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Help Center? pdules > Week 6: Life Span Nursing Considerations This is a graded discussion: 25 points possible due Dec Week 6: Life Span Nursing Considerations Describe what life span considerations you might use in applying the nursing process to infants, school-age children, younger adults, and older adults in relation to immunizations and wellness Search entries or author Unread D ✓ Subscribe Reply

Answer 1

Each age group has different characteristics and needs whether it is physical, including motor/sensory attributes; psychosocial; cognitive and intellectual functioning, and fears and stressors too . So nursing actions have to adapt to these needs. Various aspects of care like Performing physical assessment and interpreting the findings,? Administrating medication, Assessing and addressing nutritional status etc need to be Addressed In a unique way.While communicating , patient’s age Need to be considered as appropriate style and complexity of language should be used in explaining procedure and to involve patient in care and decision making. Assessment of risk for injury and preventive measures also depend on patients age.
?In infants, they are in developmental stage of trust versus mistrust, a nurse has to be very careful while dealing with them as they have the ability to rely on others. Mistrust in them Main result in failure to thrive. They should be provided with familiar objects for comfort while administering medication and injections. One or two nurses should attend a childso as to develop trust on them. By providing care keep parents in infants line of vision. In case of risk prevention, a nurse should be very careful in Preventing choking or other injury due to foreign objects in the mouth as they tend to place objects in the mouth.The infant is particularly vulnerable To upper respiratory tract infection due to small airways, proximity of gastrointestinal and respiratory passages, and Poorly developed immune response.
o Assess respiratory status carefully. Poorly developed accessory muscles of respiration and
limited diaphragmatic excursion may lead to respiratory failure.
Fluid balance need to be assessed very carefully as the infants are vulnerable to fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalances.The infant has a high metabolic rate and due to liver immaturity has limited ability to store glycogen and respond to glucose needs.so a nurse should di proper nutrition assesment.
? Provide visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation to support development.

while providing immunisation , infant should be diverted by using visual and auditory stimuli.

School-aged Child, ages 6 years to 12 years
? The school-aged child desires to make things, solve problems, and master tasks. Doing so builds feelings of confidence and prevents feeling of inadequacy so child is to be allowed to participate in care to the greatest extent possible. A nurse should acknowledge child’s fear or pain and be rewarded whenever appropriate.
o Living up to expectations of others is very important to the school-aged child.Necessary health education should be given using play, games, rewards and Ask the child to tell you his understanding. School-aged children have limited understanding of the human body and may be reluctant to admit when they do not understand. They may view treatments as punishments.The school-aged child can understand the past and foresee future consequences. support should be offered in fearful situations and their Major fears are bodily injury, mutilation, separation, and death. Involve child in assessment by asking questions as they are better in describing their perceptions. Their privacy should be respected and least intrusive approach , e.g., axillary temperature, oral medications should be used.
Assess and provide for nutritional needs because their growth and development require adequate calories, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and B.

Young adults, ages 20 years to 40 years
o Assess developmental stage, especially among young adult patients. In the early years of young adulthood, many may still be resolving adolescent tasks and issues. Yet, others have fully assumed adult roles at home, at work, and in the community.
o Young adults often face challenges to rearrange childrearing responsibilities during illness, injury, or hospitalization.

Old adults
Most elders experience a series of losses like progressive loss of physical capabilities, loss of memory, loss of a spouse, loss of peers, loss of independence, and loss of a sense of relevanceand grieve these losses. so a nurse should be a good listener while attending this age group patient.