Concept about Assessment- This course is designed to understand the care of pregnant women and newborn: antenatal, intra-natal and postnatal; breast feeding, family planning, newborn care and ethical issues, The aim of the course is to acquire knowledge and develop competencies regarding midwifery, complicated labour and newborn care including family planning.
Concept about Assessment
Assessment
According to Webster, “Assessment means judgment of the importance, size or value of something”.
Or
Assessment is defined as a systematic status and continuous collection of data on the health of the patient to determine the patient’s health status and to identify any actual or potential health problems.
Health assessment
Health assessment is a plan of care that identifies the specific needs of the client and how those needs will be addressed by the healthcare system.
Or
“An evaluation of the health status of an individual by performing a physical examination after o btaining a health history” is called health assessment
Newborn Health Assessment
Assessing the health of a newborn is very important for detecting any problems in their earliest, most treatable, stages.
Each newborn baby is carefully checked at birth for signs of problems or complications. A complete physical assessment will be performed that includes every body system. Throughout the hospital stay, doctors, nurses, and other health care providers continually assess the health of the baby, observing for signs of problems or illness.
Methods of physical assessment of a newborn baby
1. Initial assessment using the APGAR scoring system.
2. Transitional assessment during the period of reactivity.and anidad gui
3. Gestational age assessment.
4. Behavioral assessment.
5. Systemic physical assessment.
Initial assessment of a newborn
The initial assessment of neonate is a very important activity immediately after birth. The most essential assessment is the ‘first cry”. Good cry helps in establishment of satisfactory breathing. The respiration, heart rate and skin color are the basic criteria which should be evaluated bevor immediately to determine the need for life saving support, ie, resuscitation.
The physiological status including temperature, degree of consciousness, general level of activity, gross congenital anomalies, -and presence of birth injury, meconium staining and evidence of shock also need to be ascertained immediately and promptly after birth.
Or (Another answer)
Initial assessment of a newborn
A. Thermoregulation
1. Dry infant
2. Remove wet blankets
3. Position to assess ABC’s
B. ABC’s ofCPR
1. Airway
2. Breathing
3. Crying
4. Muscle tone
5. Circulation: pulse
6. Color
Purposes of initial assessment of a newborn baby
1. To assess the need for resuscitation.
2. To ascertain the gestational age,
3. To detect presence of any congenital anomalies or any disorders this may affect the well- being of the baby.
4. To direct initial measures.
5. To initiate helping babies breathe (HBB),
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