Evaluation of Linear Measurement and Growth Plotting in an Inpatient Pediatric Setting

Routine growth monitoring is crucial for all children. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines state that children should be measured annually, but some children may not routinely be evaluated by primary care providers. Inpatient admissions provide the opportunity to identify growth disorders. The purpose of this study was to obtain data on the linear measuring practices in an urban children's hospital. Charts were reviewed from a random sample of 200 children who were admitted; 57% were measured, 42% had measurements plotted on growth charts, and 24% had measurements plotted correctly. Ongoing education is necessary for nursing staff to accurately obtain and plot measurements.