NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
Walden University NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children-Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
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How to Write the Body for NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
NURS 6512 Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity is markedly increasing, especially in developing countries. Approximately a third of children and adolescents in the United States are either overweight or obese (Smith et al., 2020). This trend is worrisome and is a public health threat that requires sustainable solutions. The etiology of obesity is multifactorial and entails an interplay of genetic, biological, health-behavioral, psychological, developmental, and environmental factors (Smith et al., 2020). An unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are the leading predispositions to obesity among children and adolescents. The association of obesity with an increased burden of non-communicable diseases warrants the effective mitigation and prevention measures implementation (Kansra et al., 2021). Currently, available interventions target behavior changes through health-promoting lifestyle modification.
The paper intends to assess the weight-related health of a 16-year-old female who lives with her normal-weight mother and overweight stepfather. The specific aspects covered include a description of the health issues and risks relevant to this child, additional information required to assess her weight-related health, and specific requirements needed to gather further information. Specific questions about the child will also be addressed to the parents and caregivers while considering their potential sensitivities. Finally, strategies to encourage proactive engagement of the parents and caregivers in the child’s health and weight will be availed.
Health Issues and Risks
The child’s mother in this health case has normal weight, whereas her stepfather is obese. Despite genetics playing an integral role in the occurrence of obesity, other additive factors should be considered. There is an established association between parental weight status and the incidence of childhood obesity, with higher associations if both parents are obese (Lee et al., 2022). This is true even in the absence of a biological relationship as in this case. Factors such as parenting practices, home environment, lifestyle habits, parental weight status, socio-economic status, parent-child dynamics, and the quality of family meals play an integral role in the child’s eating and weight-related outcomes (Larsen et al., 2021). This may influence the predisposition to childhood obesity.
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Obesity has implications for various consequential health issues and risks. Obesity is related to multiple physical and psychological morbid outcomes. It increases the risk of menstrual irregularities, early puberty, sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and various cardiovascular diseases (Kansra et al., 2021). Adverse psychological effects include depressive illness, poor self-esteem, eating disorders, and body image issues (Kansra et al., 2021).
Obesity has also been associated with the development of various cancers such as colon and breast cancers (Sanyaolu et al., 2019). Most of the physical morbid effects occur later in adulthood and contribute to significant disease burdens, economic burdens, premature mortality, and decreased quality of life. Interventions to reduce the prevalence and resultant outcomes require measures at individual, community, and state levels with adequate engagement and collaboration among stakeholders.
Additional Information for Further Assessment of Weight-Related Health
Various modalities are available for the assessment of weight status. The Body mass index is the most widely adopted and cost-effective approach. BMI indirectly assesses body fat by adopting the formula [BMI = weight (kg)/ height (m)^2] (Balasundaram et al., 2022). The findings from the calculation can then be classified as normal, overweight, and obese depending on normal ranges based on age and gender (Balasundaram et al., 2022). The trends in BMI measurements reveal trajectories on the progression, severity, or clues on the possible cause.
Other available anthropometric measurements include waist and hip circumference, waist-hip ratio, and body fat percentage (Golia et al., 2020). Laboratory investigations can assess the health risks associated with obesity. Tests such as the lipid profile, blood sugar level, and liver function tests can detect obesity-related disorders such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (Tiwari et al., 2022). This will be guided by patient-specific factors and presentations.
Risks and Further Information Needed for Full Comprehension of the Child’s Health
Additional information that will provide insights into the child’s health will be obtained from the corroborative history obtained from the parents and caregivers. A history of the child’s development including the birth weight, growth charts, and behavior changes concerning physical activity and eating habits will be integral (Tiwari et al., 2022). A family history of obesity will determine the presence of genetic predisposition. Information suggestive of obesity-related outcomes such as obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes will also be contributory. The presence of secondary risk factors such as the use of obesity-associated medications should be determined.
Information will need to be obtained sensitively for meaningful feedback. Important considerations during weight-related health discussions include avoidance of judgment, appropriate tone and approach, proper timing of the discussions, having regard for parental expertise, and provision of concrete case-sensitive recommendations (Uy et al., 2018). Open communication, adequate engagement, and courteous interactions that foster mutual trust should be maintained.
