Role and responsibilities

The pediatric nurses working in different areas like pediatric clinics, hospitals, schools, under- 5 clinics, Child guidance clinics etc. need to be knowledgeable about the child’s condition.

They should recognize and support the families ability to care for the child with special needs to increase self -esteem of family members.

Family-centered care is very important for the family of a child with special needs.

Parents and child’s adjustment to the disability will depend on the type of disability, availability of resources and support of family.

Interacting with parents and children is very important for pediatric nurses conducive to ventilate their feelings and provide proper care and education to them.

Nursing implications

Emphasize the positive activities of the child; stress what the child can do and praise the child for each accomplishment, no matter how small or big that is.

As it is difficult for many children to develop a positive self-image, pediatric nurses should always encourage the development of positive self -esteem.

Pediatric nurse should always find a balance between the need for assistance and achieving independence in activities of daily living.

Pediatric nurse should always involve family in planning the care and activities of child with special needs.

The child and family members will get discouraged sometimes; listen to their problems and allow them to express their feelings.

Pediatric nurse should review the strengths and weaknesses of family and educate them about the different support group which are available in the community /area.

Nursing process overview of a child with special needs

Nursing diagnosis

Appropriate nursing diagnosis is very important which may include:

Risk for delayed growth and development

Impaired nutrition; less than body requirements

Impaired physical mobility

Inability to wash body, take off or put on clothing ,feed self

Interrupted family processes

Compromised family coping^[2]

Nursing management

Paediatric nurses working in different settings /areas help the children with special needs to function to their greatest capability and to fulfil their highest possible potential. Nursing care for the child include promoting proper growth and development, optimizing mobility and preventing further deformity, maintaing adequate nutrition, increasing family coping, strengthening family support and educating them about the condition.

Promoting growth and development^[3]

Pediatric nurses should reassess developmental levels at intervals to evaluate about the effectiveness of nursing care.

Age related play activities and the activities that strengthen gross and fine motor development, sensory and cognitive development are encouraged e.g. put white balls on front side and black balls on back side to enhance growth and development of the child.

Choose appropriate toys that match the child’s skills e.g. Give a rattle or soft toy that is easy to grasp.

Collaborate with speech, physical and occupational therapist to improve speech, physical, cognitive and social abilities of a child.

Special education should be provided to child and parents at each developmental level that meet the individual needs of child.

Discourage over protectiveness as it may impede the child’s physical and psychosocial development

Encourage stimulating activities appropriate to the child’s developmental stage. Collaborate with the family members to develop a manageable plan of care that prevents discouragement and exhaustion.

Encourage families to allow children with special needs to participate in appropriate extracurricular activities according to their developmental level and physical limitations.

Optimizing mobility and preventing further deformity^[4]

Pediatric nurse should assess the type of auditory, motor, visual or intellectual deficit to aid in planning interventions appropriate for the child.

Facilitate activities in using fine and gross motor skills e.g. holding a spoon or pencil

Allow the child to perform activities at his/her own pace as the child may have difficulty in completing tasks by time compared to normal child.

Activities should be followed by a brief periods of rest to maintain energy of the child.

Range of motion exercises are performed every 4-5 hours to promote movement and minimize the risk of contractures.

If the child uses an orthotic device to build stability, educate the family about that.

Promoting proper nutrition^[3]

Pediatric nurse should check the anthropometric measures of the child with special needs as they are used as a basis for caloric and nutrient requirements.

Assess the infants sucking and swallowing ability

Promote breast feeding exclusively for 6 months

Provide small frequent meals to the child as per the age and give adequate time for between meals for natural swallowing.

Upright position is given to the child during meals and soft and blended food are chosen over solid hard foods.

Encourage adequate fluid intake and high fibre foods e.g. fruits,vegetables (in mashed form), whole grain cereals to promote gastric motility and avoid straining during defecation.

Protien rich diet and protein supplements are given based on individual needs to increase calories .

Provide enteral feeding to the children who are unable to meet the nutritional requirements orally and educate the family regarding the same.

Increasing family coping^[3]

Pediatric nurse should assess the family coping methods used and their effectiveness; family ability to cope with a child that needs long-term care and guidance.

Encourage family members to express problem areas and explore solutions together to reduce anxiety and enhance understanding.

Assist family members to identify healthy coping mechanisms they can uses to find the solution appropriate for them.

Assist family to establish short and long-term goals for child and importance of integrating the child into family activities in order to promote involvement and control over situations.

Encourage to follow home routines and meet child’s needs with the participation of family members to increase child’s sense of security and sense of belonging.^[5]

Teach family that overprotective behaviour may hinder growth and development and to treat the child as normally as it is possible as it enhances family understanding.

Pediatric nurse should encourage normal social contacts. Family and child should participate in peer activities.

Offer emotional support, listen to the problems and allow the children and parents to express themselves.

Educating the children and parents

Pediatric nurse should educate the children about their strengths and competencies

Parents should be educated that they should not compare the performance of their child with other siblings or other normal children.

Impart information regarding condition of the child with special needs. Avoid giving misleading information or building false hopes in the parents.^[6]

Help parents to develop right attitude towards their child

Create awareness in parents regarding their role in training a child

Educate parents about the different training programmes for children with special needs in the community.