Question

Compare the physical assessment of a child to that of an adult. In addition to describing the similar/different aspects of the physical assessment, explain how the nurse would offer instruction during the assessment, how communication would be adapted to offer explanations, and what strategies the nurse would use to encourage engagement.

Answer 1

There are numerous physical, mental and developmental differences in the children and adults. The adults are more effective in conversing with the nurses in comparison to the children or toddlers. The physical assessment often require a series of questions about the health and health history of the patient. The adults are more open to answer all the questions asked by the nurse but the children are less comfortable to talk to a stranger so their guardian is asked about their health history. The primary step of the physical assessment is to identify and obtain all the data required from the patients. It include their name, age, address, sex, fathers name and occupation, socio economic status and hand preferences. Further focus is provided to the chief complaint, medical history. The medical history for children involve head circumference ideal, convulsions, any infection, jaundice, birth weight and gestation term. Further the child is accessed with his motor examination, AVPU neurological assessment, Glasgow coma scale, and intellectual ability. However, the adults are accessed with 4 assessment techniques. These are inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation. In order to offer instructions during the assessment to the children the nurse should consider that hard words can scare the child. Moreover she should not use any words or terms that can influence the psychology of the child. The adults are easy to deal but they should be provided with all the possible information related to their treatment. The nurse must offer instructions only when required and they must be polite and effective. It is common for patients to get scared in hospital environment but having effective and patient-centered communication can make both the children as well as the patients comfortable in the healthcare. This can lead to greater patient satisfaction and health. The nurse must always encourage engagement. Proper and patient-centered communication can engage the adults effectively but it is hard for the nurses to engage the children. So nurses must use child centered activities to engage children. These activities should be effective enough to make the children feel comfortable in the healthcare.