title: Initial assessment and stabilization of the critically injured child.
abstract: The care that the child receives during the initial resuscitation and stabilization of a life-threatening injury makes a critical difference in long-term outcome. Children who die as a result of a traumatic injury usually do so because of airway compromise, irreparable CNS injury, or bleeding. Hypoxia is the final common event by which these three kill children. If hypoxia is prevented or recognized and treated early, its effects can be reversed before they become permanent. The potential for a good outcome is maximized by expert nursing care for the critically injured child. Expert nursing care includes rapid and accurate assessment and interventions during both the primary and secondary surveys. Knowledge of the anatomic and physiologic differences between children and adults guides the nurse in holistic care of pediatric trauma victims; the nurse must also understand and address the emotional needs of the patients and their families.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moloney-Harmon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004630:Emergencies / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods