CASE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITION IN CHILDREN
When seeking to identify a patient’s health condition, advanced practice nurses can use a diverse selection of diagnostic tests and assessment tools; however, different factors affect the validity and reliability of the results produced by these tests or tools. Nurses must be aware of these factors in order to select the most appropriate test or tool and to accurately interpret the results.
Not only do these diagnostic tests affect adults, body measurements can provide a general picture of whether a child is receiving adequate nutrition or is at risk for health issues. These data, however, are just one aspect to be considered. Lifestyle, family history, and culture—among other factors—are also relevant. That said, gathering and communicating this information can be a delicate process.
For this Assignment, you will explore how you could effectively gather information and encourage parents and caregivers to be proactive about their children’s health and weight.
Assignment (3–4 pages, not including title and reference pages):
Assignment: Child Health Case : 8 year old overweight male foster child with normal weight foster parents and overweight biological parents
Include the following:
- An explanation of the health issues and risks that are relevant to the child you were assigned.
- Describe additional information you would need in order to further assess his or her weight-related health.
- Identify and describe any risks and consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion.
- Taking into account the parents’ and caregivers’ potential sensitivities, list at least three specific questions you would ask about the child to gather more information.
- Provide at least two strategies you could employ to encourage the parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight.
- 8 year old overweight male foster child with normal weight foster parents and overweight biological parents
ATTACHED IS THE RUBRIC TO BE FOLLOWED FOR F THE ASSIGNMENT
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this assignment, we are tasked with assessing the nutrition of a child, specifically an 8-year-old overweight male foster child who has normal weight foster parents and overweight biological parents. We must identify the relevant health issues and risks, gather additional information, and suggest strategies to encourage the parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight.
1. An explanation of the health issues and risks that are relevant to the child you were assigned:
The health issues and risks relevant to the assigned 8-year-old overweight male foster child are numerous, and they include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, and joint pain. These health problems are associated with obesity and can lead to a shortened lifespan if not addressed. Additionally, the child may have low self-esteem and suffer social consequences, such as bullying, if they are not of average weight.
2. Describe additional information you would need in order to further assess his or her weight-related health:
To further assess the weight-related health of the assigned child, we would need information such as dietary habits, exercise frequency, and screen time. Information about the child’s medical history, family history, and any medications they may be taking would also be useful in evaluating their overall health status.
3. Identify and describe any risks and consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion:
The risks associated with the assigned child’s weight and health status include the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as low self-esteem and social isolation. To gain a full understanding of the child’s health status, we would need to gather sensitive information about their diet and exercise habits, which can be accomplished by interviewing the parents or caregivers and the child themselves in a non-judgmental and supportive manner.
4. Taking into account the parents’ and caregivers’ potential sensitivities, list at least three specific questions you would ask about the child to gather more information:
To gather more information about the assigned child’s health, we would ask the following questions in a sensitive manner:
a) What does the child typically eat in a day?
b) What are the child’s favorite activities to do?
c) Does the child have any medical conditions or take any medications?
5. Provide at least two strategies you could employ to encourage the parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight:
To encourage parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight, we could suggest healthy meal planning and incorporating more physical activity into the child’s routine. We could also provide resources such as nutritional information, recipes, and recommendations for fun physical activities for the child and family to participate in together. We could also offer support groups for both the child and parents or caregivers to help them stay on track and provide a safe space for them to discuss their experiences.
