease (own BS, own insulin, etc.)

5. It depends on the illness....

TexasPediRN · Jan 13, 2006

ok.. I agree with farmgrrlRN on a lot of these..

Question 1:

Nomcompliance. Teens then to think they are invinsible, and that nothing applies to them, or that it wont happen to them.

Teens are also starting to become independent, and being in a hospital without any control, is a struggle.

Privacy is also an issue. Most have significant others, and when you have a nurse coming in at any given time, teens feel that lack of privacy.

Embarrasment- You really need to watch how you word questions, and whom you ask them in front of. A question on my old hospitals admit assessment was regarding sexual activity, not something you ask in front of the parent.

Another issue all teens would get embarassed about is me asking them about their bowel habits, and what it looks like.

Question 2:

When I worked in the hospital we saw a lot of appendicitis, kidney infections, as well as accidents-car or skiing ones.

Question 3:

Treat them as an adult and not as a child. If you talk to them as a child, you will never be taken seriously. Teaching is specific to the teen's medical issue, and you need to reinforce certain things so that they understand.

Question 4:

I think that the parents and the teen need to be taught how to do things, so that the parent can reinforce the correct ways on the teen. Allow the teen to be independent with their own insulin/blood sugar checks, but be there to walk them through it the first few times to make sure they get the hang of it.

A lot of teens do think they are invinsible, and I think that with diabetes, you need to reinforce those complications that can occur if they are noncomplaint. You need to do it in a manner then doesnt make the teen feel as if all you are saying is BS..but dont talk to them like a child either.

Question 5:

It really depends on the medical condition- appys, a day or 2, accidents, a few days or so.

I hope this helped! I tried my best to answer your questions fully.

Good luck!