title: Impact of childhood cancer on siblings and family: family strategies for primary health care.
abstract: The article reviews the impact of a chronic illness with a potentially life-threatening outcome on siblings and suggests strategies to enhance sibling support by an advanced practice nurse. The well siblings in the family system have the potential to perceive threatened or actual losses as a result of their brother's or sister's illness. The importance of considering total family structure, including the sibling's emotional needs, in an ongoing assessment to determine strengths, vulnerabilities, and coping abilities is presented. The advanced practice nurse in an ambulatory care setting, community setting, or hospital is in a unique position to provide comprehensive guidance and coordination of mechanisms of support in concert with the family in an effort to reduce vulnerability and to maintain the emotional well-being of the siblings.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ross-Alaolmolki
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Heinzer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marszal
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012801:Sibling Relations