title: Coping with critical illness: the child in the ICU.
abstract: The admission of a child to the intensive care unit (ICU) is stressful for both the child and his family. Children are especially vulnerable to the psychosocial stressors associated with life-threatening illness and hospitalisation. The child's developmental immaturity may affect his ability to cope. Priority may be given by nursing staff to the child's physical care. Nursing care is only complete with consideration of the total needs of the child and family. Meeting the child's psychosocial needs will promote development and adaptation to critical illness and provide more holistic care for the family.
authors.affiliation: ICU, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen Alexandra Hospital.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bood
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002673:Child, Hospitalized / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*