Pediatrics is a healthcare specialization that focuses on fulfilling the medical needs of children from the age of infancy to their teens. A pediatrician usually works alone or with other healthcare individuals in a clinical or hospital setting, ensuring that young patients get the medical attention they require. Most of the time, their medical needs are distinct from those that adults require. Pediatricians sometimes involve themselves in teaching children health to the community and taking part in clinical research regarding health issues that affect young children and their treatment.
For an individual to become a pediatrician, they need to go through proper training and acquire an undergraduate degree in healthcare. Sometimes, they might need to go for further education, such as a master’s or doctorate in the healthcare field. Specializations such as pediatric nursing require individuals to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing, get a master’s, and get themselves registered. Children have varying medical needs and require more care when it comes to treating their medical conditions.
Pediatric nurses are at the forefront of providing such medical care. Today, in this article, we will share some children’s medical needs and how pediatric nurses are doing their best to provide the best treatment. They are listed as follows:
ACUTE ILLNESS TREATMENT
Acute illnesses such as bronchitis, fever, viral infections usually affect children of all ages. When medical issues like these occur, parents go to pediatric emergency to acquire treatments for their children. Depending on the availability of healthcare individuals and the facility’s setting, a pediatric nurse is always present to help them out. One might say that they are the most crucial part of child health care.
The specialized training and skills allow the nurses to effectively tackle issues and provide children with the best care possible. They are ever-present at their bedside and see that the hospital meets every medical requirement. The child remains as comfortable as possible. If you are an aspiring nurse with a passion for helping children by providing them with the same care mentioned above, search for a PNP program overview online. It will help you decide whether you should take that first step in the field of pediatrics.
ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS
Child wellness exams are crucial, and they take place regularly. The checks are also known as annual physical exams. These exams help the pediatrician in finding out if the child is growing at an accurate rate. In most cases, when a child goes for a physical exam, the healthcare professional, specifically a pediatric nurse, checks their weight, height, and bodily proportions.
If there are growth issues, the pediatric nurse and consultant take measures to ensure that the right treatment is given to the child to maintain a healthy growth rate. These nurses may also contact the parents and keep regular check-ups on the child whenever needed.
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES
Whenever a couple becomes new parents, they don’t know how their child should behave as they do not have prior experience with children. Therefore, they seek out the services of healthcare professionals well-versed in childcare.
With their hands-on experience of dealing with children and formal education, these professionals, such as a pediatric nurse, will help them understand whether the child is behaving normally or not.
STRESS ISSUES
Stress is something that can strike anyone, and adults are not the only ones experiencing it. Children also encounter stress sometimes in their lives. It can lead to stomach problems, headaches, loss of sleep, or even nightmares. Due to this, kids may end up throw temper tantrums. Their grades might fall, or they may lose interest in extracurricular activities.
Although parents cannot take every ounce of stress away, they might need help from a healthcare professional that practices child healthcare. To solve these issues, a pediatric nurse may help out. He or she might refer the child to a colleague who practices child psychology or psychiatry.
OBESITY PROBLEMS
Obesity is a list-topper when talking about child health care issues. According to a CDC report, a third of children present in the USA suffer from obesity. If not treated early, these children will grow up and encounter health issues in their mid-twenties or early thirties. Health concerns such as heart diseases, strokes, diabetes are common issues because of mild or chronic obesity.
A pediatric nurse might help out in this situation. These healthcare professionals have the training required to tackle such issues with obesity. A pediatric nurse may ask parents to adjust their child’s diet and encourage them to take part in physical activity. They will provide a detailed eating plan after collaborating with a dietician and keep a regular check on the child to know if they are following the diet plan.
THE FINAL WORDS
There is a lot of effort and hard work required to become a pediatric nurse. However, there is no denying that these healthcare professionals are the first line of defense in child health care. In the end, it all depends on the healthcare facility you work at and the responsibilities you fulfill. Whatever anyone says, treating and looking after children is rewarding both emotionally as well as financially.
I am Jones Smith and I am here to share my experience and expertise in writing. I’ve been writing articles for different publications for more than 6 years. I have a varied range of interests and that’s why I love blogging about different topics. In my opinion, blogging is a lot like acting, and I consider writing blog posts as an acting job. I am an entrepreneur by heart and there is nothing big or small when it comes to starting a business.