ABSTRACT
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder of movement and posture with additional potential to affect cognitive status. Thus, the goals for management of the child with CP include the following: to promote optimal function; to maintain general health; to foster acquisition of new skills; to assist and educate parents and caregivers; and to anticipate, prevent, and treat the complications of this disorder. Pediatric management of the child with CP should begin at the time of diagnosis. This article is the second of two articles on CP. The first article focused on the diagnosis of CP, and this article will focus on a review of systems approach for management as well as resources for the family and the nurse practitioner.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Palsy/nursing , Child Welfare , Pediatric Nursing , Primary Health Care , Cerebral Palsy/complications , Cerebral Palsy/therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Family Relations , Humans , Skin Diseases/etiology , Skin Diseases/prevention & control , Social SupportABSTRACT
Cerebral palsy (CP), a static, nonprogressive disorder caused by brain insult or injury in the prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal time period, is the major developmental disability affecting function in children. It is characterized by the inability to normally control motor functions, and it has the potential to have an effect on the overall development of a child by affecting the child's ability to explore, speak, learn, and become independent. Effective management can improve the quality of life for the child and family. The first step for the nurse practitioner is to understand the definition of CP and how to make the diagnosis. This article is part one of two articles on CP. The first article will focus on the diagnosis of CP, and the second will focus on a review of systems approach for management as well as resources for the family and practitioner.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Palsy/diagnosis , Activities of Daily Living , Cerebral Palsy/classification , Cerebral Palsy/etiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Medical History Taking , Neurologic Examination , Nurse Practitioners , Nursing Assessment , Pediatric Nursing , Physical Examination , Posture , Primary Health Care , Prognosis , Psychomotor Performance , Reflex, Abnormal , Risk Factors , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
Since 1992, the optimal sleeping position for infants in the United States has been supine. This position has been shown to greatly reduce the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Skadberg, Morild, & Markestad, 1998). However, the supine position may lead to other unintended consequences or complications. Through a review of literature, this article explores some of the complications associated with the "Back to Sleep" campaign in the U.S. and discusses educational strategies for perinatal educators.
