Cerebral Palsy

Student No: N00989267

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Cerebral Palsy
Student: Anzhela Fedoronchuk
Student No: N00989267
Date Submitted: November 19, 2015
NURS 209: Practical Nursing Theory 3
Professor: Paul Jeffrey
Humber College ITAL

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Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and
posture, causing activity limitation, that are contributed to nonprogressive disturbances that
occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Most of the time babies
with low birth weight are at risk of developing Cerebral Palsy disease. It damages brain function
that effect babies` muscles for movement, as well as sensations and mental status. Moreover,
preterm birth is also associated with cerebral palsy and other long-term health problems (Perry et
al, 2013, p. 8). There is no an underlying reason why one baby may have this disease or not, but
genetics, lack of Oxygen, infant infection, fetal stroke, and maternal infection are the main
etiology base of the disease. Premature birth, low birth weight, bacteria or virus (Varicella,
Rubella, or Syphilis), and toxins are the main risk factors of Cerebral Palsy. Symptoms typically
appear anywhere from three months of age to as late as age two. According to Pierce Howard,
the symptoms are nonprogressive and can include one or more of a long list, including spasticity,
paralysis, perceptual abnormalities, speech defects, and seizures (2006, p. 384).
Priority Nursing Intervention
A baby with Cerebral Palsy disease has the following clinical manifestations, such as
difficulty with swallowing, poor balance and posture, and sensory impairment. There is no cure
for Cerebral Palsy, but the goal is to create the greatest possible independence. It may include use
of physical therapy, apply braces, practice hearing and seeing aids, prescription of drugs, or
special educational institutions.
My priority nursing intervention for difficulty with swallowing and feeding is assisting
with feeding and assess baby for neurological problems according to cranial nerve testing.
Following review for physiological primary needs may apply to Maslow`s hierarchy of needs.

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This five stage model can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs (e.g. physiological, safety,
love, and esteem) and growth needs (self-actualization) (McLeod, 2014, para.4). According to
Maslow (1943) hierarchy of human needs, maintaining physiological needs stands at the first
place which is breathing, food, water, sleep, sex, homeostasis, and excretion. If one of these
physiological needs someone would not have as a base of human living, as a result there is no
chances to progress with other self-interested needs. Someone with difficulty with swallowing
may have problem with getting water and food which is essential for human living. The nurse is
responsible for providing learning opportunities for families with babies who have Cerebral
Palsy disease actually to avoid potential progression of signs and symptoms of disease and
complications related to disease.
Collaborative care strategies. Cerebral Palsy disease is complicated with disabilities including
feeding and swallowing problems, balance and posture, hearing and visual impairment. In
support for Cerebral Palsy disabled children and families, there are many collaborative care
strategies. For example, Pediatricians whose job description and scope of practice include
assessment of children and early diagnostics of signs and symptoms of children disease related to
physical and mental development. According to Physician Recruiting INC, the scope of practice
includes: General Pediatrics, Allergy Clinic, Eye Clinic, ENT Clinic, Foot Clinic, Asthma Clinic,
and Travel Clinic (2012). There are also Pediatric Nurses who demonstrate professional abilities,
skills and knowledge in particular field of study and changes for pediatric patients. The main part
of their practice is to discuss with the physician possible consequences of any disease, especially
during first months of babies life. Those pediatricians and nurses are at many different hospital
settings; for example, Etobicoke General Hospital has Pediatric Unit.

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Social Workers take a major role in psychosocial collaborative care. According to School
of Social Work, their mission is to promote social justice by providing social work education,
conducting scholarly inquiry, disseminating knowledge and contributing to public policy and
practice thereby addressing the needs and aspirations of the local and global communities with
whom we collaborate and interact (2015). Social worker is to provide support for Cerebral Palsy
disease children by actually helping them to improve communicating skills and to increase level
of self-dependence. As a result, those young personalities will learn and built relationship with
others that leads to engaging in different activities, because there is no cure for this problem but
just psychosocial support. Social workers are government directed organizations, so they visit
people at their houses or may be found at each community such as schools, day cares, and others.
Psychologist is a physician that detects and treats mental health problems. He plays an
important role in collaborative care for Cerebral Palsy disease patients. He has unique strategies
for each client to promote best client well-being and to approach to be involved in goals for
healing mental status in those patients. According to the Association of Chief Psychologists with
Ontario School Boards, School Psychological services include a wide range of options including
such things as assessment, consultation, in service, research and intervention to assist school
teams and families in the goal of student success at learning (2012). Psychologists are available
per patient`s request and after they may have an appointment. There is a list of professions that
are at each walk-in-clinic close to the location of patient.
Community resources. More important for individual is to benefit from community
resources as much as possible and to discuss with them some common programs as a supportive
and an individual practice for a disabled child. Ontario Federation of Cerebral Palsy (OFCP) in

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Toronto provides support for families and children with Cerebral Palsy disease. Public may use
their website to learn more about a community organization, as well as visit or call them to gain
strong experience and to improve knowledge related to disease.
Association of Neurologically disabled in Canada (2012) has their community center
located at Etobicoke, ON. They help anyone who has a non-progressive brain injury: stroke,
autism, Down Syndrome, trauma or Cerebral Palsy (but not Alzheimer's Disease). They focus on
specific concepts and social aspects as much as possible to attribute in cognitive abilities.
Children Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) provides support and connect
families of children with hemiplegia, mild cerebral palsy, or pediatric stroke (2015). Public may
use their website or connect to Facebook page to find other families and to organize meetings
close to their locations in order to share personal experience and to listen to advices for learning
opportunities regarding a disease. This organization helps families to find support and to discuss
similar questions that brought to their mind. There are many other different community resources
that provide services.
Conclusion
Cerebral Palsy disease affects children without underlying factors and mostly depending
on genetics and premature births. There are available health care professions who will provide
care and orient goals for disabled patients. Moreover, there are many community resources that
help families and children to cope with problems and to share ideas for effective improvement of
symptoms of Cerebral Palsy disease. Families have a lot of information related to their case and
there are organizations that provide and teach parents regarding living with a disabled child.

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References
Association of Chief Psychologists with Ontario School Boards. (2012).
Retrieved from
www.acposb.on.ca/practice
Association of Neurologically disabled in Canada. (2012). Retrieved from
www.cwhn.ca/en/node/16670
Children`s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA).(2015). Retrieved from www.chasa.org
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of human motivation: Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-96.
Mayo Clinic. (Aug.16, 2013). Cerebral palsy: Disease and Conditions. Retrieved from
www.mayouclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy
McLeod, S. (2014). Simply psychology: Maslow`s Hierarchy of Needs. Retrieved from
www.simplypsychology.org/maslow
Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP). (2014). Retrieved from www.ofcp.ca
Perry, S., Hockenberry, M., Lowdermilk, D., & Wilson, D. (2013). Maternal child nursing care
in Canada: First Edition. Toronto, ON: Elsevier Canada
Physician Recruiting INC. (2012). Pediatrics. Retrieved from www.canamrecruiting.com
Pierce, J. H. (2006). The owner`s manual for the brain. Insults and Injuries: A Blow-by-Blow
Account, Cerebral Palsy. Third Edition. Texas, USA: Bard Press

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School of Social Worker. (2015). Memorial University. Retrieved from

www.mun.ca/socwrk/home/vision.php