Pediatric Development and Nursing Assessment (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering pediatric development, growth, screening, nutrition, assessment, vaccines, safety, and age-specific care concepts from the lecture notes.

Development

Continuous, orderly series of conditions that lead to activities, new motives, and patterns of behavior.

Growth parameters

Height, weight, length, head circumference (until about age 3), eruption of teeth, and growth spurts used to assess development.

Myelin

Lipid sheath coating nerves; enables faster nerve conduction and supports fine motor development.

Anterior fontanelle

Front soft spot on the infant skull; typically closes by 12–18 months.

Posterior fontanelle

Back soft spot on the infant skull; typically closes by 2–3 months.

Fontanelle closure times

Anterior fontanelle closes by 12–18 months; posterior fontanelle closes by 2–3 months.

Newborn (birth-1 month)

Stage where early communication occurs via crying; newborns respond to voices and begin language exposure.

Infancy (1 month-1 year)

Stage following newborn; rapid development in motor, language, and social skills.

Toddler (1-3 years)

Stage characterized by the emergence of two-word phrases, parallel play, short attention spans, and security objects.

Preschool (3-6 years)

Stage of increasing independence, rapid language growth, use of pronouns, and magical thinking; preparation before procedures is recommended.

School-age (6-12 years)

Stage with rule-based learning, longer attention spans, developing conversation skills and a broader vocabularies.

Adolescence (13-18 years)

Stage involving independent identity, abstract thinking, and emphasis on privacy and group belonging.

Fall off growth chart

Indicator such as abnormal circumference or bulging fontanelles suggesting potential intracranial pressure (tumor, meningitis, bleed).

Piaget

Theory of cognitive development explaining how thinking evolves in stages.

Erikson

Theory of psychosocial development emphasizing social and emotional growth across life stages.

Kohlberg

Theory of moral development describing progression of moral reasoning.

Toxic stress

Adverse, prolonged stress from caregivers or environment impacting development.

Denver Developmental Screening Test

Screening tool to assess developmental progress in young children.

PEDS (Parental Evaluation of Development Status)

Screening instrument based on parental report of child development.

SWYC (Survey of Wellbeing and Development)

Screening tool assessing developmental milestones and family wellbeing.

Infant Development Inventory

Screening instrument used to assess early developmental milestones.

Nutritional Promotion

Guidelines for breastfeeding, solid foods, milk intake, juice limits, and fat intake to promote health.

Exclusive breastfeeding (AAP)

AAP recommendation to exclusive breast milk feeding for about first 6 months for nutrition and SIDS risk reduction.

Milk intake guidelines (age-based)

2 cups/day for ages 1–8; 3 cups/day for ages 9 and older (fat-free/low-fat recommended for 2y+).

Juice limit

Limit juice to about 4 oz per day.

Fat intake guidelines

Fat should provide 30–35% of calories at 2–3 years and 25–35% for 4–18 years.

OLDCARTS

Pain assessment framework: Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity.

Pediatric blood pressure start

Routine BP measurement begins at age 3 years.

Temperature measurement sites

Axillary preferred for many ages; oral for 5+, tympanic for 3+; rectal sometimes used preferentially in younger children.

Live attenuated vaccines

Vaccines with diminished potency to produce immunity without causing full illness.

Killed/inactive vaccines

Vaccines containing pathogens made inactive by chemicals or heat to provoke antibody production without disease.

Injection sites by age

IM injections in the anterolateral thigh for infants/young children; deltoid for older children.

ADPIE

Nursing process: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation.

Vaccine administration steps

Education, assess allergies, check meds, confirm vaccine, document lot/route, monitor for reactions, schedule follow-up.

Empathy vs over-involvement

Balance comforting the family without becoming overly involved or intrusive.

Separation anxiety

Anxiety during illness/hospitalization stages across infancy to adolescence and among parents/siblings.

Visual impairment communication strategies

Identify preferred communication mode; face child; coordinate orientation and consistent environment.

Toddler social development

Security objects, parallel play, routines; limited but growing language and autonomy.

Preschool social development

Increased independence, time limits, pronoun use, rapid language growth, verbal explanations.

School-age social development

Rules-based thinking, expanding vocabulary, increasingly complex conversations.

Adolescent social development

Attention to autonomy, privacy, identity, and peer influence; collaboration and independence.

Milestones 2–12 months (selected)

2 mo: smile spontaneously and follow faces; 4 mo: follow object 180° and coo; 6 mo: rake/transfer objects; 9 mo: stranger wariness and pincer grasp; 12 mo: respond to name and walk with support.

Normal lead level

0–5 mcg/dL considered within the normal range.

Normal hemoglobin

Typically >11.5 g/dL in infants/children depending on age and lab norms.

Immunization process safety

Ask about allergies/reactions, provide fact sheet, administer in thigh, document details, monitor for reactions, and follow up.

SIDS prevention

Place infants on back to sleep; room-sharing with parents for about 6 months; avoid loose bedding; avoid overheating.

Newborn sleep patterns

Newborns sleep 17–20 hours per day.

Vaccine side effects (examples)

MMR rash; DTaP fever/pain; MMR+Varicella may cause febrile seizures; most vaccines cause low-grade fever.

Baby-proofing and safety for infants

Home safety planning before birth; ensure crib safety; monitor water temperature (<120°F); avoid hazards.

Sunscreen use in infancy

Sunscreen use is noted as acceptable in the notes; follow current guidelines for age-appropriate use.

Lead and hemoglobin monitoring triggers

Milestone weight/length trends

Infants typically regain birth weight by 2 weeks and then grow in length and head circumference over months.