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Understanding the child with special health care needs: a developmental perspective
Insights
Pediatric nurses must understand child development theories to effectively care for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and their families. Integrating developmental perspectives enhances psychosocial and health interventions for CSHCN.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nursing
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) increasingly impact pediatric nursing.
- CSHCN often have complex health and psychosocial needs affecting daily functioning.
Observation:
- Optimal care for CSHCN necessitates understanding their chronic conditions and developmental trajectories.
- This paper reviews CSHCN characteristics and key child development theories.
Findings:
- Child development theories offer a crucial lens for viewing and understanding CSHCN.
- A case example illustrates the application of these developmental perspectives.
Implications:
- Integrating child development theories into nursing curricula can improve care for CSHCN.
- Enhanced understanding of development supports better psychosocial and health interventions for CSHCN.
Abstract:
Children with special health care needs and their families are becoming a greater part of pediatric nursing practice, and often present with major health and psychosocial needs that interfere with their ability to function. Optimal intervention with these children requires an understanding of their chronic conditions as well as their unique developmental needs. This paper reviews the characteristics of children with special health care needs and introduces some of the most salient theories of child development in order to provide a perspective from which to view this population. A case example that illustrates some of the features discussed is presented. Because a knowledge of theories of child development can improve the care provided to children with special health care needs, it should be included as part of nursing curricula.