Specific Questions to the Parents
Strategies to Enhance Parental Proactive Involvement in Their Child’s Health and Weight
Parents have a significant impact on their children’s dietary and physical activity behavior. This determines the child’s weight status, overall health, and predisposition to obesity. Certain strategies can thus be adopted to promote the engagement of parents in their child’s health and weight. The inclusion of parents in the child’s health and weight management and treatment interventions has been shown to positively influence the child’s weight and weight-related outcomes (Tomayko et al., 2021). Parents should also be educated on the benefits of proactive engagement in their child’s health and weight through role modeling of positive behaviors, and reward and recognition of positive behaviors (Cozett et al., 2022). This will encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles among children who frequently look up to their parents.
Conclusion
Obesity is a rapidly rising public health threat among children and adolescents. This is attributed to the interplay of various biological, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors. The major contributor to the rising prevalence is a sedentary lifestyle that embraces poor diet and physical inactivity. Childhood obesity is associated with various physical and psychological outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases and depressive illness. Assessment of obesity is achieved through anthropometric measurements such as BMI, laboratory investigations to detect obesity-related disorders, and contributory information from subjective history. Parental involvement in their child’s health and weight is integral to desirable child’s health and weight-related outcomes.
References
Balasundaram, P., & Krishna, S. (2022). Obesity Effects On Child Health. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Cozett, C., & Roman, N. V. (2022). Recommendations to enhance parental involvement and adolescent participation in physical activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1333. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031333
Golia, N., Krishan, K., & Kashyap, J. R. (2020). Assessment of obesity by using various anthropometric measurements among patients with coronary heart disease residing in North India. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7948
Kansra, A. R., Lakkunarajah, S., & Jay, M. S. (2021). Childhood and adolescent obesity: A Review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.581461
Larsen, J. K. (2021). The importance of parents for childhood and Adolescent obesity prevention: Should we pay more attention to automatic processes and parental stress? Nutrients, 13(9), 3185. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093185
Lee, J. S., Jin, M. H., & Lee, H. J. (2022). Global relationship between parent and child obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical and experimental pediatrics, 65(1), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2020.01620
Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S. (2019). Childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States: A public health concern. Global Pediatric Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794×19891305
Smith, J. D., Fu, E., & Kobayashi, M. A. (2020). Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity and Its Psychological and Health Comorbidities. Annual review of clinical psychology, 16, 351–378. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-100219-060201
Tiwari, A., & Balasundaram, P. (2022). Obesity in Pediatric Patients. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Tomayko, E. J., Tovar, A., Fitzgerald, N., Howe, C. L., Hingle, M. D., Murphy, M. P., Muzaffar, H., Going, S. B., & Hubbs-Tait, L. (2021). Parent involvement in diet or physical activity interventions to treat or prevent childhood obesity: An Umbrella Review. Nutrients, 13(9), 3227. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093227
Uy, M. J., Pereira, M. A., Berge, J. M., & Loth, K. A. (2018). How should we approach and discuss children’s weight with parents? A qualitative analysis of recommendations from parents of preschool-aged children to physicians. Clinical Pediatrics, 58(2), 226–237. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922818812489
Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
When seeking to identify a patient’s health condition, advanced practice nurses can use a diverse selection of diagnostic tests and assessment tools; however, different factors affect the validity and reliability of the results produced by these tests or tools. Nurses must be aware of these factors in order to select the most appropriate test or tool and to accurately interpret the results.
Not only do these diagnostic tests affect adults, body measurements can provide a general picture of whether a child is receiving adequate nutrition or is at risk for health issues. These data, however, are just one aspect to be considered. Lifestyle, family history, and culture—among other factors—are also relevant. That said, gathering and communicating this information can be a delicate process.
For this Assignment, you will consider examples of children with various weight issues. You will explore how you could effectively gather information and encourage parents and caregivers to be proactive about their children’s health and weight.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
To Prepare
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and consider factors that impact the validity and reliability of various assessment tools and diagnostic tests. You also will review examples of pediatric patients and their families as it relates to BMI.
- Based on the risks you might identify consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion.
- Consider how you could encourage parents or caregivers to be proactive toward the child’s health.
The Assignment
Assignment (3–4 pages, not including title and reference pages):
Assignment: Child Health Case:
Include the following:
- An explanation of the health issues and risks that are relevant to the child you were assigned.
- Describe additional information you would need in order to further assess his or her weight-related health.
