Nursing

The needs of the pediatric patient differ depending on age, as do the stages of development and the expected assessment findings for each stage. In a 500-750-word paper, examine the needs of a school-aged child between the ages of 5 and 12 years old and discuss the following:

Compare the physical assessments among school-aged children. Describe how you would modify assessment techniques to match the age and developmental stage of the child.
Choose a child between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. Identify the age of the child and describe the typical developmental stages of children that age.
Applying developmental theory based on Erickson, Piaget, or Kohlberg, explain how you would developmentally assess the child. Include how you would offer explanations during the assessment, strategies you would use to gain cooperation, and potential findings from the assessment.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

ANSWER

Development Assessment of School-Aged Children

Introduction

School-age children’s development explains the expected emotional, physical, and mental abilities of children between the age of 5 to 12 years. Ideally, all the children within this age should be involved in a physical assessment that offers objective and subjective information about the child. Considerably, the ability to conduct physical examination is essential to nursing care for the child. This is because the findings from the physical assessment are essential in determining the health status of the child which is the foundation for nursing interventions.  This paper will focus on a development assessment for school-aged children between the age of 5 and 12 and the assessment methods in varying developmental stages.

Physical Assessment

Considerably, the physical assessment for this range is extensive. The nurse has to understand the developmental and growth stages for every age group, when starting the assessment, there is a need to consider modification according to the age of the child and how it is necessary for gaining engagement and cooperation of the child (Lee and Bhang, 2018). For instance, establishing a rapport with the caregiver is essential in helping build trust and change the attitude of the child. Including the child in an interview process is essential and this will enable the nurse to assess the social, language, cognition, and intellect of the child. An older child may require privacy and confidentiality while communicating with the nurse (Lee and Bhang, 2018). For instance, when it comes to asking questions about risk-taking behaviors such as sexual activity and drug use there is a need for guaranteed privacy for the sensitive information shared. On the other hand, a younger child may require distractions such as games and play. This is because the older child is more engaged while about their interests in friends, schools, and extra activities.

Development Stages

The development of a 5-year old child is filled with contradictions and emotional extremes. At this age, most children are still straddling having passed toddlerhood and are at the preschool years. At 5 years a child may be able to exhibit much self-control as compared to a toddler. The five-year child is beginning school and is encountering new developmental issues such as getting ready for school since they are being separated from their parents (Lee and Bhang, 2018). The understanding of reality, language skills, and following procedures and rules begin to show some independence. Considerably, a child of five years cognitively can count items that indicate rapid development of mental skills and ability to learn through talking about their experiences, feelings, and thoughts. Most children at this stage are able to sit down for some time in class and listen to the teacher’s instructions. At the same time, a child at this age is still comprehending, and learning to regulate emotions.

At the age of five years, the child is expected to develop some independence, social play, friendship, and improved physical condition. For instance, at this age, one might realize more patience with the child where the child is even open to reasoning with you. Five years are more organized and coordinated and love showing off their new physical skills. The child’s fine motor skills keep on improving which results in more independence with things such as brushing hair, using zips and buttons, and making small decisions.

When caring for a school-aged child at the age of five years it is important to consider what makes the child feel comfortable and important. This is because, at this stage, most children tend to develop emotions linked to their experiences. It is important to have active listening skills, effective and clear language as well as the use of simple language that will support understanding (Lee and Bhang, 2018). The nurse should also ensure that the patients are aware of the physical assessment in order to reinforce the assessment and facilitate the comfort of the child. It’s also important to explain the assessment to the child through the assessment through the use of diagrams and body language (Lee and Bhang, 2018). Some of the questions will be directed to the parent to gain relevant information such as how they relate with other people.

Development Theory

Mirroring Erikson’s theory of development, there are different stages of psychosocial development that influence growth and development. The 8 stage model indicates that the personality of an individual develops through their lifespan (Syed and McLean, 2017). Erikson stated that personality grows through a predetermined order with the 8 stages from childhood to adulthood. For instance, the child will desire to please rather than disappoint, building relationships with peers, and gaining new skills. Children are also eager to learn and build their self-confidence as well as understand the effect and cause. Ideally through each stage, the person experiences a psychosocial crisis which could have a negative and positive outcome for personality development. Communicating slowly and clearly, the child will understand how it is important to adhere to the care plan.

Conclusion

In summation, the developmental assessment for the school-aged children ranging from 5 to 12 has to be comprehensive and detailed since the experiences vary. The development assessment is essential in the set framework for a plan of care and an individualized plan of care. The nurses have to be aware of the variations between ages and the desired assessment results of school-aged children and their families.

References

Lee, M. S., & Bhang, S. Y. (2018). Assessment tools for the mental health of school-aged children and adolescents exposed to disaster: a systematic review (1988–2015). Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(3), 88-100.

Syed, M., & McLean, K. C. (2017). Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development.

Tepe, M. G., Şahin, İ., & Kalebozan, T. (2020). Determination Of The Motor DevelopmenLevels Of 9-10 Years Old Children. Türk Spor ve Egzersiz Dergisi, 22(2), 352-359.