Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing Review and Exam
Preparation – Growth, Development, Medications,
Procedures, and Age-Specific Nursing Care (Infants through
Adolescents)
Overview:
This resource provides an in-depth review for pediatric nursing students and practitioners,
covering age-specific growth and development, common pediatric illnesses, lab values,
medication administration, emergency interventions, and safety measures. Includes guidance on
therapeutic play, procedural care, nutrition, chronic and acute condition management, and parent
teaching. Designed to prepare for proctored exams, NCLEX-style questions, and clinical
practice.
Preschool-Aged Children
Body-Integrity
- Preschool-aged children are very concerned about their body integrity
- They believe that their insides can leak our from even a small wound.
- Explains reason for their preoccupation with bandages
Preschool (3-6 Years)
- IMITATION of adults: providing a stethoscope allows child an
opportunity for THERAPEUTIC play.
- Time based on events, magical thinking, animism, centration.
- Stress = Regresion; may still be picky eaters , sleep 12 hours average,
pedestrian safety
- Keep a consistent bedtime routine
Pyloromyotomy
- Release of hypertrophied muscle around the pyloric sphincter that
causes narrowing of the pyloric canal.
,- Infants will be fed shortly postoperative (with return of bowel sounds)
in small, frequent oral feeds.
- There is no incision to the gastric walls or mucosa and NPO is not
required.
Chemotherapy
- Low WBC count places the child at risk for infection and isolation with
monitoring of fever is priority.
↓RBC
- Quiet play and best rest, administer O2
↓ Platelet
- Protect child from injury and monitor for bleeding.
- Quiet play should be encouraged, it will lessen the R/F injury and ↓
hemorrhage
Dehydration
- Assessment, response to parenteral fluids.
the nurse should weigh the patient daily because weight is the most
sensitive indicator of hydration status in clients of all ages.
- Weight is the only measurement the reflects both measurable fluid
balance changes (I/O) and insensible fluid loss (skin and respiratory)
Skeletal Traction
The most effective means of traction, applying to a bone with wire pins
or tongs
Compartment Syndrome
Involves the compression of nerves and blood vessels due to swelling
within the enclosed space created by the fascia that separates groups
of muscles
, Acute Glomerulonephritis
- ASO titer will indicate if the child has had a recent strep infection. In
determining a definitive diagnosis for acute glomerulonephritis.
- Elevated RBCs is expected and the presence of hematuria
- Monitor B.P. Q4hr due to ↑HTN
Myelomeningocele
- Hydrocephalus; is a post-operative risk because the pathway for the
cerebral spinal fluid has been altered.
- Infants --> Measure the head circumference Qshift.
- children with NTDs usually produce too much cerebral spinal fluid and
once the sac is removed, there is nowhere for this additional CSF to
accumulate except in the ventricles of the brain.
Intussusception
- Diagnosed with a barium enema, which may also correct the
condition; the telescoping of the bowel may be reduced by the
hydrostatic pressure of the barium enema.
Nephrotic Syndrome
Prednisone
- In nephrotic syndrome it acts on the body to decrease the excretion of
protein, and thus helps flush fluids back to their normal spaces.
- Extra fluid is excreted in the urine and decreases edema that can be
measured in weight loss.
Spinal Fusion
- Log rolling Q2hr promotes good pulmonary, gastrointestinal and
genitourinary functioning. It also allows the nurse the opportunity to
assess the clients lengthy posterior spinal dressing for drainage or
bleeding.
Preparation – Growth, Development, Medications,
Procedures, and Age-Specific Nursing Care (Infants through
Adolescents)
Overview:
This resource provides an in-depth review for pediatric nursing students and practitioners,
covering age-specific growth and development, common pediatric illnesses, lab values,
medication administration, emergency interventions, and safety measures. Includes guidance on
therapeutic play, procedural care, nutrition, chronic and acute condition management, and parent
teaching. Designed to prepare for proctored exams, NCLEX-style questions, and clinical
practice.
Preschool-Aged Children
Body-Integrity
- Preschool-aged children are very concerned about their body integrity
- They believe that their insides can leak our from even a small wound.
- Explains reason for their preoccupation with bandages
Preschool (3-6 Years)
- IMITATION of adults: providing a stethoscope allows child an
opportunity for THERAPEUTIC play.
- Time based on events, magical thinking, animism, centration.
- Stress = Regresion; may still be picky eaters , sleep 12 hours average,
pedestrian safety
- Keep a consistent bedtime routine
Pyloromyotomy
- Release of hypertrophied muscle around the pyloric sphincter that
causes narrowing of the pyloric canal.
,- Infants will be fed shortly postoperative (with return of bowel sounds)
in small, frequent oral feeds.
- There is no incision to the gastric walls or mucosa and NPO is not
required.
Chemotherapy
- Low WBC count places the child at risk for infection and isolation with
monitoring of fever is priority.
↓RBC
- Quiet play and best rest, administer O2
↓ Platelet
- Protect child from injury and monitor for bleeding.
- Quiet play should be encouraged, it will lessen the R/F injury and ↓
hemorrhage
Dehydration
- Assessment, response to parenteral fluids.
the nurse should weigh the patient daily because weight is the most
sensitive indicator of hydration status in clients of all ages.
- Weight is the only measurement the reflects both measurable fluid
balance changes (I/O) and insensible fluid loss (skin and respiratory)
Skeletal Traction
The most effective means of traction, applying to a bone with wire pins
or tongs
Compartment Syndrome
Involves the compression of nerves and blood vessels due to swelling
within the enclosed space created by the fascia that separates groups
of muscles
, Acute Glomerulonephritis
- ASO titer will indicate if the child has had a recent strep infection. In
determining a definitive diagnosis for acute glomerulonephritis.
- Elevated RBCs is expected and the presence of hematuria
- Monitor B.P. Q4hr due to ↑HTN
Myelomeningocele
- Hydrocephalus; is a post-operative risk because the pathway for the
cerebral spinal fluid has been altered.
- Infants --> Measure the head circumference Qshift.
- children with NTDs usually produce too much cerebral spinal fluid and
once the sac is removed, there is nowhere for this additional CSF to
accumulate except in the ventricles of the brain.
Intussusception
- Diagnosed with a barium enema, which may also correct the
condition; the telescoping of the bowel may be reduced by the
hydrostatic pressure of the barium enema.
Nephrotic Syndrome
Prednisone
- In nephrotic syndrome it acts on the body to decrease the excretion of
protein, and thus helps flush fluids back to their normal spaces.
- Extra fluid is excreted in the urine and decreases edema that can be
measured in weight loss.
Spinal Fusion
- Log rolling Q2hr promotes good pulmonary, gastrointestinal and
genitourinary functioning. It also allows the nurse the opportunity to
assess the clients lengthy posterior spinal dressing for drainage or
bleeding.
