Discuss the Use of an Assessment Tool When Caring for a Child and Their Family

Commentary 1 Discuss the use of an discernment tool when c are for a nipper and their family In the following commentary I am going to glow upon what I provoke learned slightly conducting the saucy born tyke perspicacity regularly carried out on the neonatal unit. To write near the unexampled born youngster estimation it is authorised to understand what discernments are, wherefore assessments are signifi stoolt and how this particular assessment is an necessity part of nursing. mind forms the first part of whatsoever nursing military action and is the first misuse in the nursing change.Without a comprehensive assessment of the child and familys needs, care freighternot be planned, delivered or evaluated effectively. (Great Ormond Street hospital 2012). Examination of a freshly born babe allows nurses to assess and observe a new born frys condition and chop-chop identify some(prenominal) abnormalities in order to treat and give allot care as early as feasible. It is an authorised part of general care lend to the screw ups wellbeing and survival (NNF teach Aids newborn infant Care 2010).Over the time I behave dog-tired so furthest on the neonatal unit I have learned about the tangible assessment of new born babies and ascertained the trained supply carrying out these assessments daylight to day. The assessment of a new born infant involves the checking of several aspects of the babys anatomy the pass (the control displace for all organs), the Heart (pumps the 80mls of blood around the babys bole), the Lungs (provides o2 for the physical structures organs and muscles), and the Kidneys and Liver (filters toxins out the body to be excreted). These merry organs are the key to the babys survival in life.To begin to asses these organs is by examining the jumble as this is the easiest organ to placement and the examination is non-invasive so thus should not incommode the baby. The skin can be a key indicator of if so mething is wrong. The nurses and I expressioned at the colouring, the texture, the nails, and looked most for any presence of rashes. The skin regulates body temperature (Ross and Wilson 2010) therefore monitoring a babys temperature is an important part of care for a baby. The skin is in any case the babys first phase angle of protection from contagious disease forming a barrier between its self the external environment.The head is other important indicator of what is going on at heart the baby. We examined the fontanel as this can swell or sink to visual aspect signs of dehydration or Hydrocephalus. A dry mouth can also be an reading of Dehydration. During birth the babys head can change find out due to the sutures in the skull (as seen in the diagram, Nucleusinc 2010) therefore it was important for us as nurses to check the sutures and the overall shape of the head and look for any injure or swelling caused by trauma to the skull during birth.It was important to obse rve and personality the babys activity eg Agitated, Alert, Active as this will forms the service line for still assessments of the baby and could help identify any neurological abnormalities. The next stage of the physical examination was the eyes. A stigma of the whites of the eyes could be an early indication of Jaundice and be a warning to activate treatment. Staring or bloodshot eyes could fence a increase intracranial pressure or raised a blood pressure.Pre-term babies are often on o2 therefore checking the lung function, the patency of the airway and the o2 delivery order is important in order to maintain o2 saturations preceding(prenominal) 95%. Having conducted the physical assessment of the baby the digestive system mandatory to be assessed. This was through by a physical examination of the breadbasket and by looking at the method of feeding (Breast, Bottle, NG Tube, OG Tube, JJ Tube, or PEG) and the amount of draw to be administered (amount per day ml/kg/day ti mes babys weight divided by the weigh of feeds to give in 24 hours).The Neonatal Units policy is for the preterm baby is to commencement ceremony them on 60ml/kg/day +30ml per day up to 150ml and for the term baby to give 40ml/kg/day + 20ml per day up to 150ml. After this the doctors weigh over calculating feed volumes. These feeds are past recorded on a feeding chart and totaled at the end of any 24 hour period to monitor quiet intake. The sign assessment of a new born infant is a complicated process but is vital in providing the best possible care for the baby.The initial assessment acts as a baseline for further care to be compared with. Without an assessment important information and signs may be missed with terrific consequences. Although I have observed and assisted with the assessment process I do not yet recover favourable performing this assessment on my own as I feel I have a lot more to learn so as I dont miss something or leave out any of my findings as insig nificant. References Boston Childrens Hospital (n. d. Assessments for newborn babies. online ready(prenominal) at http//www. childrenshospital. org/az/Site600/mainpageS600P1. hypertext markup language Accessed 22/07/2012. Healthy Babies (1997) Guide for Newborn corporeal Assessment, Anticipatory commission and Health doctrine. Vermont Maternal and Child Health mansion Visiting care for Standards and Competencies. Macqueen, S. et al. (2012) The Great Ormond Street Hospital Manual of Childrens treat Practices. Chichester Blackwell Publishing Ltd, p. 2. NNF Teaching Aids Newborn Care (2010) Examination of a newborn baby. online Available at http//www. newbornwhocc. org/pdf/teaching-aids/2010/Examinationofanewbornbaby-ENC6. pdf Accessed 22/07/2012. Nucleusinc (2010) Skull sutures in infants and fetuses. online Available at http//www. nucleusinc. com Accessed 22/07/2012. Waugh, A. and Grant, A. (2010) Ross and Wilson var. and Physiology in Health and Illness. 