Supporting Healthy Families

Supporting Healthy Families

Case Study

You are a Registered Nurse working at the Early Childhood Clinic with a view to commencing the Child and Family Health Nurse educational pathway. It is your 6th week and you are growing in confidence every day. This morning, the Clinical Nurse Consultant suggests you take charge of the next case and report back to her.

Emma’s Story:

A 34-year-old woman Emma presents with her four-year-old daughter Lucy, for examination. Emma is six months pregnant with her third child and has a partner Michael, who is often away on contract work. Emma’s family live interstate and she has been in the area for only 6 weeks. Michael’s retired parents live locally, are supportive and Emma has a good relationship with them. Emma is worried about Lucy because she is a ‘fussy eater’ and would like you to weigh her. She also asks you what immunisations Lucy will need in preparation for going to school.

On examination Lucy’s height is 105cm and her weight is 15.5kgs. A head-to-toe physical assessment finds no abnormalities.
Emma then tells you about her 14 year old son Josh, who is about start Year 9. She discloses that she is anxious about him fitting in at the new school. Josh misses his close friends as well as his father Michael, who is currently working in WA (Western Australia). Michael isn’t due back for three months but is hoping to eventually find work locally.

Emma looks tired and during your interactions with her she becomes teary and talks about her fears. With the new baby coming, she is worried about how she will cope with Lucy, who can be very energetic, oppositional and hard to control.
Assessment: Discuss the above case study and demonstrate support for healthy families from the perspective of the role of the Registered Nurse.