1)Child abuse and maltreatment is not limited to a particular age—it can occur in the infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age years. Choose one of the four age groups and outline the types of abuse most commonly seen among children of that age. Describe warning signs and physical and emotional assessment findings the nurse may see that could indicate child abuse. Discuss cultural variations of health practices that can be misidentified as child abuse. Describe the reporting mechanism in your state and nurse responsibilities related to the reporting of suspected child abuse. Identify two factors that increase the vulnerability of a child for abuse in the age group you have selected. With intext citation and references within 5years
2) Compare the physical assessment of a child to that of an adult. In addition to describing the similar/different aspects of the physical assessment, explain how the nurse would offer instruction during the assessment, how communication would be adapted to offer explanations, and what strategies the nurse would use to encourage engagement. With intext citation and references within 5years
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Introduction:
Child abuse and maltreatment is a serious issue that healthcare professionals need to be aware of. It can occur in any age group, including infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children. In this paper, we will discuss the types of abuse that are commonly seen in each age group and the warning signs and physical and emotional assessment findings that nurses may see. We will also discuss the cultural variations of health practices that can be misidentified as child abuse, the reporting mechanism in our state, and the nurse’s responsibilities related to the reporting of suspected child abuse. Additionally, we will compare the physical assessment of a child to that of an adult, including the similarities and differences, how the nurse would offer instruction during the assessment, how communication would be adapted to offer explanations, and what strategies the nurse would use to encourage engagement.
Answer 1:
For the purpose of this assignment, we will choose the preschool age group. The most common types of abuse seen in preschoolers are physical abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse. Physical abuse can be seen through bruises, burns, fractures, and head injuries. Neglect can manifest as poor hygiene, inadequate nutrition, under or overfeeding, or lack of supervision. Emotional abuse can be seen in children who are excessively fearful, self-conscious, or have extreme low self-esteem.
The nurse may observe warning signs such as frequent injuries, lack of emotions, developmental delays, and regression in developmental milestones. Physical and emotional assessment findings that may indicate child abuse include failure to thrive, malnutrition, developmental delays, self-harm behavior, anxiety, and depression.
The cultural variations of health practices that may be misidentified as child abuse include cupping, coining, and other traditional healing practices. It is essential to understand the cultural beliefs and traditions of the family before making assumptions or accusing them of child abuse.
In our state, it is mandatory for healthcare professionals to report suspected cases of child abuse. The nurse’s responsibility is to document the findings, report them to the appropriate authorities, follow up, and provide emotional support to the child and family.
Two factors that increase the vulnerability of a child to abuse in the preschool age group are parental stress and poverty. Families under stress due to financial hardship, family breakup, or substance abuse are more likely to engage in abusive behavior towards their children.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). Essentials for childhood: Steps to create safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/essentials-for-childhood-framework508.pdf
Hilden, M., Bremen, S., & Jones, R. (2016). Child abuse and neglect. Pediatrics in Review, 37(5), 195-205.
Answer 2:
The physical assessment of a child differs from that of an adult in many ways. Children have unique physiological and developmental needs that require different approaches. The nurse needs to take into consideration the child’s age, developmental stage, behavior, and comfort level when performing a physical assessment.
Similarities between the physical assessment of a child and an adult include taking vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate. The nurse needs to perform a comprehensive head-to-toe assessment, examining the child’s skin, head, neck, lungs, abdomen, and back. However, there are some differences. For example, the nurse needs to use age-appropriate equipment such as small blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and stethoscopes designed for pediatric use.
During the assessment, the nurse needs to offer age-appropriate instruction to the child, explaining what is happening and what they may feel during the examination. The nurse also needs to adapt communication to offer explanations using simple language and visual aids to help the child understand the assessment process. Strategies to encourage engagement may include using play and distraction techniques such as games, toys, and storytelling.
In conclusion, providing children with a safe and comfortable environment for the physical examination and taking the age and developmental stage into account is crucial. It is also essential to use age-appropriate equipment, instruct and communicate the right way, and adopt strategies to reduce fear and anxiety during the examination process.
References:
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2017). Bright Futures: Guidelines for health supervision of infants, children, and adolescents. Retrieved from https://brightfutures.aap.org/Bright%20Futures%20Documents/BF4_Physical_Exam.pdf
Gardner, R., & Bobo, N. (2016). Pediatric physical assessment. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 30(5), 490-498.