Text: Case Study 3: Akari
Akari is an eight-year-old Asian female. Her parents are first-generation immigrants to the United States. She has a very good command of the English language. You observe her in a play setting with other peers and notice that she is having difficulty playing ball. She throws a tantrum in the middle of the game, and the other kids make fun of her. She was unable to kick the ball and struggled with her balance. When she is removed from the situation and given some table activities, she is able to engage with other children. When you engage Akari in a story, she has a difficult time picking out the emotion depicted in the story.
1. Are there developmental concerns? If so, what are they?
2. Are there family concerns? If so, what are they?
3. What developmental milestones should Akari have met by age eight?
4. According to Erikson's Stages of Development, what stage is Akari in, and what is the primary task for this stage?
5. What do you expect the outcomes to be for Akari based on Erikson's Stages of Development?
6. According to Piaget's Phases of Cognitive Development, what stage would Akari be in, and what tasks should she have accomplished?
7. As a nurse, what would you include in your physical, environmental, and family assessment of Akari? What do you think you might find in this case?
8. Are there any cultural factors you should consider in assessing this patient and family?
9. What resources do you think might be available for this family, and would you make any referrals?
10. What are your personal feelings about this scenario? Are you aware of any personal biases you might have if this were a patient you were assessing?