Running Head: NURSES ROLE IN STRESS REDUCTION 1

Nurses Role in Stress Reduction:

Parenting Stress Related to Childhood Chronic Illness
Northeastern University
Margaret McGowan










CFP Proposal 2014
Journal of Pediatric Nursing

NURSES ROLE IN STRESS REDUCTION 2
CFP Special Issue: Children, Young People, and Families Living With Long-Term
Conditions

When a child is diagnosed with a chronic illness, a new layer of stress is added to
the familys lives, and nurses are in a unique position to provide coping strategies to ease
this stress. It is estimated that 7-18% of children in the United States have been diagnosed
with a chronic illness (Cousino & Hazen, 2013). A diagnosis of a chronic illness impacts
the entire family, often interrupting family routines and lifestyles to better accommodate
the sick child (Knafl et al., 2013). In addition to the need for increased knowledge,
parents experience added emotional stress. Parents are expected to understand their
childs condition, medications, and treatment plan, while handling the host of emotions
that accompany parenting a child with a chronic illness, such as fear, anxiety, and denial.
Parents of chronically ill children have increased general parenteral stress and
illness-related stress (Cousino & Hazen, 2013). Increased parenteral stress can have many
negative effects on the childs condition, family as a whole and the individual. For
example, siblings of the chronically ill child do not feel comfortable confiding in their
overly stressed parents (Vermaes, van Susante, & van Bakel, 2012). Individuals cope
with stress in a variety of ways, both negatively and positively. Parents, who exhibit more
positive coping skills, have been shown to have less depression, thus have an increased
ability to better care for their child (Churchill, Villareale, Monaghan, Sharp &
Kieckehefer, 2008). Many variables exist when caring for a sick child, most of which
parents and caregivers are unable to change. But the level of parenting stress becomes
modifiable when positive coping strategies are provided (Cousino & Hazen, 2013).
Nurses unique position allows them to promote these positive coping strategies.
When a family has a strong relationship with their healthcare providers it allows for
NURSES ROLE IN STRESS REDUCTION 3
better communication, provides support and growth of trust (Nabros et al., 2013). Nurses
are also the main educators within hospitals and clinics. Nurses are better able to assess
and teach parents if they are familiar with the five time periods in which parental stress is
increased (Meleski, 2002). This paper will continue to address why nurses are in the best
position to provide coping strategies. It will also explore nursing interventions nurses can
implement to ensure parents of chronically ill children have the coping strategies they
need to ease their stress and better care for their children.
Reflective Note-
This paper is aimed at the editors of the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, in response
to their Call for Papers for a special issue of their journal, titled Children, Young People
and Families Living with Long Term Conditions. A main focus of the Journal for
Pediatric Nursing is family centered care. This paper would focus on the stress relief of
parents in order for them to better care for their chronically ill child. A chronic condition
is a life long illness that has no cure. I chose to use APA citation because it is the gold
standard in nursing.











NURSES ROLE IN STRESS REDUCTION 4
References
Churchill, S.S., Villareale, N.L., Monaghan, T.A., Sharp, V.L., & Kieckhefer, G.M.
(2008). Parents of Children with Special Health Care Needs Who have
Better Coping Skills have Fewer Depressive Symptoms. Journal of
Maternal and Child Health. doi:10.1007/s10995-008-0435-0
Cousino, M.K, & Hazen, R. A. (2013). Parenting Stress Among Caregivers of Children
With Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review. Journal of Pediatric Psychology
38(8), 809-828. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jst049
Knafl, K.A., Deatrick, J.A., Knafl, G.J., Gallo, A.M., Grey, M., & Dixon, J.
(2013). Patterns of family management of childhood chronic conditions and their
relationship to child and family functioning. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 28(6),
523-535. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.neu.edu/science/article/pii/S08825963130
01103
Meleski, D. (2002). Families with Chronically Ill Children. The American Journal of
Nursing, 12(5), 47-54. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3522727
Nabros, L.A., Kichler, J.C., Brassell, A., Thakkar, S., Bartz, J., Pangallo, JLundy, H.
(2013). Factors related to caregiver state anxiety and coping with a child's chronic
illness. The Journal of Collaborative Family Healthcare, 31(2)
Vermaes, I.P.R., van Susante, A.M.J., & van Bakel, H.J.A. (2012). Psychological
Functioning of Siblings in Families of Children with Chronic Health Conditions:
A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 37(2), 166-184.
doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsr081