In: Nursing
Nora is an RN who has been asked to present the topic of puberty to a fourth grade health class at the local elementary school.
1. What should she know about the physiology of puberty?
2. What are common changes noted by both sexes in puberty?
3. What are common psychosocial changes in puberty?
4. What health education in addition to the physiologic and social aspects of puberty would be appropriate?
5. One of the parents who came to pick up her child takes the nurse aside and confides that she is very concerned about her daughter, who just turned 9 years old and already has had her period for a few months. She states her daughter is very unhappy with her appearance and cries when she gets her period. How can the nurse advise this mother?
Puberty is a stage where developments or changes occur in a child's body as they begins to be an adult, which will help in reproduction. These changes begins from the age of 12 in boys and 11 in girls.
1. Most evidently the physical changes can be seen. Especially, girls develop breasts and start to have periods while boys will have facial hair and the deeper voice.
2. The common changes seen in both sexes are the development of their genitals. The genital grow bigger and change as similar to adult.
3. Psychological changes seen in both sex are emergence of abstract thinking, they will be able to understand different perspectives of life and understands the viewpoints. Additionally, they tend to keenly observe things and also they try to be independent.
4. The children needs to be educated regarding the changes that can occur in their body and mind. Apart from these, they need to be physically and mentally healthy which would help them to defend. In particularly, girls need to learn self defense.
5. The nurse can give advise to the mother of girl. Eventhough, mothers are aware of puberty changes still they may be worried about their children when they begin to grow. Repeated follow-up care and education would help mother to stay strong psychologically.