Planning of Nursing Care
The goals of nursing care are:
- Administer oral iron supplements and parenteral iron therapy.
- Provide nutritional counselling and educate the parents.
- Prevent iron deficiency anaemia.
Implementation of Nursing Care
Elemental iron in dosage of 6 mg per kg/24hrs in three divided doses is administered. The most suitable salt is ferrous sulphate given in a dose of 30 mag day. The oral preparation is administered for 3 to 4 months to replenish the iron stores. If the therapeutic results of oral iron therapy is not achieved, parenteral iron preparation mainly inferon is used. If the child's haemoglobin level is as low as 4 mg/dl, transfusion therapy with fresh packed cells or sedimented (Red Blood Cells) is given.
Parents need to be counselled about the dietary intake of iron: They should be taught about the iron rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, black grams, bengal gram. jaggery, rice flake, liver, and egg and help them to plan meals so that these foods can be included in their diet, considering the socio-economic and cultural factors of the family.
Parents need to be taught about proper administration of oral iron supplements and about the side effects of the therapy. They need to be taught that the iron should be given in between the meals and should be given with vitamin C, such as citrous fruit or juice so that it facilitates absorption. Since the iron administration can stain the teeth, it should be given with a droper to the infants and older children. Children can be given diluted solution. The mouth of the child should be thoroughly rinsed afterwards.