Challenges of nursing care of the paediatric surgical patient

Abstract

Paediatric surgical nursing is the nursing care of children of age 0-15 years who present with surgical problems. The nursing care of children is quite challenging in view of their peculiarities in social, psychological, emotional and physical reaction and response to illness and sometimes their inability to give necessary history and clue to assist in evaluating and management of their health problems. This paper intends to address the importance of history taking, assessment of the patient on admission, monitoring of vital signs, management of knowledge deficit in patient and parents, care of intravenous fluids/oral fluids and preventing of wound infection. The need to achieve drug compliance, post-operative care, counselling, and health education were also discussed. Skilful nursing care is considered indispensable tools in improving outcome of paediatric surgical patients.

Keywords

• close monitoring
• knowledge deficit
• nursing
• paediatric