Question

Describe what life span considerations you might use in applying the nursing process to infants, school-age children, younger adults, and older adults in relation to immunizations and wellness.

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Answer 1

Life Span considerations in applying the Nursing Process:

Care of health and wellness begins from conception onwards. There is a significant change in the growth and development during the lifespan of the infant, school-age children, younger adults, and older adults.

Infants:

Infants require higher oxygen level. They had a chance of fluid loss and tachycardia to maintain cardiac output. They also lose body heat. Major growth and development occur at this stage. Vaccines are more important which prevents the number of diseases. Vaccines such as rubella, measles, tetanus, whooping cough, polio are taken into considerations at this stage.

School-age Children:

Consider the motor skill and language development of the children. Also, consider the level of self-esteem and lifestyle choices of school children. Health screening is important at this stage. The nurse should focus on screening activities of autism, BMI, the risk of obesity, screening for anemia, screening for vision and hearing. Also, consider the daily caloric requirements based on the recommendation. Look for any booster dose of vaccines due and missing of any vaccine shots.

Younger adults:

The adolescent should be assessed for the developmental changes of emotional and social maturation. The nurse should consider the physical and psychological changes due to puberty. The secondary sexual characteristic development should be assessed. The younger adults are more prone to eating disorders. Health screening of obesity, depression, hypertension, substance abuse, HIV testing, and vaccinations. The adolescent should meet the additional nutritional requirement of iron, calcium, fat, and grains.

Older Adults:

Here, the main focus is on the maintenance of good health rather than growth and development. The older adults are more prevalence for chronic diseases. There is a decreased bladder tone muscle, decreased bone density, loss of muscle strength, hearing loss and loss of immune function. Health screening should focus on cognitive impairment, cancer screening, screening for diabetes, hypertension, hearing loss, and vision. Assess for the functional abilities, mobility status, and fall risk assessment. Vaccine shots for preventable endemic and epidemic diseases.