Pediatric Assessment Tips?

i don't work with peds too often, but i do know to do the most painful, irritating part of the assessment last, i.e. rectal temp, etc.

always count respirations first

always count respirations first

:yeahthat:

pediatric nursing made incredibly easy is a good book with lots of great tips.

i found in my pediatrics rotation that it really did help immensely to get on the same eye level as the child. i also went to a coupla "kid" movies over christmas to have something to talk about--like, most the kids i asked had seen "the incredibles" -- so then it goes from there to ask about their favorite character in the movie...

another one is to do the assessment while the child is sitting in mom's lap. younger ones...let them touch and play with your stethoscope before listening. if that doesn't work, try to get mom to distract child so you can get stethoscope under his/her shirt before he/she sees it and can react. with a 9 yr old i actually let her listen to her heart and to her bowel sounds with my stethoscope. she thought that was kinda cool. (sheesh, after being in the hospital for 3 weeks and people doing all kinds of things to her body, you'd think they might have her learn a few things...:)

nursefirst

I work at a pediatric hospital in the emergency department. Definatley do the most irritaing procedures last. Many of the kids hate having their blood pressure taken. Tell them it measures how big their muscles are,or it is giving their arma hug. That does'nt always work, but it helps sometimes. Also give a toddler a chioce of which arm to use. A lot of our nurses have small toys like an alligator that lights up hanging off their name badge so they call distract the child with it. A pin light can distract a small child. Talk to the parents and tell them and the child what you are going to to do before you do it. Peds involves taking care of the entire family, not just the child. If you win the mom and dad over, it goes a long way towards winning the child over.

Thanks for all the great advice friends! I also picked up some neat stickers today so I figured I would keep them on me "just in case"...If they like stickers that is!

:):)

Thanks for all the great advice friends! I also picked up some neat stickers today so I figured I would keep them on me "just in case"...If they like stickers that is!

:):)

Kids dooo love those stickers!!!!

During my clinical rotation in peds I was attempting to find something to distract my young pt. There were many things she said she liked earlier, but mentioning them didn't help. Having done an observation in a peds clinic a few days before where they had stickers, I asked if she liked stickers. Bingo!!!! Then I went to the nurses station to find out they didn't have any. :imbar

Fortunately, when she had an ex. lap the next day I was happy to see the docs putting LOTS of stickers on top and around the bandages!!! (Unfortunately, I didn't get to see her after that...)

NurseFirst

Cool! I"m glad that I tucked the stickers into my lab vest pocket! :):)

Also, at the dollar store they have these small bubble bottles. They are definatly small enough to carry in a pocket and its good to distract away from other unpleasant things like IVs or temperature taking. I havn't met a kid yet who doesn't like blowing bubbles :chuckle .

Also, at the dollar store they have these small bubble bottles. They are definatly small enough to carry in a pocket and its good to distract away from other unpleasant things like IVs or temperature taking. I havn't met a kid yet who doesn't like blowing bubbles :chuckle .

I read somewhere recently that one of the most common items for calls to Poison Control was bubble making stuff.

NurseFirst

I read somewhere recently that one of the most common items for calls to Poison Control was bubble making stuff.

NurseFirst

I guess that would depend on what the bubbles were made out of. All the ones I've ever seen were non toxic, unless they were getting the caps or bubble loops in their mouths and swollowing.