CPN key terms

Skills most children can perform by a certain age, such as rolling over, walking, or using words. Nurses use them to screen for delays and to tailor teaching and safety advice to the child's stage.

Proactive education given to families about what to expect next in a child's growth and how to prevent problems, such as car seat use, nutrition, and home safety, offered at each well-child visit.

A theory describing how children build understanding in four stages, from sensorimotor learning through abstract reasoning. It explains why infants need hands-on exploration and why adolescents can consider hypothetical outcomes.

A lifespan theory pairing each developmental period with a central conflict, such as trust versus mistrust in infancy or identity versus role confusion in adolescence. Resolution shapes later relationships and coping.

A five-stage scale describing pubertal development of breasts, genitalia, and pubic hair. It helps nurses recognize normal timing of puberty and flag precocious or delayed sexual maturation.

Feeding an infant only human milk, with no other liquids or solids, usually for about the first six months. It lowers infection risk and supports growth; vitamin D supplementation is still needed.

Inadequate weight gain or growth in a child, often from insufficient intake, underlying illness, or psychosocial stressors. Assessment includes accurate measurements plotted over time, feeding history, and family circumstances.

A ranking of a child's measurement against peers of the same age and sex, from 1 to 100. A single value matters less than the trend over time and whether it crosses major percentile lines.

Measurement around the largest part of the skull, tracked in infants and toddlers. Rapid or slow growth can signal hydrocephalus, microcephaly, or a feeding problem.

Teaching families about age-specific hazards and safe practices, such as back sleeping, car seats, water safety, and poison storage. Unintentional injury is a leading cause of death in children.

Distress a young child shows when apart from a primary caregiver, typically peaking between about 8 and 18 months. It is developmentally normal and shapes how nurses prepare children for procedures and hospitalization.

The recommended timing of vaccines from birth through adolescence, set by national advisory bodies. Nurses verify status, give vaccines correctly, and address caregiver concerns with evidence-based information.

A rapid visual and auditory screen using appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin. It helps a nurse judge illness severity within seconds before touching the child.

Calculating a medication dose from the child's weight in kilograms, since pediatric doses are usually expressed per kilogram. Double-checking weight, units, and maximum dose prevents serious errors.

A standard way to estimate daily maintenance fluid needs: 100 mL/kg for the first 10 kg, 50 mL/kg for the next 10 kg, and 20 mL/kg for each remaining kilogram.

A behavioral pain tool scoring face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability from 0 to 10. It is used for infants and young children who cannot self-report pain.

The time for color to return after pressing and releasing a fingertip or nail bed, normally under about two seconds. Prolonged refill suggests poor perfusion and is a key sign in dehydrated or shocked children.

Infection or inflammation of the middle ear, common in young children because of short, horizontal eustachian tubes. Signs include ear pain, fever, and a bulging tympanic membrane; young infants may only fuss.

A viral lower airway infection, usually from RSV, affecting infants with wheezing, crackles, and increased work of breathing. Care is mainly supportive: hydration, oxygen as needed, and suctioning of secretions.

Viral swelling of the upper airway that causes a barking cough, hoarse voice, and inspiratory stridor. Mild cases respond to calm reassurance and corticosteroids; severe distress needs nebulized epinephrine.

Telescoping of one segment of bowel into another, usually in infants, causing intermittent severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and eventually bloody stools. Prompt imaging and reduction prevent bowel necrosis.

Thickening of the pyloric muscle in early infancy causing projectile, nonbilious vomiting and hunger after feeds. Metabolic alkalosis and dehydration develop; surgical correction is definitive.

An acute vasculitis of young children with fever lasting at least five days plus conjunctivitis, rash, oral changes, extremity swelling, and lymphadenopathy. Coronary artery aneurysms are the main complication; IVIG and aspirin are treatment.

Yellowing of skin and eyes from elevated bilirubin in the first days to weeks of life. Nurses monitor levels, support feeding, and watch for lethargy or poor intake that could signal dangerous hyperbilirubinemia.

A 0-to-10 rating of heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color at one and five minutes after birth. It guides immediate newborn resuscitation but does not predict long-term outcome.

Distress is increased work of breathing with retractions, grunting, or nasal flaring while oxygenation holds. Failure adds inadequate ventilation, falling oxygen, rising carbon dioxide, and lethargy, and needs immediate airway support.

Early shock in which the child maintains blood pressure by raising heart rate and constricting vessels. Tachycardia, cool extremities, and delayed capillary refill appear before hypotension, so normal blood pressure is not reassuring.

A severe, rapid allergic reaction with airway swelling, wheezing, hives, and hypotension. Intramuscular epinephrine is the first treatment and must not be delayed; antihistamines do not reverse airway or vascular collapse.

A seizure lasting longer than about five minutes or repeated seizures without recovery between them. It is a medical emergency that needs airway support and benzodiazepines given promptly.

Blockage of the airway by an object, causing sudden coughing, stridor, or inability to cry. Conscious infants get back blows and chest thrusts; older children get abdominal thrusts.

A scored assessment of eye opening, verbal response, and motor response adapted for children. Serial scores track neurologic deterioration in head injury or altered consciousness.

Classification of a burn as superficial, partial thickness, or full thickness based on appearance, moisture, and sensation. Depth plus body surface area guides fluid resuscitation and referral decisions.

Managing a suspected ingestion by stabilizing the child, identifying the substance and amount, and contacting a poison control center. Never induce vomiting; some antidotes or decontamination measures are time-sensitive.

A care approach that treats the family as the child's constant partner, honoring their preferences and involving them in decisions and daily care. It supports attachment and improves satisfaction and outcomes.

Techniques that minimize the physical and psychological distress of health care, such as preparing children in advance, using comfort positioning, and avoiding unnecessary painful procedures.

A child's developmentally appropriate agreement to participate in care or research, obtained alongside parental permission. It respects emerging autonomy while parents or guardians provide legal consent.

A legal duty of nurses to report suspected child abuse or neglect to designated authorities, based on reasonable suspicion rather than proof. State laws grant immunity for good-faith reports.

Protecting a teen's health information while encouraging family involvement, with limits that vary by state for issues such as mental health, substance use, and sexual health. Nurses explain these rules up front.

A primary care model providing continuous, coordinated, family-centered care with referrals and care planning as needed. It reduces fragmented services, especially for children with special health care needs.