This is the act of giving immediate intervention by the Paediatric nurse/nurse to a child with burns and scalds as a result of dry and moist heat, severe cold, electricity, radiation, chemical or irritants etc.
This is the act of giving immediate intervention by the Paediatric nurse/nurse to a child with convulsions/seizures.
This is a process of receiving a conscious/alert child into the hospital/ward. The child walks into the hospital aided/unaided.
This is the process of receiving a critically ill child requiring urgent assessment, treatment and rehabilitation in the hospital/ward. The nurse’s responsibility is to ensure that emergency medications and functional equipment are readily accessible for the child’s care. The nurse is also expected to demonstrate capacity in a timely, safe, ethical and responsive care to restore the child’s health.
This is the process of building a therapeutic relationship with the child, caregiver/family who visit the hospital. It makes the child and caregiver/family feel at ease to discuss his/her needs with the nurse. This action is performed by the nurse immediately he/she comes into contact with a child and caregiver/family.
It is the act of explaining a procedure to a child/family/caregiver in simple terms, an action or task that will be carried out before commencement of the procedure.
This is the act of giving immediate intervention by the Paediatric nurse/nurse to a child who has sustained a bite/sting/scratch from an animal, a plant or a human being. The management will be based on the type of agent.
This is the act of giving immediate intervention by the Paediatric nurse/nurse to a child who has been exposed to a toxic/dangerous substance by means of swallowing, touching, inhaling, injecting or absorbing.
This is a procedure in which blood sample is obtained and tested to estimate the amount of glucose in the child's blood. It is termed hypoglycaemia when the glucose level is low and hyperglycaemia when the glucose level is high. The nurse should observe for obvious and subtle signs of hypoglycaemia in the absence of a glucose monitoring apparatus (glucometer). Manage the child for hypoglycaemia per hospital protocol.
It is the process of administering vapourized salbutamol or airway constriction relievers (bronchodilators) in breathable mist through a tubing and face mask. This is done to relieve respiratory distress in a child with asthma, other respiratory conditions and situations of electrolyte imbalance e.g. hyperkalaemia.
This is the process of administering fluids, liquid foods and sometimes medications through a tube which is directly inserted from the nostril into the stomach of a child. This may be required if the child is unable to tolerate liquids or solids by mouth.
This is a process of providing artificial ventilation and chest compressions to maintain oxygenation and circulation during severe respiratory distress and cardiac arrest. It is often used in emergency situation when the child’s cardiopulmonary activity is compromised.
It is the process of intravenous administration of blood and its products into circulation. This is done when there are obvious signs of anaemia and a low haemoglobin level.
This is the process of responding to an adverse reaction during and after blood transfusion. Adverse reaction could be mild, moderate or severe. Mild reactions may include fever, chills, vomiting and urticaria rash. Severe reactions include respiratory distress, low blood pressure, facial oedema and haematuria.
This is the nursing care given to a baby undergoing exchange blood transfusion. It is a procedure whereby a nurse assists the paediatrician to remove and replace majority of baby’s circulating blood with a donated screened fresh blood or plasma while maintaining adequate circulating blood volume.
Suctioning is an activity performed by the nurse to aspirate excess oral and pulmonary secretions through a catheter passed into the mouth or nasal cavity of a child. The catheter may be connected to a tubing which is fixed to the suction machine or wall suction outlets. A bulb syringe or penguin can also be used.
This is a clean procedure whereby a nurse introduces/passes a nasogastric tube through the nostrils, posterior oropharynx, esophagus into the stomach bag.
Intravenous insertion is an aseptic procedure in which the nurse inserts a cannula into a peripheral vein to provide venous access for various purposes.
This is the process of examining the site of an intravenous line after insertion. The procedure is carried out by the nurse half hourly, hourly or when the electronic device beeps.
This is a life-saving technique which is useful in many emergencies. The nurse carries out the procedure with chest compressions, artificial ventilation to maintain or restore circulatory flow until further management are employed to save the life of the infant. It supports and maintains breathing and circulation for an infant who has ceased breathing or whose heart has stopped functioning.
