Promoting Understanding of Developmental and Functional Assessment

Price (includes one year of access and CE):  US$14 Course Code: 7SENNF-PRV-09-ddn27 CE: 2.75 Hours. Post Test Score Required for Successful Completion: 80%

Course Overview:

Developmental and functional assessment is an ongoing process of screening for developmental disabilities, identifying risks for later developmental problems, evaluating a client's current competencies, and considering the best ways to help the client develop further. Beginning with antepartal testing and continuing through the lifespan, this module discusses the nurse's role in taking a developmental history, conducting developmental screening, and translating the results of formal developmental testing into interventions that help to potentiate development, decrease limitations, and increase quality of life. This module places special emphasis on helping caregivers to modify their care of clients with developmental disabilities care based on the results of cognitive, physical, and functional assessments. The concept of learned helplessness also is discussed, as are interventions to increase self-reliance and independence in clients.

Course Objectives:

After completion of this learning activity, the learner will be able to:

• define developmental and functional assessment.
• define and interpret for caregivers terminology commonly used by medical, therapeutic, and educational professionals related to care of clients who have developmental disabilities.
• describe basic elements of prenatal and antenatal screening for conditions and syndromes associated with developmental disabilities.
• describe the components of a developmental history.
• list common screening tests used in developmental assessment.
• explain common developmental and functional assessment findings and their implications for the caregiver.
• describe methods for overcoming "learned helplessness."
• in selected simulated client scenarios across the lifespan, provide guidance designed to help caregivers apply assessment findings to the support of clients with developmental disabilities.

This courseware was made possible in part by grant number R43 NR04738-03 from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors.

Copyright© 2007 by HealthSoft, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

HealthSoft, Inc. is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New York State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

It has been assigned code 7SENNF-PRV-09.

This course is updated annually. Expiration date: 5/1/11

The faculty and planners of this course have no vested interests to disclose.

This course has received no commercial support.