Sales Training Feb 2014 - Nursing

C h a p t e r 1 Introduction to Child Health and Pediatric Nursing

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role for pediatric nursing. The advanced practice role is an expanded nursing role that requires additional edu- cation and skills in the assessment and management of children and their families. The pediatric nurse practitio- ner (PNP) has a master’s degree and national certifica- tion in the specialty area. The PNP is an independent and autonomous practitioner. The PNP provides health maintenance care for children (such as well-child exami- nations and developmental screenings) and diagnoses and treats common childhood illnesses. He or she man- ages children’s health in primary, acute, or intensive care settings or provides long-term management of the child with a chronic illness. The family nurse practitio- ner (FNP) and neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) func- tion in a similar manner to the PNP but provide care to individuals throughout the lifespan and to newborns, respectively. The clinical nurse specialist has a master’s degree and provides expertise as an educator, clinician, or researcher, meeting the needs of staff, children, and families. Take Note! The American Academy of Colleges of Nursing has recommended that nurse practitioner education be moved from the master’s to the doctoral level by the year 2015 (Sperhac & Clinton, 2008). In any role, the professional pediatric nurse is held accountable for nursing actions that adhere to the standards of care. A standard of care is a minimally accepted action expected of an individual of a certain skill or knowledge level and reflects what a reasonable and prudent person would do in a similar situation. Professional standards from regulatory agencies, state or federal laws, nurse practice acts, and other specialty groups regulate nursing practice in general. The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN), and the American Nurses Association (ANA) have formulated specific stan- dards of care and professional performance for pediatric clinical nursing practice (Table 1.2). These standards are tools that determine if care constitutes adequate, effective, and acceptable nursing practice. They also serve as guides and legal measures for this special area of practice. These standards pro- mote consistency in practice, provide important guide- lines for care planning, assist with the development of outcome criteria, and ensure quality nursing care. The ANA-SPN standards specify what is adequate and effec- tive for general pediatric nursing and promote consis- tency in practice. Standards of Care and Performance in Today’s Environment

ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO CARING FOR CHILDREN

Parents and guardians generally make choices about their child’s health and services. As the legal custodi- ans of minor children, they decide what is best for their child. Nurses caring for children and their families make the child’s and family’s needs a priority. Moral develop- ment (the ability to function in an ethical manner) and the legal requirements involved in working with children affect pediatric nurses on a daily basis. Pediatric nurses must function within ethical and legal boundaries related to their care. They must understand their state’s legal requirements for routine care, consent for treatment, hospitalization, and research. Take Note! As advocates for children, nurses support policies that protect children’s rights and improve chil- Pediatric nurses must examine their own values so that they can provide nursing care in an ethical manner. Each situation must be evaluated individually. The nurse’s rela- tionship with the child and family is of prime importance. Every day pediatric nurses encounter families from a wide variety of religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, and it is critical to treat each family with respect. Family-centered care focuses on the needs of the child and family together and involves ethical treatment of the child. Advances in science and technology have led to an increased number of ethical dilemmas in health care. Many facilities have formed institutional ethics committees. These committees not only provide case-by-case review and resolution of ethical dilemmas but also review existing institutional poli- cies and provide education to staff, physicians, children, and families on ethical issues (Nelson, 2007). Practicing ethically begins with being sensitive to the sanctity and quality of human life. An ethical nurse is accountable and uses sound reasoning to resolve ethical challenges. Ethics includes the basic principles of auton- omy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, veracity, and fidelity. The nurse must understand these principles in order to analyze and respond to ethical dilemmas. Auton- omy refers to the freedom to choose and self-determi- nation in regard to making health care decisions. Gen- erally, parents have the autonomy to make health care decisions for their child. In certain situations, however, older children have the autonomy to give assent to care (see below), and in special situations, adolescents are dren’s health care. Ethical Issues Related to Working With Children and Their Families

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