NURS 6541 Week 3: School-Age Children and Adolescents

Consider the range of pediatric patients you may see in an average day as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Some may be the little ones you examined previously. Some may be young school-age children whose stages of growth and development are closer to preschoolers and not yet transitioning to middle childhood. Yet as your patients increase in chronological age, growth and development take more conspicuous turns. It is no coincidence that teachers of young children and teachers of young adolescents have many parallel experiences. Both early childhood and young adolescence are significant periods of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Although aspects of pediatric care for school-age and adolescent patients can be easier—most, at least theoretically, are able to answer questions—the need for both detective and diplomatic skills continues. Physical changes in children can trigger all kinds and degrees of emotional response. Concerns about body image are central in this time, and “early bloomers” and “late bloomers” can struggle as they compare themselves to some concept of “normal.” Blooming sexuality can raise issues of confidentiality, such as when teens and parents are in conflict over sexual activity or identification. Your role requires understanding rights on all sides and negotiating help, when you can.

This week, the Learning Resources are selected to help you prepare for both the mundane and dramatic aspects of monitoring growth and development, and resulting care needs, of school-age children and adolescents. There is no assignment pertaining to this age group, in order to allow sufficient time to review for your Module 1 Knowledge Check. However, keep in mind that as you move on to the next modules on specific conditions, your foundational knowledge of growth and development in children and teens will aid in assessing and evaluating your i-Human pediatric patients, and of course, your very human ones ahead.

Learning Objective

Students will:

Identify key terms, principles, and concepts related to growth and development of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and adolescents, and primary care of pediatric patients

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)