When planning care for a 8-year-old boy with Down syndrome, the nurse should:
A. Plan interventions according to the developmental level of a 7-year-old child because that’s the child’s age
B. Plan interventions according to the developmental levels of a 5-year-old because the child will have developmental delays
C. Assess the child’s current developmental level and plan care accordingly
D. Direct all teaching to the parents because the child can’t understand
Correct Answer: C. Assess the child’s current developmental level and plan care accordingly
Nursing care plans should be planned according to the developmental age of a child with Down syndrome, not the chronological age. Because children with Down syndrome can vary from mildly to severely mentally challenged, each child should be individually assessed. A child with Down syndrome is capable of learning, especially a child with mild limitations.
Option A: Current practices in providing care to those with Down syndrome include the primary emphasis on the treatment of disease with increased attention allocated to health promotion and protection. Children with Down syndrome have several expected developmental and physical challenges. These include poor physical growth and delayed development with achieving milestones such as gross and fine motor skills, speech, and secondary sex characteristics.
Option B: With appropriate therapy, the developmental delay may be minimized, and the child’s social quotient may be improved. Such training can provide a foundation for mainstreaming the child with Down syndrome in schools and the community
Option D: Early intervention programs can improve the academic prognosis for children with Down syndrome. Cognitive function varies tremendously and cannot be predicted at birth. No relationship has been shown between the number of Down syndrome features present in a newborn and later cognitive function.