Nursing Role in Child Care

Nursing Role in Child Care



Nursing Role in Child Care

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a new morbidity in children and adolescents. For pediatric patients, it heralds earlier onset of cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, with risk of impaired quality of life and premature death. The emergence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in young people is believed to be associated with changes in physical activity and nutrition that are ubiquitous in modern society. Not all populations are equally affected. Children have a higher rate of this disease than do children of other ethnicities. children are at increased risk. Vulnerable populations that exhibit new disease trends may be seen as the "canary in the coal mine," warning of hazards present for the entire population. In children, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is expected to exceed that of type 1 diabetes mellitus within 10 years. There is a compelling need for additional research, primary and secondary prevention efforts, and evidence-based treatment for youth with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Case Study

Sharon is a 9 year old girl who has been admitted into hospital for stabilisation of diabetes mellitus which she has had for the past three years. Sharon's mother is separated from her husband and she has two other children, aged 4 and 6. Sharon does not seem to be a happy child and appears reluctant to socialise with the other children on the ward, preferring to spend time on her own.

In your interactions with Sharon, you discover that she used to be bullied in school and she fears that the children on the ward may behave towards her in a similar way. She is reluctant to talk to her mother about it because she knows that she is always busy caring for her siblings. One day, the ward manager contacts Sharon's mother and asks her to visit her daughter but it is several hours before she arrives. In the mean time, the nurses have expressed concern about the length of time it has taken her to arrive. When Sharon's mother does arrive, she explains that one of her other children is also ill and that she does not drive and it has taken her three hours to get to the hospital by public transport.

Guidelines have been developed to assist in clinical decision making by Nurseand are not intended to replace existing management protocols for the medical treatment of diabetes. It is assumed that clinical care will be individualized for each child and adolescent. It should be delivered or directed by well-trained physicians who provide primary care and manage and facilitate essentially all aspects of pediatric care. The physician should be known to the child and family and should be able to develop a partnership of mutual responsibility and trust with them.

Primary and Secondary Prevention

Prevention must take highest priority and should focus on decreasing the risk, incidence, and consequences of type 2 diabetes mellitus among children. Primary prevention efforts by Nurseare recommended in 2 arenas: ...