exam 1 peds

1. Therapeutic Play for Children

  • Helps children express feelings, cope with hospitalization, and reduce anxiety.

  • Examples:

    • Medical play (e.g., using dolls to demonstrate procedures)

    • Sensory play (e.g., water, sand, clay for stress relief)

    • Role-playing activities


2. Concept of Atraumatic Care & Approaches

  • Goal: Minimize physical and emotional stress during medical procedures.

  • Approaches:

    • Use non-threatening language

    • Encourage parental presence

    • Offer choices when possible

    • Utilize therapeutic play

    • Use numbing creams before injections


3. Medication Administration (Otic, Optic, Oral)

  • Otic (Ear):

    • <3 years: Pull pinna down and back

    • 3 years: Pull pinna up and back

  • Optic (Eye):

    • Pull lower eyelid down, drop medication into conjunctival sac.

  • Oral:

    • Use oral syringe for infants; aim toward side of mouth.

    • Mix with small amounts of food if allowed.


4. Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages (Key Pediatric Stages)

  • Infant (0-1 yr): Trust vs. Mistrust (Needs consistent care)

  • Toddler (1-3 yrs): Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Encourage independence)

  • Preschool (3-6 yrs): Initiative vs. Guilt (Encourage exploration)

  • School-age (6-12 yrs): Industry vs. Inferiority (Encourage achievements)

  • Adolescence (12-18 yrs): Identity vs. Role Confusion (Encourage self-identity)


5. Safe Sleep for Infants / SIDS Risks

  • Prevention:

    • Place infant on back to sleep

    • Use firm mattress, avoid loose bedding & toys in crib

    • No co-sleeping

    • Avoid overheating

    • Pacifier use during sleep may help reduce risk


6. Pain Scales by Age Group

  • Infants: FLACC (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability)

  • Toddlers: FLACC or Faces Pain Scale

  • Preschoolers: Faces Pain Scale

  • School-age & older: Numeric or Visual Analog Scale


7. Anxiety Reactions to Hospitalization

  • Infants & Toddlers: Separation anxiety (crying, tantrums)

  • Preschoolers: Fear of punishment or abandonment

  • School-age: Fear of pain, body injury, and loss of control

  • Adolescents: Fear of missing out, privacy concerns


8. Car Seat Safety

  • Rear-facing until at least 2 years (or as per weight limits)

  • Forward-facing in car seat until 5 years

  • Booster seat until 4’9” and 8-12 years old

  • Back seat until 13 years old


9. Pain Responses by Age Group

  • Infants: Crying, facial grimacing

  • Toddlers: Aggression, withdrawal, clinging to caregiver

  • Preschoolers: Verbalizing pain, resisting procedures

  • School-age: Stoicism, bargaining

  • Adolescents: Verbalization, mood changes


10. Infant Growth Patterns

  • 6 months: Weight doubles from birth

  • 12 months: Weight triples from birth, length increases by 50%


11. HPV Vaccine

  • Purpose: Prevents HPV-related cancers & genital warts.

  • Recommended Age: 11-12 years (2 doses), but can start as early as 9.


12. Appropriate Toys by Age Group

  • Infants (0-12 mo): Rattles, mirrors, soft books, mobiles

  • Toddlers (1-3 yrs): Push-pull toys, blocks, stacking rings

  • Preschoolers (3-6 yrs): Dress-up, simple board games, tricycles

  • School-age (6-12 yrs): Board games, crafts, bikes

  • Adolescents (12+ yrs): Sports equipment, electronics, music


13. Fontanel Closure

  • Posterior fontanel: Closes by 2-3 months

  • Anterior fontanel: Closes by 12-18 months


14. Suicide / Self-Harm Signs

  • Sudden changes in behavior/mood

  • Social withdrawal

  • Giving away belongings

  • Expressing hopelessness

  • Increased risk in adolescents


15. Infant/Toddler Developmental Milestones (ATI p. 15)

  • 6 months: Rolls both ways, sits with support

  • 9 months: Crawls, pulls to stand

  • 12 months: Walks with assistance, waves bye-bye

  • 18 months: Walks alone, stacks 3 blocks

  • 24 months: 2-word sentences, jumps


16. Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency

  • Causes: Pituitary dysfunction

  • Teaching: Growth hormone injections, monitor height/weight

  • Medication: Somatropin (subQ)


17. Fungal Infections

  • Tinea capitis: Scalp ringworm

  • Tinea corporis: Body ringworm

  • Tinea pedis: Athlete’s foot

  • Tinea cruris: Jock itch


18. Lice Manifestation & Treatment

  • Signs: Itching, nits on hair shaft

  • Treatment: Permethrin shampoo, combing out nits

  • Precautions: Wash bedding in hot water, no sharing hair accessories


19. Care for Eczema

  • Keep skin moisturized

  • Avoid triggers (allergens, irritants)

  • Use mild soaps

  • Apply topical corticosteroids as prescribed


20. Care for Diaper Dermatitis

  • Frequent diaper changes

  • Barrier cream (zinc oxide)

  • Air drying

  • Avoid baby wipes with alcohol


21. Acne Treatment & Risks

  • Meds: Topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics

  • Risks: Isotretinoin (Accutane) can cause severe birth defects—requires pregnancy tests and birth control.


22. SC / IM Injection Techniques

  • SC: 45-degree angle, fatty tissue (thigh, upper arm)

  • IM (infants <1 yr): Vastus lateralis (thigh) only

  • IM (older children): Deltoid or ventrogluteal


23. Signs/Symptoms of Hypo/Hyperglycemia

  • Hypoglycemia: Sweating, shakiness, irritability, confusion

  • Hyperglycemia: Increased thirst, frequent urination, fruity breath


24. Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Patient Teaching

  • Monitor blood glucose levels

  • Insulin administration techniques

  • Carbohydrate counting

  • Signs of hypo/hyperglycemia


25. I/O Calculations

  • 1 oz = 30 mL

  • 1 tsp = 5 mL

  • 1 tbsp = 15 mL

  • Daily fluid maintenance formula:

    • 1st 10 kg: 100 mL/kg

    • 2nd 10 kg: 50 mL/kg

    • Each additional kg: 20 mL/kg

1. Birth Weight & Growth Patterns

  • Doubles by: 6 months

  • Triples by: 12 months


2. Fontanel Closure

  • Posterior fontanel: Closes by 2-3 months

  • Anterior fontanel: Closes by 12-18 months


3. Developmental Findings to Report (Abnormal for 15-Month-Old)

  • Not walking independently

  • No single words besides "mama" or "dada"

  • Inability to follow simple commands

  • Lack of pincer grasp

  • Persistent hand dominance (before 18 months)


4. Expected Findings for a 6-Month-Old

  • Rolls over in both directions

  • Sits with support

  • Transfers objects between hands

  • Begins to babble consonant sounds (e.g., "ba-ba")

  • Stranger anxiety may begin


5. Appropriate Toys for a 12-Month-Old (Hospitalized)

  • Soft stuffed animals

  • Board books

  • Nesting cups

  • Large, lightweight balls

  • Push-and-pull toys


6. Apical Pulse Assessment for Newborns

  • Always listen to the apical pulse for 1 full minute.

  • Normal newborn heart rate: 110-160 bpm

  • Best auscultation location: Left midclavicular line, 4th intercostal space