- Identify and describe any risks and consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion.
- Taking into account the parents’ and caregivers’ potential sensitivities, list at least three specific questions you would ask about the child to gather more information.
- Provide at least two strategies you could employ to encourage the parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight.
Additional Information to assess the patient’s weight related Health
In order to get a proper assessment of the patient’s weight related health several details will be required in order to do so. Firstly, information on the patient’s quantity of consumed food will be required. The quantity of food is relevant as it has been mentioned the patient is underweight hence the information on the amount of food is required in order to obtain a comprehensive assessment on what is bringing about the health issue. Additionally, the frequency of his meals will need to be identified such as how many meals the patient takes in a day as this could be contributing to why the patient is underweight (Qin, et al., 2019).
Moreover, information on the type of food the patient takes especially on when he is with the father is required. As it is stated the father is underweight while the mother is normal weight hence a the being underweight status could be as a result of staying with the father whom it is also stated he spends most of the time with. Information should also be obtained on the BMI on both the child and the father to help identify their health status. This can be obtained easily through getting the height and weight of the individuals then dividing it and comparing it to a set range (Qin, et al., 2019).
Risks and Sensitivities
In this context one of the areas that I would need information about is on their family situation. As it is mentioned the patient stays with the father on the weekdays and the mother on the weekend it would imply that the parents are separated, moreover the fact the father gets the most time with him and it has been stated the father is also underweight would seem to cast the blame on the father that he is causing the child to be underweight. Another sensitive situation that could need to be looked into is the financial status of the father as from the information it could seem the parents are divorced that could have affected him financially thus impairing his ability to provide possibly contributing to him and the child being underweight (Qin, et al., 2019).
Additionally, another sensitive area that could be assessed and is contributing to the child being underweight is the mental status. It has been mentioned that the child stays in separate places one with the mother and one with the father thus implying they could be separated. Such a situation could bring about a mental disorder such as depression that could lead to a person not eating properly and thus being underweight. In order to get such vital information I would establish a positive rapport with the child and parent who would have accompanied him. I would pay attention to what they had to say while observing their nonverbal clues, being understanding, and also observing their tone regarding the various concerns in order to determine the level of sensitivity. Additionally, I would establish a rapport of trust with the patient to encourage them to divulge the necessary details (Qin, et al., 2019).
Target Questions
There are certain pertinent questions that ought to be raised based on the numerous factors described and the background context given about the patient in order to provide a more comprehensive perspective and benefit the patient. The following are the targeted queries:
What does your diet in a day mostly consist of?
Can you tell me more about your eating habits (this would consist of questions about any dietary restrictions and number of meals they take in a day)?
How would you describe your weight and have you taken any measures to resolve you underweight status? (CDC, 2017).
Strategies to Introduce
The patient should use a variety of approaches to advance their health. They ought to include eating a balanced diet. The patient will benefit from eating foods that are nutritiously dense and in suitable quantities because their health and weight will both improve (Khan & Safdar, 2019).
The first step in promoting someone’s health is educating the patient about their condition and treatment options. The patient will not get favorable results in terms of their health if they are not aware of potential risk factors linked to their medical history, family history, and behaviors. This can involve giving both the parent and the child nutrition advice on what should be on a typical plate, including how many servings of fruit, vegetables, and meat are needed, as well as what might happen if the body isn’t getting enough nourishment. The practitioner must be aware of the patient’s level of health literacy in order to encourage education (Khan & Safdar, 2019).
The other strategy of encouraging healthy eating is to support the patient and provide them with resources that can enable them to buy food if there is trouble fulfilling the need because of a lack of money. Many government agencies offer WIC programs that can provide families with vouchers to purchase the food they need to maintain their health and adhere to the recommended serving sizes of carbs, protein, and fats for a healthy development (Khan & Safdar, 2019).
Conclusion
The provider requires an in-depth physical exam and history of the patient in order to assist such a patient in leading a healthy way of life and understanding how to avoid health problems from developing. The right questions to ask and an awareness of the patient’s history can also assist the medical professional in selecting the best course of action and drugs. It’s crucial to build trust with patients as well as their families so that they may be forthright, honest, and unafraid of criticism (Ball, et al., 2021)
References
Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2021). Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination-E-Book: An Interprofessional Approach. Elsevier Health Sciences.
CDC. (2017). Youth Risk Behaviors Surveillance System (YRBSS) Overview. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/overview.htm
Golubnitschaja, O., Liskova, A., Koklesova, L., Samec, M., Biringer, K., Büsselberg, D., … & Kubatka, P. (2021). Caution,“normal” BMI: health risks associated with potentially masked individual underweight—EPMA Position Paper 2021. EPMA Journal, 12(3), 243-264.
Khan, S., Zaheer, S., & Safdar, N. F. (2019). Determinants of stunting, underweight and wasting among children< 5 years of age: evidence from 2012-2013 Pakistan demographic and health survey. BMC public health, 19(1), 1-15.
Qin, T. T., Xiong, H. G., Yan, M. M., Sun, T., Qian, L., & Yin, P. (2019). Body weight misperception and weight disorders among Chinese children and adolescents: a latent class analysis. Current Medical Science, 39(5), 852-862.
Case Study Assignment: Assessment of Nutrition in Children
Overweight and obesity are crucial public health concerns in the modern society. The existing statistics demonstrate an increasing prevalence rate of these conditions. The affected populations are increasingly predisposed to multiple comorbidities associated with obesity and overweight. Nurses and other healthcare providers play crucial roles in implementing evidence-based interventions that prevent and reverse the population risk of developing overweight and obesity. The interventions transform their lifestyle, behaviors, and environmental risk factors that contribute to the weight-related problems. Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to explore a case study of an 8-year-old overweight male foster child with normal weight foster parents and overweight biological parents. The topics of focus include health issues and risks, additional information that should be obtained, specific questions, and strategies to encourage parents to be proactive about their child’s health and weight.
Health Issues and Risks
The 8-year-old child is predisposed to several health issues and risks. One of them is obesity. Overweight is a risk factor of obesity. Obesity develops when the child does not embrace lifestyle and behavioral change that would result in weight loss. The child is also at a risk of developing low self-esteem and self-identity. Weight-related issues are crucial in pre-adolescence and adolescence stage. Overweight and obesity predispose individuals to social isolation and stigma based on the society’s perception of the ideal body weight (Browna et al., 2019; Nittari et al., 2019). This would affect her self-confidence, self-esteem and identity.
Overweight is a risk factor for different health problems. Accordingly, the child in the case study is at a risk of developing diabetes. Diabetes develops from insulin resistance because of the excessive body fat levels. The child is also at a risk of developing cardiovascular complications such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Overweight and obesity causes narrowing of the blood vessels. The heart undergoes extensive straining as it tries to push blood against the resistance, leading to cardiovascular complications.
There is also the increase risk of the child developing renal problems. Cardiovascular complications affect renal functioning because of the increased body fluid volume level, which result in decreased renal functioning (Magriplis et al., 2021; Alman et al., 2021). The additional health problems the child is at a risk of developing include cancer, fractures, and difficulties in engaging in active physical activities.
Additional Information
Additional information about the child’s health status should be obtained to assess her weight-related health. One of them is dietary habits. Unhealthy diet contributes to weight gain. Eating processed junk foods is a leading cause of overweight and obesity among children. Information on the family’s dietary habits should be obtained to understand better the problem. The other information that should be obtained relates to the child’s engagement in active physical activity. Sedentary behaviors such as too much screen time and minimal engagement in active exercises result in minimal burning of fats (Byrne et al., 2019). There is the deposition of the excess fats in the body tissues leading to weight gain.
Information about any weight-related health problems in the child and her family should also be obtained. Disorders such as hypothyroidism are associated with weight gain. Besides, weight gain increases the risk of patients developing other comorbid conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Information on whether the child or her family members have a history of such chronic conditions should be obtained. Lastly, information about the family’s perception towards overweight and obesity should be obtained (Babio et al., 2022). The perception influences the family’s adoption of healthy lifestyles and behaviors that would contribute to weight loss.
Risks and Further Information
As noted initially, the child in the case study is predisposed to overweight-related health risks. One of them is obesity. Lack of interventions to promote weight loss will result in obesity. The other health risk is diabetes. Overweight and obesity as the crucial risk factors of patients developing diabetes mellitus type 2. The other health risk is cardiovascular health problems. This includes hypertension and stroke among others (Babio et al., 2022; Magriplis et al., 2021). As a result, it is crucial to obtain information on areas such as the child’s dietary habits, engagement in active physical exercises, and hobbies.
An effective way to obtain this information from the family will be being aware of their cultural values, beliefs, and practices. Culture influences the population’s perception of the ideal body weight. It also influences the dietary behaviors in a family, hence, the risk of overweight in the child. I will also avoid blaming the foster parents for the problem. Instead, I will focus on empowering them with knowledge and skills needed to promote their child’s healthy weight gain. The last approach would be assuring them confidentiality and privacy of their information (Browna et al., 2019). This approach will eliminate any doubts the family may have and increase their openness when assessing their child’s health.
Specific Questions
The following are the three specific questions that I would ask to obtain more information about the child’s health:
- What is the normal diet and frequency of meals in your family?
- Does the child like eating processed foods and drinks regularly?
- How often does your child engage in exercises such as sport activities?
Strategies
One of the strategies I will employ to encourage the parents to be proactive about their child’s health and weight is shared decision-making. Shared decision-making is a care intervention where the nurse involves the parents and patients in assessing and making decisions on interventions for their health problems. Shared decision-making recognizes the need for the nurse to consider the values, beliefs, practices, and preferences of the family and patients in the decision-making (Lin et al., 2020). The decisions made are patient-centered to encourage compliance and empowerment.
The second strategy that I will employ is encouraging open communication. Open communication entails ensuring that the patient and her family have the freedom to express their views and concerns on how to address their health needs. Open communication would strengthen the trust and honesty between the nurse and the family. It will also increase their understanding of the crucial aspects of disease management that should be adopted to promote the child’s health (Foster et al., 2020). I will also provide clarification on areas the family feels it has not understood in addressing the child’s health for optimum outcomes.
Conclusion
The child in the case study is predisposed to health risks such as obesity, diabetes mellitus type 2, cardiovascular complications, and cancer. Information about the family’s dietary habits, engagement in active physical activities, and perceptions towards overweight and obesity should be obtained. The nurse should ask specific questions to diagnose accurately the client’s problem. I will adopt strategies such as shared decision-making and open communication to encourage the parents to be proactive about their child’s weight and health.
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I enjoyed reading your post this week. Inequity regarding one’s ability to receive quality healthcare in the United States is an ongoing problem in this country. Because of these disparities, anyone receiving poor care may quickly develop a mistrust toward the healthcare system and its members. Medical distrust is the need for more confidence in medical professionals and institutions to act in patients’ best interests, be truthful, maintain patient confidentiality, and possess the necessary skills (Jaiswal & Halkitis, 2019). Patients who develop mistrust toward the healthcare system and its members can lead to increased non-compliance to treatment plans and are often blamed by their providers for adverse outcomes (“Understanding and Ameliorating Medical Mistrust Among Black Americans,” 2021). In this patient’s case, the foundation of trust must begin at the beginning of the health history inquiry.
If trust is established, our patient will be more willing to disclose the information to indirectly answer a specific concern, such as not being able to receive medication on this visit for his problem. Herman (2022) states that these disparities help explain why some communities experience worse health outcomes, unequal access to treatments, and gaps in health insurance coverage. As providers, we must recognize these disparities and customize our data collection processes to uncover if these disparities are present and experienced by our patients. By creating safe and welcoming environments for an underserved population, trust can be created long before the actual interaction with the healthcare provider occurs.
This begins with the interactions with every staff member working within the facility. Employees must be aware that they may interact with patients at any time during their workday; therefore, training must be extended to all employees. This training must begin with teaching diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism values to the leadership and employees (“Confronting Racism in Health Care,” 2021).
References
Confronting Racism in Health Care. (2021). Www.Commonwealthfund.Org. https://doi.org/10.26099/kn6g-aa68
Herman, J. (2022, April 26). Racism, Inequality, and Health Care for African Americans. The Century Foundation. https://tcf.org/content/report/racism-inequality-health-care-african-americans/
Jaiswal, J., & Halkitis, P. N. (2019). Towards a More Inclusive and Dynamic Understanding of Medical Mistrust Informed by Science. Behavioral Medicine, 45(2), 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2019.1619511
Understanding and Ameliorating Medical Mistrust Among Black Americans. (2021). Commonwealth Fund. https://doi.org/10.26099/9grt-2b21
A seven-year-old Hispanic female who is in second grade is brought in severely underweight. On physical examination, she has a weak pulse, bilateral pedal edema, and is apathetic. However, she has an overweight mother who she lives with during the week and an average-weight father who she lives with during weekends. The purpose of this paper is to address the child’s health issues and risks and create strategies to make the parents more proactive with their child’s health.
Health Issues and Risks That Are Relevant to the Child
Undernutrition directly causes micronutrient deficiencies such as iron, vitamins A and D, folate, thiamine, and zinc. As a result, the child has an increased risk of developing nutritional anemia, night blindness, rickets, poor growth, and poor muscle activity, deteriorating their quality of life (Dipasquale et al., 2020). Additionally, fat and muscle mass depletion is due to reductive adaptation, where the child’s energy source is drawn from muscle, adipose, and bone. This results in reduced muscle function, fractures,and alteration in electrolyte balance.
Malnutrition may also affect the child’s cardiac function. Reductive adaptation causes cardiac muscle loss, resulting in decreased cardiac output and low blood pressure (De Sanctis et al., 2021). In addition, there is micronutrient deficiency and alterations in electrolyte balance which alter cardiac function. Decreased cardiac output leads to poor tissue perfusion, causing delayed wound healing. Reduced cardiac output and electrolyte imbalance may further worsen renal function by reducing renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate.
Malnutrition affects gastrointestinal function, resulting in changes in pancreatic exocrine function, intestinal blood flow, villous architecture, and intestinal permeability, reducing the gut’s ability to absorb nutrients. In addition, the colon loses its ability to reabsorb water and electrolytes, resulting in diarrhea and worsened nutritional losses. The liver is also affected, and all its metabolic, synthesis, detoxification, and excretory function are affected resulting in hypoglycemia and accumulation of toxic metabolites (Schuetz et al., 2021). Immune function is also affected, increasing the risk of infection due to innate and adaptive immunity predisposing the child to respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections (Fontane et al., 2023). However, due to a failed immune system, most signs of infection, such as fever, may be absent.
Additional Information I Would Need to Further Assess Her Weight-Related Health
Undernutrition causes multisystem organ dysfunction. It is thus crucial to inquire whether the parents have noticed whether the child has had persistent vomiting or diarrhea. In addition, it is crucial to note any temperature changes, signs of shock, open skin lesions, edema, dehydration, tachypnea, and cyanosis (Brits et al., 2020). I may also need to look at her growth curve to check for any previous abnormalities and compare her growth versus the standard. I would also need a mid-upper arm circumference, Z-scores, and basal metabolic index. Laboratory tests are also essential for assessing malnutrition(Kabashneh et al., 2020). Necessary tests include complete blood count, hemogram, septic screen, liver and renal function tests, urinalysis, protein tests, urea-electrolytes and creatinine test, and tests for inflammatory markers. While performing a physical exam, I would need to look for any hair, nail, eye, skin, and mouth changes, such as fissures, cheilitis, and stomatitis (De Sanctis et al., 2021). I would also need to check for distended abdomen and hepatomegaly, observe for behavioral changes, and assess for development.
Risks and Further Information I Would Need to Gain a Full Understanding of the Child’s Health
Undernutrition occurs when one does not have an adequate diet or has malabsorption conditions. In assessment of the child’s weight-related health condition, it is essential to take note of the quality and quantity of the food she takes through a food diary history (Vassilakau, 2021). Inadequate diet and non-nutritious foods like processed juices predispose to micro and macronutrient deficiencies. Additionally, it is crucial to inquire whether she has any food allergies, fads, restrictions, and preferences, as they may predispose her to undernutrition.
It is crucial to ask whether the child has any underlying medical condition that may affect the ability to swallow, digest, or absorb foods. It is crucial to assess whether they have nausea and anorexia or are taking medications that may be causing both. Additionally, it is vital to rule out any cause of dysphagia, which can limit oral intake of food (Schuetz et al., 2021). Medical conditions such as chronic diarrhea or childhood malignancies have been linked to undernutrition due to increased metabolic needs. One may also need to inquire about malabsorption disorders such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease that may cause excessive nutritional loss.
Undernutrition can also be caused due to mental health conditions and feeding environments. It is thus crucial to screen for eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia that may have an impact on the child, considering that the mother is overweight. Additionally, one may need to consider behaviors that discourage eating, such as bullying at school and childhood depression and anxiety disorders. Additionally, one may need to inquire about parental involvement in meals to inquire whether there is a source of discouragement to feeding (Engidaye et al., 2022). Lastly, it is vital to inquire about the ability of the parents to access nutritional foods and their feeding habits.
Specific Questions to Ask About the Child to Gather More Information
- What type of food do you occasionally give your child, and does she have any preferences?
- How do both of you contribute and participate in your daughter’s feeding patterns?
- Are there foods you prefer not to give your daughter, and why?
- Has your child ever been diagnosed with health conditions that may have affected her nutrition?
- Have you noticed any behavior change that may have affected your daughter’s well-being or her relationship with food?
Strategies to Encourage the Parents to Be Proactive about Their Child’s Health and Weight
The strategies I would employ to encourage the parents to be proactive about the child’s health include educating them on child nutrition. I would provide them with resources and inform them of signs of child malnutrition to empower them with knowledge to make right decisions (Vassilakou, 2021). Secondly, I would encourage the parents to involve their daughter in discussions regarding nutrition and have a feedback session with her. I would also organize regular follow-ups to monitor for improvement and highlight positive changes.
Conclusion
Undernutrition is a common malnutrition condition that affects children. It is crucial to note the effects it has on different organ systems. Causes of undernutrition are organic, inorganic, or both. It is thus crucial to identify the cause before initiating management. Active management of malnutrition in children requires parental and child’s active participation to achieve necessary nutritional goals.
References
Brits, H., Botha, L., Maakomane, W., Malefane, T., Luthfiya, T., Tsoeueamakwa, T., &Joubert, G. (2020). The profile and clinical picture of children with undernutrition admitted to National District Hospital. The Pan African medical journal, 37, 237. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2020.37.237.25261
De Sanctis, V., Soliman, A., Alaaraj, N., Ahmed, S., Alyafei, F., &Hamed, N. (2021). Early and Long-term Consequences of Nutritional Stunting: From Childhood to Adulthood. Acta bio-medica :AteneiParmensis, 92(1), e2021168. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92i1.11346
Dipasquale, V., Cucinotta, U., & Romano, C. (2020). Acute Malnutrition in Children: Pathophysiology, Clinical Effects and Treatment. Nutrients, 12(8), 2413. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082413
Engidaye, G., Aynalem, M., Adane, T., Gelaw, Y., Yalew, A., &Enawgaw, B. (2022). Undernutrition and its associated factors among children aged 6 to 59 months in Menz Gera Midir district, Northeast Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study. PloS one, 17(12), e0278756. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278756
Fontaine, F., Turjeman, S., Callens, K., &Koren, O. (2023). The intersection of undernutrition, microbiome, and child development in the first years of life. Nature communications, 14(1), 3554. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39285-9
Kabashneh, S., Alkassis, S., Shanah, L., & Ali, H. (2020). A Complete Guide to Identify and Manage Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients. Cureus, 12(6), e8486. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.8486
Schuetz, P., Seres, D., Lobo, D. N., Gomes, F., Kaegi-Braun, N., &Stanga, Z. (2021). Management of disease-related malnutrition for patients being treated in hospital. Lancet (London, England), 398(10314), 1927–1938. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01451-3
Vassilakou, T. (2021). Childhood Malnutrition: Time for Action. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 8(2), 103. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8020103
Rubric
NURS_6512_Week_3_Assignment_1_Rubric
| NURS_6512_Week_3_Assignment_1_Rubric | ||||||
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome In 3–4 pages, address the following: An explanation of the health issues and risks that are relevant to the child you were assigned. |
|
25 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Describe additional information you would need in order to further assess his or her weight-related health. |
|
25 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Identify and describe any risks, and consider what further information you would need to gain a full understanding of the child’s health. Think about how you could gather this information in a sensitive fashion. |
|
20 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Taking into account the parents’ and caregivers’ potential sensitivities, list at least three specific questions you would ask about the child to gather more information. |
|
10 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Provide at least two strategies you could employ to encourage the parents or caregivers to be proactive about their child’s health and weight. |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization: Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused–neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction are provided that delineate all required criteria. |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, running heads, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. |
|
5 pts | ||||
| Total Points: 100 | ||||||
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