Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
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Viral croup is the most common cause of upper airway obstruction in children 6 months to 6 years of age. Parainfluenza virus accounts for the majority of cases. The disease is characterized by varying degrees of inspiratory stridor, barking cough, and hoarseness because of laryngeal and/or tracheal obstruction. ⋯ For those who do not tolerate the oral preparation, nebulized budesonide or intramuscular dexamethasone are reasonable alternatives. Nebulized epinephrine should be reserved for patients with moderate to severe croup. Simultaneous administration of corticosteroid and epinephrine reduces the rate of intubation in patients with severe croup and impending respiratory failure.
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J Pediatr Health Care · Nov 2004
A qualitative study of older first-time mothering in the first year.
The number of older first-time mothers has increased significantly during the past 30 years. The purpose of this study was to create a phenomenologic text explicating the experience of older, first-time mothering during the first year. ⋯ Pediatric practitioners have unparalleled access to mothers during the first postpartum year. An increased understanding of the uniqueness of older primiparas as expressed in this narrative will enable nurses to more effectively address the needs and concerns of this growing population of women.
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J Pediatr Health Care · Jul 2004
Compassion fatigue and burnout in nurses who work with children with chronic conditions and their families.
With the current and ever-growing shortage of nurses in the United States, it is imperative that nurses find ways to prevent burnout and effectively manage compassion fatigue that can result from working with traumatized populations. The aim of this study is to identify the triggers and coping strategies that nurses who work with children with chronic conditions use to manage compassion fatigue and prevent burnout. ⋯ Nurses need to be able to identify signs of compassion fatigue and develop a range of coping strategies and a support system to revitalize their compassion and minimize the risk of burnout.
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J Pediatr Health Care · Nov 2003
Case ReportsChronic sorrow: one mother's experience with two children with lissencephaly.
The concept of chronic sorrow has been used to describe the reaction of parents to the ongoing losses associated with caring for a child with chronic illness or disability. A middle-range theory of chronic sorrow provides a framework for further understanding of this phenomenon. This theory is applied to a case of a family burdened with the unrelenting stress of caring for 2 children with lissencephaly. With an understanding of chronic sorrow, nurses can plan interventions that recognize it as a normal reaction, promote healthy adaptation, and provide empathetic support.