NURS 6541 Week 5: Evaluation and Management of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Conditions

Respiratory disorders are a natural next focus from EENT, given the nostrils and epiglottis are part of the upper respiratory tract. And a stuffy or runny nose, and a scratchy or sore throat are among the symptoms of familiar upper respiratory conditions like the common cold.

 

Lower respiratory tract disorders such as pediatric asthma may also be common, particularly if you practice in an inner-city urban center (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 2019). Helping families manage a child’s asthma and other respiratory conditions with environmental triggers, such as secondhand smoke, can involve astute diplomacy in recommending ways to provide healthier air at home.

 

As you anticipate what to expect in assessing cardiovascular conditions in children, consider that “most…are due to congenital heart disease (CHD), which affects nearly 1% of all live births—or about 40,000 babies per year” (Burns, 2017, p. 756). Whether you will care for a child with CHD, or be the first to recognize a child’s condition, your work requires “a high index of suspicion regarding any signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease in young children” (Burns, 2017, p. 756).

 

While CHD may cause most pediatric heart ailments, cardiovascular disease can be acquired when children and adolescents develop hypertension. For many young people under stress or getting too little physical exercise and carrying too much body weight, high blood pressure is a dangerous outcome. In turn, understanding family history and habits is vital for managing the condition and helping the child or adolescent, and perhaps the entire family, to adopt different approaches, priorities, and routines.

 

This week, will be a “quiet” week in which you will take the time to review the Learning Resources and prepare for your Midterm Exam in Week 6. No Assignment submissions will be required for this week however, it will be important for you to continue to work through the topics for this week. The Learning Resources will prepare for your pivotal role as a primary care provider in evaluating and managing pediatric respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

 

Reference

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2019). Asthma capitals 2019. https://www.aafa.org/asthma-capitals/

 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

 

Assess pediatric patients for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions (A)

Evaluate health conditions of pediatric patients (A)

Formulate differential diagnoses for pediatric respiratory conditions (A)

Formulate differential diagnoses for pediatric cardiovascular conditions (A)

Analyze socio-cultural needs of pediatric patients and families (A)

Formulate evidence-based treatment and management plans for pediatric patients with respiratory conditions (A)

Formulate evidence-based treatment and management plans for pediatric patients with cardiovascular conditions (A)

Recommend evidence-based strategies for educating patients and families on treatment and management of respiratory conditions (A)

Recommend evidence-based strategies for educating patients and families on treatment and management of cardiovascular conditions (A)

 

 

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)