Date: 07/05/2025

Time: 09:30am – 04:30pm

Title: Care of the child

I was able to study what assessment in children entails and how it differs from that of the adult. In healthcare, assessment refers to the collection and interpretation of information to understand a patient health status. In children, it involves more than just medical data. Other things to consider include age, gender, cultural and religious beliefs, family history, parental responsibility etc. Child assessments often use tools like the paediatric early warning score (PEWS)

Understanding how child assessment differs from adult assessments is important. With adults, verbal communication plays a central role in the assessment process. Adults can describe symptoms, feelings and history clearly. In contrast, assessing a child especially infants or toddlers relies heavily on non-verbal clues, behavioural observations and inputs from parents or guardians. Additionally, children undergo a rapid physical and psychological development, which means that normal ranges for vital signs vary widely with ages and signs of illness can present differently.

Reflecting on this, I understand the importance of improving my knowledge and skills in paediatric assessment and so I plan to practice interpreting paediatric vital signs more confidently. I also aim to strengthen my communication with both children and their families to gather accurate assessments.

KSB addressed:

K4: Understand the principles of research and how research findings are used to inform evidence-based practice

K9: Understand the aims and principles of health promotion, protection, improvements and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people

K12: Understand the importance of early years and childhood experiences and the possible impact on life choices, mental, physical and behavioural health and well-being

K14: Understand the important of health screening

K15: Understand human development from conception to death, to enable delivery of person centred safe and effective care

S6: Act as an ambassador for their profession and promotes public confidence in health and care services

S7: Communicate effectively using a range of skills and strategies with colleagues and people at all stages of life and with a range of mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural health challenges

S13: Apply the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvements and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people

S14: Promote preventive health behaviours and provide information to support people to make informed choices to improve their mental, physical, behavioural health and well-being

S15: Identify people who are eligible for health screening

S16: Promote health and prevent ill health by understanding the evidence base for immunisation, vaccination and herd immunity

S18: Apply knowledge, communication and relationship management skills required to provide people, families and carers with accurate information that meets their needs before, during and after a range of interventions

S20: Recognise people at risk of abuse, self harm and/or suicidal Ideation on the situations that may put them or others at risk

S35: Accurately on the tick risk assessment, using contemporary assessments tools