Postpartum
• Teach (by demonstration and praise) self assessment and care. Start soon after birth.
• The newborn is first of all a family member.
• Share your assessments and plans with parents; welcome their input.
• Respect culture and religious beliefs of the family.
• Praise the parent’s skills.
• Media and pamphlets are useful teaching aids if the parent has a chance to discuss them.
Visits and Teachings
• Mothers are discharged quickly, so you must teach accordingly.
• Home visits and follow-up telephone calls let the nurse and parents discuss adaptations, questions and concerns.
• Postpartum teaching should include women’s health promotion.
• The adolescent mother benefits from developmentally appropriate teaching and referral to community resources, including parenting classes.
Growth and Development
• Normally proceed in a regular fashion from simple to complex and in cephalocaudal and proximodistal patterns.
• Are orderly, directional, predictable, interdependent and complex processes.
• Are unique to individuals and their genetic potential.
• Occur through conflict and adaptation.
• Growth and development are impacted by genetics, environment, health status, nutrition, culture, and family structures and practices.
• Growth should be measured and evaluated at regular intervals throughout childhood.
• Deviations from normal growth and development should be thoroughly investigated and treated as quickly as possible.
• In the care of children, key concepts are anticipatory guidance and prevention of disease.
• Major developmental tasks of infancy are: increase in mobility, separation, and establishment of trusting relationships.
• In both toddlerhood and adolescence, hallmarks are development of independence and further separation.
• Children and adolescents grow rapidly, so nurses must stress optimum nutrition and give anticipatory guidance related to nutrition.
• In children over one year of age, the leading cause of death is injuries.