11th ed. Churchi ll Livingstone, p. 354-358. Discuss the social occasion of an Assessment Tool When Caring for a Child and Their FamilyCommentary 1 Discuss the use of an assessment tool when caring for a child and their family In the following commentary I am going to reflect upon what I have learned about conducting the new born baby assessment regularly carried out on the neonatal unit. To write about the new born baby assessment it is important to understand what assessments are, why assessments are important and how this particular assessment is an essential part of nursing. Assessment forms the first part of any nursing activity and is the first step in the nursing process.Without a comprehensive assessment of the child and familys needs, care cannot be planned, delivered or evaluated effectively. (Great Ormond Street Hospital 2012). Examination of a new born infant allows nurses to assess and monitor a new born babys condition and promptly identify any abnormalities in order to treat and giv e appropriate care as early as possible. It is an important part of overall care contributing to the babys wellbeing and survival (NNF Teaching Aids Newborn Care 2010).Over the time I have spent so far on the neonatal unit I have learned about the physical assessment of new born babies and observed the trained staff carrying out these assessments day to day. The assessment of a new born infant involves the checking of several aspects of the babys anatomy the Brain (the control centre for all organs), the Heart (pumps the 80mls of blood around the babys body), the Lungs (provides o2 for the bodys organs and muscles), and the Kidneys and Liver (filters toxins out the body to be excreted). These vital organs are the key to the babys survival in life.To begin to asses these organs is by examining the skin as this is the easiest organ to view and the examination is non-invasive so therefore should not distress the baby. The skin can be a key indicator of if something is wrong. The nurses and I looked at the colouring, the texture, the nails, and looked closely for any presence of rashes. The skin regulates body temperature (Ross and Wilson 2010) therefore monitoring a babys temperature is an important part of caring for a baby. The skin is also the babys first stage of protection from infection forming a barrier between its self the outside environment.The head is another important indicator of what is going on within the baby. We examined the fontanel as this can swell or sink to show signs of dehydration or Hydrocephalus. A dry mouth can also be an indication of Dehydration. During birth the babys head can change shape due to the sutures in the skull (as seen in the diagram, Nucleusinc 2010) therefore it was important for us as nurses to check the sutures and the overall shape of the head and look for any bruising or swelling caused by trauma to the skull during birth.It was important to observe and record the babys activity eg Agitated, Alert, Active as this wil l forms the baseline for further assessments of the baby and could help identify any neurological abnormalities. The next stage of the physical examination was the eyes. A discolouration of the whites of the eyes could be an early indication of Jaundice and be a warning to start treatment. Staring or bloodshot eyes could indicate a raised intracranial pressure or raised a blood pressure.Pre-term babies are often on o2 therefore checking the lung function, the patency of the airway and the o2 delivery method is important in order to maintain o2 saturations above 95%. Having conducted the physical assessment of the baby the digestive system needed to be assessed. This was done by a physical examination of the abdomen and by looking at the method of feeding (Breast, Bottle, NG Tube, OG Tube, JJ Tube, or PEG) and the amount of milk to be administered (amount per day ml/kg/day times babys weight divided by the number of feeds to give in 24 hours).The Neonatal Units policy is for the pret erm baby is to start them on 60ml/kg/day +30ml per day up to 150ml and for the term baby to give 40ml/kg/day + 20ml per day up to 150ml. After this the doctors take over calculating feed volumes. These feeds are then recorded on a feeding chart and totaled at the end of every 24 hour period to monitor fluid intake. The initial assessment of a new born infant is a complicated process but is vital in providing the best possible care for the baby.The initial assessment acts as a baseline for further care to be compared with. Without an assessment important information and signs may be missed with awful consequences. Although I have observed and assisted with the assessment process I do not yet feel comfortable performing this assessment on my own as I feel I have a lot more to learn so as I dont miss something or disregard any of my findings as insignificant. References Boston Childrens Hospital (n. d. Assessments for newborn babies. online Available at http//www. childrenshospital. or g/az/Site600/mainpageS600P1. html Accessed 22/07/2012. Healthy Babies (1997) Guide for Newborn Physical Assessment, Anticipatory Guidance and Health Teaching. Vermont Maternal and Child Health Home Visiting Nursing Standards and Competencies. Macqueen, S. et al. (2012) The Great Ormond Street Hospital Manual of Childrens Nursing Practices. Chichester Blackwell Publishing Ltd, p. 2. NNF Teaching Aids Newborn Care (2010) Examination of a newborn baby. online Available at http//www. newbornwhocc. org/pdf/teaching-aids/2010/Examinationofanewbornbaby-ENC6. pdf Accessed 22/07/2012. Nucleusinc (2010) Skull sutures in infants and fetuses. online Available at http//www. nucleusinc. com Accessed 22/07/2012. Waugh, A. and Grant, A. (2010) Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness. 11th ed. Churchill Livingstone, p. 354-358.