NURSING PROCESS FOR THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADOLESCENT

I. ASSESSMENT
 When adolescents are accompanied by their parents during health visits, it is obtain a
health history separately from parents to promote independence and responsibility for self
care.
 When performing physical examinations on adolescents, be aware they may be very self-
conscious.
 They also need health assurance and appreciate comments such as, “Your hair has a nice,
healthy feel,” or "This is an accessory nipple, have you ever wondered about it?”, so they
can learn more about their rapidly changing bodies.
II. NURSING DIAGNOSES
Frequently used nursing diagnoses related to adolescents:
 Low self esteem related to facial acne
 Anxiety related to concerns about normal growth and development
 Risk for injury related to peer pressure to use alcohol and drugs
III. OUTCOME IDENTIFICATION AND PLANNING
 Include adolescents in planning care, establishing a contract which maybe the most
effective means to reach a mutual understanding.
 Establish a program that provides immediate results, or possible to specific, short-term
benefits to their health.
 Organize a peer support groups which is another effective way to motivate teens.
IV. IMPLEMENTATION
 Include adolescents or help them plan health tasks, so they can typically carry them out
successfully.
 Demonstrate the behavior they are being asked to achieve.
V. OUTCOME EVALUATION
 Adolescents should be pleased with their accomplishments.
 Outcome criteria that maybe established:
a. Client states that she is able to feel good about herself even though she is the
shortest girl in her class.
b. Client states he has not consumed alcohol in two weeks.
c. Clients states she feels high self-esteem despite persistent facial acne.

ADOLESCENCE
 – period between 13 and 18 to 20 years
– a time that serves a transition between childhood and adulthood
– Physiologic period between the beginning of puberty and the cessation of bodily growth
– divided into three periods:
a. Early Period ( 13-14 years)
b. Middle Period (15-16 years)
c. Late Period (17-20 years)

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
PUBERTY
– Stage at which the individual first becomes capable of sexual production
– Occur between ages 11-14 years
SECONDARY SEX CHANGES

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
IDENTITY VERSUS ROLE CONFUSION (Erickson)

To achieve a SENSE OF IDENTITY:

1) Accepting their changed body image

2) Establishing a value system or what kind of person they want to be
3) Making a career decision
4) Becoming emancipated from their parents

If adolescents do not achieve a sense of identity, they develop a sense of ROLE CONFUSION

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

STAGE OF FORMAL OPERATIONAL THOUGHT (Piaget)

MORAL AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

QUESTIONING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES THEY HAVE BEEN
TAUGHT (Kohlberg)

Common Health Problems:

 Hypertension
 Poor Posture
 Body Piercing and Tattoos
 Fatigue
 Menstrual Irregularities
 Acne
 Obesity

HEALTH PROMOTION FOR AN ADOLESCENT

○ PROMOTING ADOLESCENT SAFETY

○ PROMOTING NUTRITIONAL HEALTH
○ PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADOLESCENT IN DAILY ACTIVITIES