Graduation Year
2023
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Primary Major
Nursing
Primary Minor
Leadership Studies
Thesis Advisor
Patricia Harris, PhD, RN, CNS
Abstract
Chronic illness in children impacts not only themselves but their families too. Everyone in the family supports each other and provides each other with pretty much all our physiological needs including our emotional needs. Parents/caregivers are the role models for their young children and really shape the person they become because basic values and their early relationships are formed. A family provides that consistent balance in our life that is the center of our life at a young age. When children are diagnosed with a chronic illness, parents may feel responsible, ashamed, guilty, or angry. Families may turn on each other and that consistent balance is lost which causes a huge change for the family. Each family member reacts differently to their child’s illness. Every family member is important so it is very important as nurses to provide our full support to each individual family member. As nurses it is our job to provide any education they may need, be a person they can talk to and provide the necessary resources they may need to help them cope. This thesis will provide a review of the recent research literature and offer a study proposal for further investigation of this important topic.