Caraca, Nathalie Kate D.

Maternal and Child Health Nursing I

BSN 2-4 Professor Yam Dimasuay

1. Goals and Philosophies of Maternal and Child Health Nursing

 The primary goal of Maternal and Child Health Nursing is the promotion and
maintenance of optimal family health to ensure cycles of optimal childbearing and
childrearing.
 Another goal of MCHN is to ensure that expectant mothers maintain good health, learns
the art of child care, has a normal delivery and bears a healthy child.
 Another goal is that every child, wherever possible, grows up in a family unit with love
and security, receives enough nourishment and lives in a well surroundings and lives a
healthy life by receiving supervision and efficient medical attention.

 The major philosophical assumptions of Maternal and Child Health Nursing are the
following:

o It is family-centered; it must include a family as well as an individual assessment

o It is community-centered since the health of the whole family is influenced by the
health of communities
o It is research-oriented because research is the means for critical knowledge to
develop and increase
o Nursing theories and evidence-based practice are both foundations for nursing
care
o A maternal and child health nurse is an advocate in protecting the rights of the
whole family including the fetus
o Maternal and child health nursing is an independent nursing function because it
requires frequent teaching and counseling.
o The promotion of health is an important nursing role because it will protect the
health of the next generation
o Pregnancy or childhood illness can alter family life in both subtle and extensive
ways
o Personal, cultural and religious attitudes as well as beliefs can influence the
meaning of illness and its impact on the family
o Maternal and child health nursing is challenging for a nurse and is a major factor
in promoting high-level wellness in families.

2. Maternal and Child Health Nursing Goals and Standards

Standard I: Safe and Quality Nursing Care

- The nurse systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice.
Standard II: Health Education
- The nurse acquires and maintains current knowledge in nursing practice.

Standard III: Collegiality

- The nurse contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and others.

Standard IV: Ethical Judgment and Decision Making

- The nurse’s decisions and actions on behalf of patients are determined in an ethical
manner.

Standard V: Collaboration and Teamwork

- The nurse collaborates with the patient, significant others, and health care providers in
providing patient care.

Standard VI: Research or Evidence-based practice

- The nurse uses research findings in practice.

Standard VII: Resource Utilization

- The nurse considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, and cost in planning and
delivering patient care. The nurse also maintain availability and functionality of
equipment and supplies to meet patient care needs

Standard VIII: Practice Environment

- The nurse contributes to the environment of care delivery within the practice settings.

Standard IX: Accountability and Records Management

- The nurse is professionally and legally accountable for his/her practice. The professional
registered nurse may delegate to and supervise qualified personnel who provide patient
care.

Standard X: Compliance with Policy and Legislation

- The nurse practices patient care consistent with safety goals, national laws on health,
the Philippine Nursing Act and hospital policies, rules and regulations

3. 17 Sustainable development goals by World Health Organization

 The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs by the World Health Organization aim to
transform our world wherein the goals stated are all wide-ranging and ambitious but are
also interconnected. These goals are a call to action to end poverty and inequality,
protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice as well as prosperity.

GOAL 1: No Poverty
GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
GOAL 4: Quality Education
GOAL 5: Gender Equality
GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
GOAL 13: Climate Action
GOAL 14: Life below Water
GOAL 15: Life on Land
GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal
5. Human Sexuality
 Human sexuality includes feelings, attitudes and actions. It has both biologic
and cultural components that encompasses and gives direction to a person’s
physical, emotion, social and intellectual responses throughout life. A
person’s gender identity and gender role behavior usually conforms to the
expectations of the society in the person’s culture.

a. Human Sexual Cycle

o The Human Sexual Cycle is described as having four discrete stages:
excitement, plateau, orgasm and resolution. Each stage having its own
characteristics.
 Excitement: It occurs with physical and physiological
stimulation that causes parasympathetic nerve stimulation. In
women, clitoris increase in size and mucoid fluid appear on
vaginal walls as lubrication. The vagina widens in diameter
and increases in length and the nipples become erect. In men,
penile erection occurs as well as scrotal thickening and
elevation of the testes.
 Plateau: This stage is reached just before orgasm. In woman,
the clitoris is drawn forward and retracts under the clitoral
prepuce while the lower part of the vagina becomes extremely
congested. In men, the vasocongestion leads to distention of
the penis.
 Orgasm: It occurs when stimulation proceeds through the
plateau stage to a point at which the body suddenly
discharges accumulated sexual tension. It is the shortest stage
in the cycle and is usually experienced as intense pleasure
affecting the whole body.
 Resolution: It is the period in which the external and internal
genital organs return to an unaroused state. In men, a
refractory period occurs during which further orgasm is
impossible while for women, they do not go through the
refractory period making it possible for women to have
additional orgasms after the first when properly stimulated.

b. Menstruation
o Menstruation is a periodic uterine bleeding in response to cyclic hormonal
changes in a woman’s body. It allows for conception and implantation of a
new life and its purpose is to bring an ovum to maturity and renew a uterine
tissue bed that will be responsible for its growth if it becomes fertilized. A
menstrual cycle differs from woman to woman but the average length of it is 2
days while the length of an average menstrual flow usually lasts from 4 to 6
days.
c. Responsible Parenthood
o A responsible parenthood is simply defined as the “will” and ability of parents
to respect and do the needs and aspirations of the family and children. It is
the ability of a parent to detect the need, happiness and desire of the children
and helping them to become responsible and reasonable children.
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