1

Maternal child stage portfolio

Student

Department, Institution

Unit Code: Unit Name

Instructor

Date

Chapter 10 Caring for the Newborn at Risk

The chapter explores the nursing of newborns at risk. PICOT lays the foundation for a

systematic identification of the condition and appropriate postnatal care to be considered. The P

in Picot involves an examination of the anatomy and physiology of the high-risk patient. The

nurse ought to characterize the high-risk patient by assessing the gestational age and birth

weight. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common observation in small gestational

weight (SGA) which manifests by inadequate fetal development exhibiting lower weight than the

expected gestational age. Hypoglycemia and hypothermia in SGA are also other traits

manifested, due to reduced glycogen stores due to limited fat reserves also having less

subcutaneous fat makes them susceptible to heat loss.

 2

(Nursekey.com, 2016)

Large Gestational Age (LGA) Infants require critical care due to some of the common

issues associated with these which include physical and psychological issues. Birth trauma due

to increased risk of shoulder dystocia, or brachial plexus injuries due to their large sizes.

Hyperviscosity syndrome where LGA infants may develop thicker blood, increasing their risk of

thrombosis, these are but examples associated with LGA infants. Gavage feeding could have a

positive outcome with the potential to enhance the feeding experience of the newborn. Intimate

skin-to-skin contact evidence of olfactory simulation exposing the infants to mothers soothing

the neonates vis-à-vis improving their feeding experience and reducing stress.
 3

Chapter 13: Caring for the Developing Child.

The chapter touches on principles innate in the development of the child, together with

their theories of growth and developmental frameworks. Nurses are trained to develop entire

developmental plans tailored to meet the specific needs of children their families and their

backgrounds. Collaboration of Nurses and other healthcare teams the growth and development

through established models and ensuring a holistic approach to the patient’s wellness.

Anticipatory guidance touching on nutrition, safety, health, and patient education is integral to

promoting the overall well-being of children. Psychosexual, psychosocial, attachment, and

cognitive theories provide frameworks for understanding child development. Bronfenbrenner

views development as a factor of environmental systems. It explains developmental stages from

newborn to adolescence focusing on the physical cognitive psychosocial traits of each

development stage. The psychoanalytic underpinned by unconscious bias explains how early

events shape personality. Piaget assumptions focus on the cognitive development process

through different stages. It has been demonstrated that using nonpharmacological pain

management methods, such as cold and vibration, during acute operations in pediatric patients

reduces discomfort and tension associated with the surgery, making the experience better for the

kid and the family as a whole. The methods are a great complement to pediatric pain treatment

observed evidence shows efficacy in relieving pain without the negative effects of

pharmaceutical interventions.
 4

Nesting Infant (UFO Themes)

Chapter 14 Developmentally Appropriate Nursing Care Across Care Setting.

The chapter touches on the complexities of pediatric nursing, stressing knowing the

peculiarities of each patient across different healthcare scenarios. A holistic practicing pediatric

nurse should be equipped with knowledge and skills about quality care, therefore student nurses

must understand the importance of undertaking assessments of patients’ developmental stages.

The chapter not only explains the adoption of a developmental approach to history taking but

also physical assessment which should be custom to the needs of children in different

developmental stages.
 5

(Above chart from www.cdc.org)

The chapter discusses the challenges of managing pain, in children emphasizing the

importance of using strategies to improve patients' overall well-being. It talks of the impact on

families and children, with disabilities recognizing stigma and physical limitations. Evidence-

based practices in hospitalized school-age children offer valuable insights into identifying and

preventing caregiver fatigue. By acquiring investigative skills, care students can effectively

utilize guided imagery techniques in pain management and evaluate their effectiveness.
 6

References

Allen, L., Kelly, B. B., Board, Y., & Families. (2015). Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth

Through Age 8. In National Academies Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.17226/19401

Scannell, M. J., & Ruggiero, K. (2022). Davis advantage for maternal-child nursing care. F.A. Davis

Company.

UFO Themes. (2019, September 29). Nursing Practice in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Obgyn Key.

https://obgynkey.com/nursing-practice-in-the-neonatal-intensive-care-unit/