Question

Cerebral palsy has been described as a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture. In addition to motor disorders, the condition often involves disturbances of sensation, perception, communication, cognition, and behavior. Develop a nursing plan of care for the client and family.

Answer 1

The nursing management of cerebral palsy involves the management of client and family.

• Assessment:

Proper assessment of the deficit to monitor the extent of disability is the first step in the management of cerebral palsy. Assessment is the base of further planning.

• Therapeutic communication:

Utilize the therapeutic communication to understand more about the child’s activities at home and the ability of the family to care the client.

• Provide emotional support:

The nurse can provide with reassurance, acceptance, and encouragement during times of distress. This will be helpful to achieve the families confidence and relieve their stress.

• Improve self-esteem:

Assist and motivate the client and family to cope with the disability. That will improve their self-esteem

• Ensure family support:

Explain the disease process and the care needs of the child. Emphasis the important role the family can play in upbringing the child with the disability.

• Prevention of Injury:

Preventing physical and emotional injury is an important aspect of the cerebral palsy management. Minimize the chance of injury by creating a safe environment, apt toys, use of protective measures. The proper education and counselling can help to ensure emotional well being.

• Promote Physical strengths:

Proper ROM and strengthening exercises can help to prevent deformity and gain adequate strength. Use of prescribed braces aid this.

• Prevention of deformity:

Use of protective braces and devices will help to prevent deformity

• Maintain fluid balance:

Ensure the adequate fluid intake by providing the variety of choices.

• Ensure adequate nutrition:

Provision of required nutrition will help to maintain the health and prevent infections. Provide diet plan based on nutritional needs. Encourage small and frequent feeding.

• Manage sleep and rest periods:

Relaxation techniques and planned rest periods will improve the general health of the client.

• Encourage self-care:

Use the existing strengths of the child to perform activities of daily living, which will, in turn, help them to be self-sufficient.

• Encourage communication:

Speech therapy and therapeutic technique can be used to improve speaking ability. Poor and maladaptive communications can be tackled at the early ages with speech therapy. Use of articulate speech can be taught at the early ages itself.

• Administration of medications as per the principles.