Caring for the technology dependent child--a case study

Children who are dependent on medical technology present unique challenges for families and health professionals who attempt to care for them at home. The medical and nursing needs of these children challenge and stretch the financial, social and emotional capacities of parents in ways that service providers do not fully understand. Case management is a collaborative parent/nurse model of community nursing practice that has been implemented to meet the needs of children and families with complex special needs where the care goes across primary and secondary care settings. The aim of case management is to facilitate communication and coordination of services between the multi-disciplinary team and the family to achieve desirable goals. This case study describes the special needs of a technology dependent child and the impact of chronic illness on both child and family. From a deeper understanding of the parent's perspective, implications for nursing practice are discussed.