Pediatric Nursing Quality

Improving the Quality of Pediatric Care in Nursing Mariah Boegli Southeastern College

Abstract Pediatric care in nursing is a rewarding career. When caring for children, it is important to use evidenced – based practice and theorists to better care for them. Nurses must understand what psychosocial development level a child is in to better take care of them. Helen Erickson is a commonly used theorist to understand psychosocial development. Improving the quality of pediatric care depends on the role that nurses use while taking care of children. Contributions in the community today helps in pediatric health along with the new and improved technology that is used to better diagnose and take care of sick

Children need holistic, constant, organized, and family-focused care along with empathy” (Alavi, Bahrami, Boroujeni and Yousefy, 2015). Being a pediatric nurse in general, one must always be an advocate for the child as well as one’s own family. Using nursing techniques and planning care is important when making decisions for what may be best for the patient, family and planning for the fastest recovery possible. Being a pediatric nurse would also include delegation and coordination of care to other nurses to assure children have the time needed as children may need more of a nurse time than an adult would. When a child becomes sick and in the hospital; the nurse is there to use one’s own knowledge and Erickson’s theory to obtain the psychosocial stage of that child so that the best care can be provided. A nurse is the care provider to that patient whether a child or adult. The nurse when dealing with a child has to take into consideration that one is not just an advocate to the child but has to be there for the family as well. The most important thing nurses do is health teaching and promotion. “Acts as a resource and role model for nursing staff and students and participates in activities such as nursing committees and professional organizations that promotes the improvement of nursing care and the advancement of professional rehabilitation

Some communities offer several specialties that can help children. A pediatric nurse must always have resources in hand for particular situations that families may need in the community. In Washington, D.C. there is a “We Stand for The Children” which consists of several programs for children and adolescents. “The Heart Health Learning Power Collaborative uses the medical school and charter schools to improve child health by promoting adherence to the D.C. Healthy Schools act, which is a landmark school wellness policy in close alignment with evidence – based pediatric obesity prevention guidelines.” (Children’s National Health System, 2015) Other programs that are offered here are teen clubs and for adolescents needing education for sexual safety. There is a dental coalition that helps to improve pediatrics oral health. There is a nursing program to help children using holistic medicine and cereal drives which provide breakfast for students during the summer when they are not in school (Florida Department of Health [FDH], 2015). Most counties and or cities have health departments. Health departments offer low cost insurance for kids, newborn screenings, physicals, immunizations, children’s medical services and smoking cessation for teens. Parents of low income may be able to get assistance for food, like WIC and food stamps to feed their children. Parents of low income can get their kids qualified for insurance