Developing a Care Plan for Medically Fragile Children

Care plans are a great tool for Pediatric Home Care Nurses, as they improve communication and ensure that the care for a medically fragile child is consistent. Here is a refresher on care plans and how patients and nurses work collaboratively toward creating optimal outcomes.  

What is a Care Plan?

A care plan is a document created for a patient and details why a person is receiving care, their medical history, personal details, expected and aimed outcomes, and what care and support will be delivered to them how, when, and by whom.

A care plan can help with the following: 

• Organize aspects of patient care according to a timeline
• Act as a tool for nurses to think critically and holistically in a way that supports the patient’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care

The Steps to Develop a General Nursing Care Plan

Step 1: Patient Assessment 

Nurses will gather data about the patient’s vital signs, physical complaints, body conditions, medical history, and current neurological function. 

Step 2: Diagnosis

From the collected data, a nurse will develop a diagnosis.

Step 3: Planning

Once there is a diagnosis, a nurse will create SMART goals that are based on evidence-based practice guidelines. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. When planning these goals, a nurse needs to consider the patient’s overall condition, in addition to their diagnosis and other relevant information. 

Step 4: Implementation

Once goals for the patient have been set, it’s time to implement nursing interventions — actions that will support the patient towards achieving these goals and improve their comfort and health. Interventions are classified into the following domains: family, behavioral, basic physiological, complex physiological, community, safety, and health system. 

Some common nursing interventions include:

• Bedside care and assistance
• Administration of medication
• Postpartum support
• Feeding assistance
• Monitoring of vitals and recovery programs

Step 5: Evaluation 

As the final step of the care plan, evaluation is when the nurse will evaluate whether the desired outcome has been met. The care plan will be adjusted based on the answer. 

How to Create Care Plans that Support Medically Fragile Children

The main goal of Thrive SPC’s pediatric care plan is to empower medically fragile children to grow and flourish to their full potential. In these care plans, Pediatric Home Care Nurses need to focus on the following topics: patient information, care needs assessment, daily care routine, medical monitoring, and therapy plans. 

Patient Information

Patient information includes the following:

• Child’s name, date of birth, contact details
• Primary medical diagnoses and relevant medical history 
• Current medications
• Allergies or sensitivities 
• Developmental stage and abilities 

Care Needs Assessment 

A care needs assessment includes the following:

• Mobility limitations, feeding requirements
• Respiratory needs
• Neurological needs
• Wound care needs

Daily Care Routine

Daily care routine includes the following:

• Dietary restrictions
• Hygiene practices
• Exercise schedule
• Sleep schedule 
• Activity and playtime schedule 

Medical Monitoring

Medical monitoring includes the following:

• Vital signs 
• Weight monitoring

Therapy Plans

Therapy plans include the following:

• Physical Therapy 
• Occupational Therapy 
• Speech Therapy

Care plans can help streamline several aspects of a patient’s care that are consistent, comprehensive, and fit their needs. At Thrive SPC, we offer all clinicians continuous training, mentoring, and education so they can help create care plans that grow and change with their patients. Learn more by visiting https://www.thrivespc.com.