Title: Covid-19 and Indigenous children

Heading 1 (Introduction)

The COVID-19 epidemic has had an impact on nearly every aspect of our life, including our health,
relationships with our families and classmates, and involvement in cultural events. It is usual for children
to sense dread, concern, and anxiety, and some may experience grief and loss because of the way things
were (Children’s Health Queensland [CHQ], 2021).

Many various medical treatments may be performed on pediatric patients in the hospital. As healthcare
practitioners, nurses must take every precaution to safeguard children from avoidable healthcare-
induced trauma and suffering, especially those who will require continuous care. Procedure planning is
critical for ensuring that the patient's experience with operations is favorable, as poorly managed
procedural distress and pain can have long-term harmful impacts on children and young people aged 3
to 12 years (Nursing Clinical Effectiveness Committee, 2020).

Heading 2 (Case study dot points)

Patient Y is admitted to Biloela hospital due to:

 shortness of breath
 high fever for 2 days
 productive coughing
 feeling unusually lethargic

Prior the admission, Patient Y went to attend her daycare per usual and the day after that she started to
exhibit the signs and symptoms. She has been absent for 2 days.

Patient Y child:

 5 years of age in kindergarten

 Female
 lives with her parents and younger sister in Banana Region
 Asthmatic
 a descent of Gangulu tribe, uses bush remedies when sick

Heading 3 (Pathophysio/Incidence/meds and therapy)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that first appeared in Wuhan, China
(Shereen et al., 2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a member of beta-coronavirus of the
Coronaviridae family. It causes infection of the respiratory system that is usually transmitted through
contact, airborne, and droplet in which the virus enters the lungs and attached itself to the cells and
starts producing proteins which releases inflammatory products that will increase capillary permeability
resulting to fluid accumulation within the alveoli (Bohn et al., 2020). Intensive therapy, which includes
non-invasive and invasive ventilation, antipyretics, antivirals, antibiotics, and steroids, as well as
hospitalization are necessary for moderate and severe cases while plasma exchange therapy and
immunomodulatory medications may be needed to treat complicated signs and symptoms (Parasher,
2021). Incidence rate of Covid-19 in children is low with approximately 1% to 5% of diagnosed cases but
they still make up a sizable portion of the population that is vulnerable to COVID-19 and study shows
that the infection is actually milder of its severity and clinical presentation (Vidya et al., 2021). They have
better prognosis and lesser mortality rate than with adults.

Heading 4 (Nursing interventions and drug therapy)

According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2020), there is still no known cure for COVID-19, but the
availability of the vaccines really helps reduce children’s risks of contracting the infection and
complications. Patient Y is currently experiencing shortness of breath, highly febrile, coughing, and
fatigue. Nursing interventions can come in many forms such as basic and complex psychological,
behavioral, safety, and familial intervention.

BASIC PSYCHOLOGICAL: nutrition management of pediatric patients – ensure adequate fluid and
nutrient intake; transfer and immobility management; pain management – pharmacological and non-
pharmacological techniques

COMPLEX PSYCHOLOGICAL: Mechanical ventilation; oxygen therapy – oxygen saturation should be safe
for patients; Hyperthermia/Hypothermia Treatment; Fluid Management –balanced body fluid intake

BEHAVIORAL AND SAFETY: Therapeutic Play – help children develop their coping mechanisms through
activities; Counselling – facilitate questions and concerns of family; Infection control – sort patients
based on their risk level for COVID-19 infection; Vital Sign Monitoring

FAMILY: Family presence facilitation – parents can accompany the child to use their mask, wash their
hands and maintain normal temperature; Family Support – help them manage stress due to separation
with children during treatment period; Discharge Planning – educate what to do at home and carry out
medical procedures; Case Management – answer children’s question honestly regarding COVID-19.

Heading 5 (Cultural Safety in Nursing or Midwifery Practice)

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic is without a doubt one of the most difficult events that our
modern cultures have faced yet it offered an opportunity for health promotion to highlight social
vulnerabilities (Gulis et.al., 2020). Nurses connect with people as individuals in a culturally safe and
respectful manner, build open, honest, and caring professional relationships, and uphold their privacy
and confidentiality duties.

As stated in Nursing Code of Practice Principle 3 (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018), as a
nurse practitioner, the best practice I can give to provide cultural safety to my patients by providing
culturally safe and respectful practice of health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Indigenous Australians' cultural needs and experiences should be recognized and addressed by health
care institutions and providers. I will provide care to my Indigenous and non-Indigenous patient fairly
which is free of bias and racism, understand their cultural belief by learning. Advocate for and act to
improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' access to high-quality, culturally appropriate
health care. Being a role model in my workplace, I will be the one to initiate and convince my work
colleagues to become a fair and respectful environment for these people because each one of them are
someone who we should take care of us patient, and it is our duty to give care for people who need it as
nurses regardless of their race.