title: Congenital heart disease: effects on the family.
abstract: Treatment of the child with congenital heart disease continues to challenge the medical profession. Although advances in technology have improved survival statistics over the past two decades, dealing with the effects on the family of the birth of a child with congenital heart disease has received minimal attention. Most nursing interventions focus on the immediate needs of the family related to the death of their child. Nurses must increase their awareness of the effects of the diagnosis itself on the family. To better help the family in crisis, nurses must understand the concept of death of the "normal" child and must also recognize the effects this diagnosis can have on personal relationships.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital Los Angeles 90027, USA.
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hinoki
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations