Developmentally Appropriate Care of Pediatric Patients in the Perioperative Setting

Abstract

Pediatric patients do not undergo procedures exclusively at pediatric specialty facilities. Many perioperative nurses will care for a pediatric patient at some point in their career. Children and their caregivers often experience elevated levels of anxiety during the perioperative experience. Possessing knowledge of the child's age and developmental stage and using effective communication techniques can decrease this anxiety. This article presents insights into the stages of pediatric cognitive and psychosocial development and special pediatric health care considerations. Approaching and interacting with a child in a manner appropriate for their age and developmental stage can foster a more trusting nurse-child-caregiver relationship and reassure the caregiver that the perioperative team is providing their child with safe, high-quality care. Also included are five hypothetical case studies that illustrate effective communication styles and developmentally appropriate techniques that personnel can apply during the pediatric patient's perioperative experience.

Clinical Issues — June 2024

“…The anesthesia professional should complete a preoperative assessment and pay special attention to the patient's heart, lungs, and upper airway. The perioperative RN also should complete a preoperative assessment, paying special attention to the patient's cognitive and psychosocial development and any unique health care considerations (eg, behavioral and emotional health, previous surgical experiences) 3 …”

Preoperative Management of Older Adult Patients Undergoing Plastic Surgical Procedures

“…Wong's nursing care of infants and children (12th ed.). Elsevier; Musselman, E., Shea, K., & Johnson, L. (2023). Developmentally appropriate care of pediatric patients in the perioperative setting.…”

Caring for Pediatric Patients Undergoing Plastic Surgical Procedures

“…Likewise, the unfamiliar routines, sights, sounds, and smells associated with a surgical experience can be extremely stressful for children and their family members (Panella, 2016). The plastic surgical nurse should understand that masks may be scary to children who cannot see the individual's full face and facial expressions (e.g., smiles) (Musselman et al, 2023).…”

“…Children at each of these stages have different developmental goals and needs; therefore, it is essential that plastic surgical nurses caring for pediatric patients understand these needs and consider them when planning patient care (Derieg, 2016). It is also important for plastic surgical nurses and other perioperative health care providers to remember that children may regress to a previous developmental level as a mechanism for coping with anxiety and stress (Musselman et al, 2023).…”

“…When plastic surgical nurses understand the various stages of pediatric development and use appropriate and effective communication techniques and strategies, it can help decrease perioperative anxiety in both the child and the caregiver. When nurses approach and interact with their pediatric patients in a manner suitable to the patient's age and developmental stage, it fosters a trusting relationship between the patient, nurse, and caregiver that reassures caregivers the perioperative team is providing safe, high-quality care (Musselman et al, 2023).…”