Lumbar puncture or spinal tap is an invasive and aseptic procedure in which a needle is inserted into the sub arachnoid space of the lumbar region. The nurse takes care in the preparation, assists the paediatrician during the procedure and manages the child after the procedure.
This is the process where the nurse assesses and provides expert emergency care to the neonate who is unwell and needs prompt nursing care/intervention.
This is a systematic approach by a nurse to gather relevant data of a child in the health facility in order to use the necessary information needed to manage the present health problems. The nurse uses communication skills, observation with all the senses to obtain information. A developmentally approach system is used to obtain the age appropriate history.
This is the act of reviewing the physical state and functions of the body. It includes all the body systems and the findings that informs the paediatric nurse on the child’s overall condition. A comprehensive head to toe assessment is done on first visit to a health facility, on admission and at the beginning of each shift. When conducting assessment with various age groups, care should be taken to adapt to health assessment task to accommodate for different developmental levels.
Newborns who are sick or preterm are transferred from the labour ward to the neonatal intensive care unit. This is done when the newborn shows danger signs of morbidity and mortality and needs further assessment and management. A trained and highly skilled nurse accompanies baby in a specially equipped vehicle e.g. an ambulance or wrapped up in a cot sheet/blanket to keep baby warm.
It is an act of giving special care to infants through skin-to-skin contact with the mother/ significant other. It is an easy method to promote the health and wellbeing of low birth weight and preterm infants. Kangaroo mother care is initiated in the hospital and continued at home.
This is a non-invasive procedure carried out by the Paediatric nurse for the neonate who shows signs of jaundice. It involves the use of blue florescent light/lamp on a neonate exposed skin for the treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia.
This is a process where the nurse provides physical, physiological and psychosocial care to a child according to the developmental age prior to surgery. The period begins when the child is booked for surgery until the child enters the theatre.
This is the act of rendering care to children who have undergone surgical intervention and managed accordingly before discharge from the hospital. A paediatric nurse is required to provide thorough assessment of the child immediately after the surgery and continuous planned management until the child recovers.
This is the process of providing education and support to a child and or caregiver in order to enable them gain understanding and make informed decision on the nutritional requirements. Emphasis is placed on macro and micronutrient deficiencies that affect wellness in child growth and development.
This is the process of providing nutritional education and support to caregiver on gradual introduction of new foods; alongside breastfeeding after age 6 months until the child becomes accustomed to new foods/the usual family diet to promote growth and development.
This is the process of giving medication to a child with the aid of age appropriate size needle and syringe through the muscle for therapeutic purposes.
This is the process of giving medication to a child with the aid of age appropriate size needle and syringe through the subcutaneous tissue (the layer between the dermis and epidermis) for therapeutic purposes.
This is the process of giving medication to a child with the aid of age appropriate size intravenous cannula through a vein for therapeutic purposes.
This is a long-term access procedure in which a tube is placed through the abdominal wall into the stomach of a child so that feeds can be directly delivered into the stomach without passing through the mouth. This procedure can be performed for infants and children with swallowing and feeding difficulties e.g. oesophageal atresia, caustic soda ingestion etc.
This is the process of rendering care to a child with anatomical and physiological heart defect(s) that is/are present at birth. These defects can lead to heart failure and anoxic spells. The paediatric nurse is expected to understand clearly the cardiac structure, pathophysiology and major complications in order to provide holistic care to the child/caregiver.
This is a communication process between the paediatric nurse and parents/family to address human problems associated with the occurrence, recurrence of hereditary disorders in the family. It helps to provide appropriate information and advice to help solve or adapt to health problems that occur in individuals, couples and families.
This is the art and science of assisting a family of a child with birth defect to make an informed decision in the care of that child.
This is the care the paediatric nurse renders to a child undergoing the process of getting rid of body waste, excess salts and water. This procedure is recommended by a paediatrician when the kidney is unable to adequately perform such functions.
This is the act of performing activities for a child who has undergone tracheostomy. This involves the management of the tube and stoma.
This is the act of replacing the holder or tie of a tracheostomy tube of a child by a paediatric nurse/nurse. This procedure is done when the tracheostomy tie is soiled, loose, tight and dirty. However, it is also changed every 24hours or based on the ward protocol.
