Nursing essay
It is a truth that growth and physical maturation are considered to be the main dynamic processes, which encompass a wide row of cellular and even somatic changes. Thus, the main aim of the essay is to discuss two growth changes that occur within the first year.
Let us begin from the fact that the assessment of growth is primary focused on stature, but we need also to remember that very important elements of the growth process are some changes in body composition and body proportions (Edelman & Mandle, 2009). Differentiating two concepts such as growth and development, it can be said that growth is interpreted as increase in quantitative characteristics such as weight, height, size and shape of body organs, etc., while the concept of development means improvements of skills: moreover, it is connected with all aspects of personality. So, two growth changes of our discussion are height and weight.
To begin, height and weight are rather relative figures, and serious health problems may indicate only a very rough deviation. In short, disasters are rare. The nurse can assess these growth changes through special figures with necessary data. There are many ways to assess a child’s development and growth, but they are all very relative. In evaluating the formulas, it is considered that the child must add 600-800 grams per month in the first six months, and in the second half of the year – about 400 grams per month. For instance, it is estimated that by the age of 4.5-5 months weight is expected to double, while by the end of the year – triple. However, 10% deviation in either direction is the norm. Observing height, a child adds to the growth of an average of 25 cm during the first year, so a child’s growth at age one is on average 75-76 cm, in a case of proper development the child’s monthly allowance of growth may vary ± 1 cm, but by 6 months to a year these fluctuations of growth should not exceed 1 cm.
To sum up, we have discussed two growth changes such as height and weight that occur within the first year, and explained the difference between the concepts of growth and development.
