Environmental and Genetic Influences on Growth & Development

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Outline

Overview

Factors affecting growth and development- “Nature vs Nurture”
1. Genetic
  1. Chromosomal abnormalities
    1. Examples
      1. Down Syndrome
      2. Turner Syndrome
      3. Bleeding disorders
      4. BRCA1 and BRCA2
        
        Genetic predisposition for breast cancer
      5. Muscular dystrophy
      6. Cystic Fibrosis
2. Environmental
  1. Family structure
  2. Socio- economic status
  3. Location
  4. Nutritional status
  5. Cultural influences
  6. Government/Public Policies

Nursing Points

General

Understanding factors that affect growth and development assist with
1. Health promotion
2. Disease prevention
3. Patient education

Assessment

General symptoms of chromosomal abnormalities
1. Ear abnormalities
2. Unusually shaped eyes
3. Unusual facial features
4. Missing/Misshapen teeth
5. Skin abnormalities
6. Excessively loose or stiff joints
Assessing for environmental influences
1. Individual perspectives on health, wellness, illness and death
2. Access to outdoor spaces
3. Access to nutritionional foods
4. Social and emotional support
5. Employment and financial stability
6. Access to internet
7. Presence of chronic stress
  1. Chronic illness
  2. Poverty
  3. Drug and alcohol use
  4. Mental illness

Therapeutic Management

Provide genetic testing and counseling as appropriate
Consider environmental influences when planning care and providing education
1. Example
  1. Consider family access to nutritional foods and safe areas to play when assessing a preschooler who is obese.

Nursing Concepts

Human Development
1. Genetic and evironmental factors heavily influence growth and development across the lifespan.
Health Promotion
1. Patient education should be tailored to fit patient needs by considering their genetic and environmental influences.

Patient Education

Genetic counseling can be provided for parents who are concerned about the possibility of passing on genetic disorders to their children.
Patients should be educated on the impact that variables such as lifestyle choices, such as exercise and nutrition will have on their growth and development.

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Transcript

Hey guys, in this lesson we are going to quickly go over the two factors that have the greatest influence on growth and development- and those are genetic and environmental influences.

Okay so these two categories are very broad but they give us a starting point for thinking about the all the different variables that work together to contribute to growth and development. For genetics, we are primarily thinking about chromosomal diseases like Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Anemia and Haemophilia – just to name a few. But people can also have genetic predispositions or an inherited risk for diagnoses like breast cancer and heart disease.

For the environment- we are basically talking about any and everything that contributes towards each person’s experience of life. So things like family, socio-economic status, culture, location, nutrition, and then also things like government policies that influence things like school lunches, occupational safety at work, maternity leave- things like that.

So you can see we are looking very big picture here- but at the same time it’s something you can apply to each and every patient interaction you have.

For your nursing assessment there are some specific things that may indicate an increased likelihood of a genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. These are ear abnormalities- for example, patients with Down Syndrome usually have low set ears. Unusually shaped eyes – along with facial features. Skin abnormalities, like cafe au lait spots (light brown, flat spots that are kinda like birth marks. And loose or stiff joints may also be present with chromosomal abnormalities.

When assessing environment, you want to consider assessing a patient access to outdoor spaces, access to nutritional foods, their social and family environments (are they well supported and connected?), economic stability, and really just any signs of chronic stress, that could be affecting growth and development.

For management one of the most direct things we can do is provide genetic testing for patients who may have reason to be concerned about their inherited risk for certain diseases. In these cases, genetic counseling is usually warranted.

Next, we should always be considering environmental influences that may impact a patient’s health and development. Our care plans should always be made with these variables in mind.

The same is true for our patient education. It’s no good telling a family they should go on walks together for exercise, when they don’t have access to a safe place to do this in.

Your priority nursing concepts when considering genetic and environmental influences on growth and development are health promotion, human development and patient education.

Okay, let’s highlight the key points for this lesson. Growth and development happens throughout a person’s and is the outcome of a complex set of variables. We are focused on genetic and environmental influences. Key genetic factors are chromosomal abnormalities and when these are a potential issue genetic testing and counseling may be appropriate.

Environmental factors are numerous and cover pretty much everything that makes up a person’s life. Important ones to consider for care plans and patient education are nutrition, economic status, culture and family.

That’s it for our lesson on Genetic and Environmental Influences on Growth and Development. Make sure you check out all the resources attached to this lesson. Now, go out and be your best self today. Happy Nursing!

Environmental and Genetic Influences on Growth & Development

You're watching a preview. 300,000+ students are watching the full lesson.

Included In This Lesson

NURSING.com students have a 99.25% NCLEX pass rate.

Outline

Overview

Nursing Points

General

Assessment

Therapeutic Management

Nursing Concepts

Patient Education

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Used by 300,000+ nursing students. 99.25% NCLEX pass rate.

Transcript

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