Title: The pediatric nurse as facilitator of family self-management in chronic childhood illness
Abstract:
We will explore how the pediatric nurse serves as the primary facilitator of family self-management and resilience. Chronic illness is not just a clinical condition; it is a family event marked by isolation, financial stress, and emotional fatigue. The nurse's expertise lies in transforming complex medical jargon (treatment phases, prognosis, pain management) into actionable, understandable steps for both the child and their caregivers.
Drawing on insights from recent feasibility studies in supportive care (such as telehealth-delivered music and social support groups), this presentation will highlight innovative, low-cost interventions that help families cope with the psychosocial burden of illness. We will show that effective self-management goes beyond medication adherence; it requires accessible strategies—like therapeutic distraction and peer connection—to restore a sense of normalcy and control.
The presentation will emphasize the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration. The nurse must coordinate resources from social work, child life, and palliative care, acting as the ethical core that ensures technology (like remote monitoring and nursing informatics) enhances human connection rather than replacing it.
