Nurse Cerebral Paalsy Child

HEALTH PROMOTION & CHRONIC ILLNESS

Vasyl Magura

Ohio University

When a child catches a cold the whole family suffers, parents may miss work, other members may become ill and the whole flow of the day to day routine is disrupted. However, with the common cold there is a beginning and an end. This does not hold true when a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness. For family dealing with the repercussions of a such a diagnosis the impact can be devastating. In the field of nursing disease processes and interventions are encountered every minute of every day. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to assess the needs of a family that are dealing with a cerebral palsy child. We will be discussing the ways a nurse

can use health promotion interventions to optimize the outcome for the child, in turn improving their odds at meet the necessary milestones of development. In addition we will also touch on why these health promotion interventions are necessary and unique to a cerebral palsy child.
Cerebral palsy is a brain injury that is usually recognized before or shortly after birth.

The affects of cerebral palsy can be easily assessed through the loss of muscle control, spasticity, poor myelination, and in some cases structural brain changes can be see through the us of MRI. Furthermore, the affects of dealing with and treating a cerebral palsy child is a not marked by a single episode or treatment but rather a long process that for most families will consume their whole life. As with any illness preventative measures and treatment are essential in yielding the most optimal outcome. Additionally, for the child suffering from cerebral palsy their best chance at appropriate development hinders on how early the parents are willing to start treatment. For some families this can be a very hard decision since these kids are delicate and many of them are premature, decisions regarding their care can take a toll on the whole family. In order to provide appropriate care we must employ empathy and acknowledge the many factors contributing to the stress of this new diagnosis. Families may experience grief with the thought of having an “imperfect child”, become stressed with all the doctors coming in to talk to the family about treatment options, overwhelmed with nurses taking care of the child, as well as develop a constant fear of the unknown. All these thing play a major role in assessing the appropriate way to work with the family (Kaakinen, J. R., Coehlo, D. P.,

Steele, R., Tabacco, A., & Hanson, S. M., 2015).
When the family first learns that their child will have cerebral palsy, it may seem like their world flipped upside down. The health-care team instructs the family on the extent of the brain damage, as well as try to figure out the proper care management for the child. Taking parents emotions into consideration is a crucial step for the nurse. While it’s necessary to keep parents emotionally and physiologically stable, the health-care team also must develop a plan of care for the child, which will include the treatments necessary for the child to reach their optimal level of functioning. Depending on the brain damage and the extent of limitations, the necessary treatments may include medications, supportive assist devices, orthosis, and in some cases even require surgery. Nurses that choose to care with cerebral palsy children must be knowledgeable in growth and development, as well as how to instruct, and educate the family on the appropriate treatments and the .
In order to yield the optimum development a cerebral palsy child is started with treatments early.

Most of these children experience weakness and this is seen within the first three years of development noted in walking, talking, crawling, and sitting up (Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, M. L., 2013). Recognition and explanation to the family members regrading cerebral palsy is crucial. In order to prevent contractures and maintain the body in alignment a child will usually have orthosis to the feet. Not only do children with cerebral palsy have motor retardation, they experience severe muscle spasticity that involves bowel and bladder (The Ultimate Resource for Everything CP | CerebralPalsy.org., 2016). Most children are started on osmotic laxatives that are given to them routinely in order to prevent bowel obstruction. Incontinence is not uncommon for children with cerebral palsy. During early child development teaching the family members about adhering to the treatment regimen and common expectations is necessary. The reason teaching the family is so important is that cerebral palsy is a chronic condition. This condition's treatments are meant to alleviate the extent of the disorder. Parents must actively participate in the child’s development. From physical, occupational, and speech therapy, to working closely with nurses and doctors as the child

grows.
Health maintenance and promotion is definitely achieved through family involvement when dealing with cerebral palsy. Knowledge, education, and proper application are the necessary skills for a registered nurse to possess when dealing with these families. Secondly, regiment adherence should be monitored and evaluate routinely in order to reach the optimum level of development. Lastly, since cerebral palsy is a chronic condition education about support groups available in the community is necessary as chronic conditions can have negative effects on the family as a whole throughout the years.
In conclusion, when dealing with cerebral palsy, as a nurse we must recognize the emotional burden it brings upon the family. Working closely with the family throughout the lifespan should be essential in reaching the necessary milestones for the child. Education, knowledge, and support groups will help the family cope throughout the years as the child grows. Lastly routine visits and evaluation is necessary in order to avoid any developmental complications.

Reference:
Kaakinen, J. R., Coehlo, D. P., Steele, R., Tabacco, A., & Hanson, S. M. (2015). Family health care nursing: Theory, practice, and research (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, M. L. (2013). Medical-surgical nursing: Patient-centered collaborative care. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders. 
The Ultimate Resource for Everything CP | CerebralPalsy.org. (2016). Retrieved from http://cerebralpalsy.org/