Health Assessment Of Children: Chapter 10

 Components of the Health Assessment

o Health interview and history.

 Any questionnaires used in the healthcare setting should be written at a

fifth-grade reading level and be in the primary language of the person

completing them.

o Observation of the parent–child interaction.

o Assessment of the child’s emotional, physiologic, cognitive, and social

development.

o Physical assessment.

 If a nurse suspects child abuse, it must be reported

 Role of the Nurse in Physical Assessment of a Child

o Establish rapport and trust

 Introduce yourself, do what you can to establish trust, pride takes a

backseat in pediatrics

o Demonstrate respect for the child and parent/caregiver

o Communicate effectively by listening actively, demonstrating empathy, and

providing feedback

o Observe systematically

o Obtain accurate data

o Validate and interpret data accurately

 General Observations of Child-Parent Interaction

o Does the parent make eye contact with the infant and anticipate and respond to

the infant’s needs?