This is an activity performed by a paediatric nurse/nurse to replace the inner tube of a tracheostomy. Tracheostomy tube without an inner lumen is usually changed every 5-7 days. However, children with excessive secretions require more frequent tube changes. The nurse ensures the presence of an anaesthetist or doctor on call for the first tube change or if a difficult airway is anticipated.
This is the process of extracting excessive secretions and mucus plug through a surgical opening in the trachea using the appropriate suction catheter and required vacuum pressure. This activity is performed usually early in the morning after the child wakes up from bed and before going to bed in the evening. It is also done when the child shows signs of respiratory distress, desaturation on pulse oximetry, audible/visual signs of secretions in the tube, vomiting and after any respiratory treatment.
This is the process of caring for a child with a stoma created at the anterior abdominal wall making the skin exposed to effluent. This is as a result of birth defect, injury or diseases related to the colon. It is necessary for a paediatric nurse to provide basic physical and psychological care to child and caregiver.
This is an aseptic process of giving intravenous medications through IV fluids with the aid of a connecting tube and age appropriate size intravenous cannula through a vein for therapeutic purposes.
This is the process of administering medication to a child through the mouth with the aid of a spoon, a measuring cap or graduated device. The nurse is expected to demonstrate competencies in safe administration of medication.
This is the process of providing information and support to the child/caregiver/family on home accidents.
This is the process of assessing the weight of a child with the aid of a standard scale. There are different scales used to measure the weight of children of different ages.
This is the process of assessing the weight of a child with the aid of a standard scale. There are different scales used to measure the weight of children of different ages.
This is the process of assessing the weight of a child with the aid of a standard scale. There are different scales used to measure the weight of children of different ages.
This is the process of measuring from the bottom of feet to the highest point of the head. It is measured using infantometer or stadiometer depending on the age of the child.
This is the process of measuring from the bottom of feet to the highest point of the head. It is measured using infantometer or stadiometer depending on the age of the child
This is the process of measuring the circumference of the muscle mass of the upper arm with the aid of a tape measure. It is used to assess the nutritional status of a child over 6 months.
This is the act of measuring the distance from the eyebrows to the occipital region with the aid of a non-stretching measuring tape. It is measured from birth up to 36 months and plotted on standardized growth chart at all visits. However, more than 3 years old child with any questionable head size should have the HC measured at every visit.
This is the process of identifying and correcting the nutritional disorder of a child with deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a child’s intake of energy giving food, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. It is most often seen in children less than 5 years.
This is the process of caring for a child presenting with oedematous and non-oedematous features of acute malnutrition. This is a common life threatening condition occurring in children less than 5 years and it is characterized by protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals deficiencies. The child presents with very low weight for height/length, visible severe wasting, or bilateral pitting oedema.
This is the process of identifying and correcting the nutritional disorder of a child with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). It is also a common potential life threatening condition in children aged 6–59 months characterized by moderate wasting (i.e. weight-for-height between –3 and –2 Z-scores of the WHO Child Growth Standards median) and/or mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) greater or equal to 11 cm and 12.5 cm.
This is a process of administering medication through the rectum to achieve a local or systemic effect. This route is used/preferred when the child has high risk of vomiting, having a seizure or there is the risk of the medication being destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract when taken by mouth. Rectal medications can also be given if the child has an obstruction in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
This is a process of passing a catheter into the rectum with warm normal saline to deflate the abdomen of gas and faecal matter. The procedure is usually prescribed by the paediatrician and carried out by the paediatric nurse/nurse.
This is an aseptic process of giving intravenous fluids with the aid of a connecting tube and age appropriate size intravenous cannula through a vein for therapeutic purposes. IV fluids are primarily used to treat and prevent fluid volume deficit in a child.
These are activities organized during the hospitalization phase of the care of a child towards his/her return to the home or community to maintain his/her health status and prevent further ill-health. Discharge planning is initiated on the day of admission and co-ordinated by the entire health team.
This is when a child is declared fit and authorized by the health care team/paediatrician to return home after completion of treatment/management at the hospital. Occasionally, the discharge is carried out upon caregiver or family’s request.