Jebrenth Apple M.

Bon
Psychiatric Nursing
C-10

Discharge and Home Care Guidelines

1. Call your local emergency number if the child has hurt himself or herself, or someone
else.
2. Call the doctor if :
 The child's ADHD prevents him or her from doing most of his or her daily
activities.
 The child has new symptoms since the last time he or she visited the healthcare
provider.
 The child's symptoms are getting worse.
 You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
1. Medicines may be needed to help your child pay attention. Medicines to decrease or
prevent depression and anxiety may also be given.
2. Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you
think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell him or her if your child is allergic to
any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes.
Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the
medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you
in case of an emergency.
Follow up with your child's healthcare provider as directed:
 Your child will need to have regular visits with his or her healthcare provider to make
sure his or her medicine is working. Write down your questions so you remember to ask
them during your visits.
Ways to support your child:
1. Be patient with your child. Try to stop his or her behavior problems quickly so they do
not get out of control. It will not help to yell at your child to get him or her to behave.
Stay calm and be direct. Always give him or her eye contact and explain why the
behavior needs to stop. Try to be patient as your child learns new ways to behave well.
2. Praise your child for good behavior. Children often respond better to praise than to
criticism. It may be helpful to set up a reward system with your child. For example, your
 child can earn points or tokens for good behavior to exchange for something he or she
wants.
3. Help your child understand tasks he or she needs to do. Make eye contact with your child
and give him or her 1 task. Let your child complete the task before you give him or her a
new task. Work with his or her teachers to make sure you know what homework is
assigned and when it is due. Your child may need to start working on assignments well
before they are due. He or she may need to work for short periods at a time. A homework
notebook can help your child keep track of assignments and make sure he or she turns in
the work.
4. Help your child manage stress. Stress may make your child's ADHD worse. Teach your
child how to control stress. Ask about ways to calm his or her body and mind. These may
include deep breathing, muscle relaxation, music, and biofeedback. Have your child talk
to someone about things that upset him or her.
5. Feed your child healthy foods. These include fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products,
lean meat, and fish. Healthy foods may help your child feel better. Your child's healthcare
provider may want your child to follow a special diet or one that is low in fat. Your child
should drink water, juices, and milk. Limit the amount of caffeine your child drinks.
Limit foods that are high in sugar, such as candy. Sugar and caffeine may make ADHD
symptoms worse.
6. Create a schedule for your child. Put the schedule in a place where your child can see it.
The schedule should include a regular time to go to bed and get up in the morning. Do
not let your child watch TV, use the computer, or play video games before bed.
Electronic devices can make it hard for your child to go to sleep or stay asleep. During
the day, create homework, play, chore, and rest times for your child. Your child may have
an easier time remembering to do things if he or she follows a schedule. Try not to
schedule too many activities for a day or week. Your child needs quiet time along with
scheduled activities.