An educational program to improve quality of life for individuals with acoustic neuroma

Nursing management of the patient with an acoustic neuroma begins during the preoperative period and continues into the rehabilitative phase following hospital discharge. This article describes the process of developing and implementing an acoustic neuroma educational program. Program content was determined by a survey which identified the type of information acoustic neuroma patients wanted before and after surgery. The survey also described the problems patients encountered once home. Included in the program is a preoperative informational video, a discharge booklet, a multidisciplinary rehabilitation group for outpatients and educational sessions for nurses from the hospital and community.