These revised First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care review the diagnosis and management of the most common medical problems seen in children in northern communities and in Canadian Aboriginal children.

The guidelines are subdivided into two parts. Part I, comprising chapters 1-7, contains general information about topics pertinent to pediatric care (e.g., physical assessment) and to pediatric procedures (e.g., intraosseous infusion). Part II, comprising chapters 8-20, contains specific guidelines. Each of these chapters includes information about the assessment of the body system in question (history and physical examination), along with clinical practice guidelines on common disease entities and emergency situations seen in that system. The reviewers have attempted to update the material using an evidence-based approach.

The Nurses' Drug Classification System has been incorporated into the drug treatments outlined in the text:

A class drugs are those that a nurse is authorized to prescribe independently.

B class drugs are drugs that may be prescribed only by a physician.

C class drugs are drugs that a nurse may prescribe for one course of treatment.

D class drugs are drugs that a nurse may administer for one dose only, in an emergency situation; any subsequent doses must be authorized by a physician.

Acknowledgments

The first edition of these guidelines (1992) was written by the following contributors from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.:

M. Collison, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
D. Lindsay, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
S. Longstaffe, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
M. Moffat, Departments of Paediatrics and Child Health and of Community Health Sciences
B. Postl, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health and of Community Health Sciences
M. Tenebein, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
S. Wood, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

The guidelines were revised in 2000 by Dr. Charles Malcolmson, Head of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital at McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ont., and Carol Sargo, RN(EC), Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Barrie, Ont.

The following Regional Nurse Educators provided assistance with the revision:

Pauline David
Karen Hindle
Karen McColgan
Dorothy Rutledge
Sheila Thompson
Daunett Tucker

Preface

These First Nations and Inuit Health Branch Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care are intended primarily for use by qualified and licensed nurses working in nursing stations and treatment health centers located in semi-isolated and isolated First Nations and Inuit communities.

It is important to note that while the guidelines contain useful information, they are not intended to constitute a comprehensive, authoritative text of pediatrics, nor are they to be interpreted as such. Consequently, the manual is to be used for reference and educational purposes only and should not be used under any circumstances as a substitute for clinical judgment, independent research or the seeking of appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Appropriate medical advice is to be obtained by telephone in cases where the condition of the client is at all serious or in cases where the condition of the client is beyond the scope of practice and expertise of the nurse to manage autonomously.

Although every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in the guidelines is accurate and reflective of existing healthcare standards, it should be understood that the field of medical science is in constant evolution. Consequently, the reader is encouraged to consult other publications or manuals. In particular, all drug dosages, indications, contraindications and possible side effects should be verified and confirmed by use of the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties or the manufacturer's drug insert. Furthermore, the reader should have available an up-to-date edition of one of the major standard pediatric texts (e.g., Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment) for more detail on conditions appearing in these guidelines, as well as for diseases not covered here.

Finally, it should be noted that the information in the guidelines may have been superseded by a local policy or other guidelines particular to a region or zone or by a common local medical practice. The reader is encouraged to verify as to the existence of these alternative sources of information.


	Last Updated: 2005-03-17		Important Notices

Pediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines for Nurses in Primary Care

Table of Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Preface