What is Child Health Nursing ? Principles and Factors of Child Health Nursing

 

The word paediatric has been derived from the Greek word paedia meaning child and iatri meaning treatment and ics meaning branch of science. Thus, paediatrics is the branch of medical science that deals with child development and care and with the diseases of childhood and their treatment. Paediatrics also refers to the complete and continued care of children, in wellness as well as illness. Abraham Jacob (1830-1919) is the Father of paediatrics because of his contributions to this field.

Historical Background of Child Health Nursing:-

The historical background of paediatrics is as follows: 

1) The first reference of breast milk properties and child hygiene was introduced in 225 BC in Indian Susruta Sanhita. 

2) Hippocrates (a Greek philosopher), also known as the Father of Modern Medicine, made important contributions to the diseases occurring in children‟s. 

3) Kashyapa and Jeevaka (the first Indian paediatricians) worked on children's diseases and child care.

 4) Kashyapa and Samhita wrote the first manuscript on the management of children's diseases. Susruta and Samhita wrote about Ayurvedic medicine that can be used for treating diseases in children. It was the first written record of Paediatrics. Susruta, known as Indian Hippocrates, wrote about child-rearing practices, infant feeding, and childhood diseases. 

5) Charak (the count physician of Peshawar) wrote on the Care and Management of Newborns in his Sansthan and ashtanga-hidaya. 

6) Rhazes (an Arab physician) wrote the first book on the diseases of children. 

7) In 1472 AD, the first written book on Paediatrics, named Bagallarder’s, was printed in Italian. 

8) Thomas Phare wrote the first book in English on children‟s disease in 1545 AD. 

9) First paediatric hospital was opened in Paris in 1802. Children‟s Hospital of Philadelphia was opened in the USA. 

10) Dr Abraham Jacob established the first child clinic in New York and started giving special lectures on diseases of children in 1860. At this time, Paediatrics was established as a field. 

11) The first department of paediatrics was established in Harvard Medical School in 1888 AD. At this time, it was realised that childhood diseases are different from adult diseases

Principles of Child Health Nursing:-

A paediatric nurse should follow the below-mentioned principles of child health nursing, which govern their interaction with the children and their parents: 

1) The nurse should answer all the queries of the parents regarding their children. 

2) The nurse should build a working relationship with the parents and their children from the time of the first meeting. 

3) The nurse should know that all behaviours of a child hold some meaning. 

4) The nurse should accept the parents and their children exactly as they are. 

5) The nurse should be concerned towards the parents and children. 

6) The nurse should make the parents and children understand that their problems are important to her and she is there to provide solutions to those problems. 

7) The nurse should always acknowledge the parent‟s right to make decisions about their child. 

8) The nurse should allow the parents and children to express their positive as well as negative emotions. 

9) The nurse should ask questions on a single idea or reference so that the parents and children easily understand what is being asked. 

10) The nurse should use the local language and speak in an easy-to-understand language. 

11) The health team members should make the parents feel that they are working collaboratively for the treatment of their child. 

12) The nurse should always be compassionate for the children and their parents

Factors of Child Health Nursing:-

Factors Responsible for the Growth of Modern Paediatrics The following factors influence the growth of modern paediatrics: 

1) Progress of medical science and recent advancements in the field of medicine excluding antibiotics.

 2) Development in the field of basic science (physics, chemistry, and biology). 

3) Growing interest in public health and public welfare. 

4) Improved social laws. 

5) Improved health services. 

6) Emphasising disease prevention and health promotion. 

7) Establishment of separate paediatrics hospitals, MCH clinics, under five family welfare centres, etc.

 8) Initiation of child welfare programmes. 

9) Initiation of health promotion and disease prevention programmes. 

10) Realisation of special needs of infants and children. 

11) Changing the attitude of society towards infants and children.