This book offers solutions on how to enhance the normal development of the well child. The primary care provider is the only healthcare professional to see every child (0-18) and their parent, and can assess the child's health and advise parents on how to provide a healthy environment and important practices to nurture healthy children. The book provides realistic scenarios encountered by new nurse practitioners in their clinical training, with strong emphasis on the well child. It is structured in a question and answer framework to help practitioners critically think through the best practices to be implemented during the well child visit and develop a plan of action for the family. Each case study describes, with sensitivity, families from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. The book promotes the role of professional as advocate by making recommendations for broad social policies to help all children succeed. These case studies provide realistic well child visits that allow nurse practitioners to develop their critical thinking skills. They will find in this book assessment criteria, assessment tools, common developmental and behavioral issues within the age group, and the latest evidenced-based diagnostic criteria, as well as some information on complementary medicine.

Nurse practitioners will benefit from this guide for their teaching activity and clinical practice. The book incorporates complementary medicine, professional advocacy, specific development enhancement skills, parent/provider communication strategies, and extensive handouts for parents.