Chronic illness in a child does not only impact the child but encompasses the entire family unit. As a nurse, it is vital that you understand the impact these chronic diseases have on the psychosocial functioning of the family unit and appreciate the unique challenges children and their families face in managing their chronic illness. Home health care can be an essential tool to support healthy coping strategies, provide care in an environment that is familiar and nurturing for the child, and offer versatility in the therapies that can be safely administered in the home setting. As the prevalence of chronic illnesses such as Crohn’s Disease and hematologic childhood cancers increases, nurses need to be prepared to educate and support children and families on their health journey before, during, and after treatment.

• Faculty: Heather Fitzhugh-Boehm
• ID: Pr-034664