The emotional impact on families following a traumatic brain injury. Families with children who have had traumatic injuries commonly praise the medical advances and care that literally saved their child’s life in many cases. These families were, however, more critical of the recognition and attention given to their emotional needs while their child was in the hospital.
This booklet was written to address the emotional trauma that inevitably accompanies the physical injury. The content is based on interviews and focus groups with families who shared their experiences and provide strategies to help other families cope during the early days and weeks following a child’s traumatic injury.
This booklet is ideal for nurses, social workers and clinicians to give to families while their child is hospitalized. It will help parents understand their emotions, learn how to comfort their child, give assurance to siblings, ask for help from friends and relatives, and recognize coping styles of partners or spouses. There are also suggestions to help parents plan for their child’s discharge, examples of journal writing and contact information worksheets.
Details
|
|
Item | WYCS |
ISBN# | 1-93111718-7 |
Pages | 44 pages, 5½ x 8½ softcover |
Year | 2006 ~ 3rd edition |
In Appreciation
Chapter 1 The Hospital Stay
Chapter 2 Loss and What it Means
Chapter 3 Helping Brothers and Sisters
Chapter 4 Getting Help and Coping
Chapter 5 Planning for Discharge
Conclusion
Bill of Rights for Parents
Samples of Family Journal
Resources
Contact Information Workheets
The Hospital Stay Families are unprepared for serious traumatic injuries. During the early stage of hospital care, their child’s medical condition is the immediate concern of families. There may even be fears about whether their child will survive, need surgery, or become disabled. Traumatic injuries have more than just a physical impact. There is also an emotional shock for the entire family and for all those close to the child who has been injured.
Helping your child
Many parents remember how the injury occurred in vivid detail. Others recall only a nightmarish blur of events. Some replay the telephone call from the police or doctor. Others can’t forget the frantic trip to the emergency department and the shock and relief of first seeing their child. Many recall the agonizing uncertainty and fear as they waited to hear about test results and the many consultations with specialists. Explanations of what was being done were reassuring but often confusing with new medical terms and an array of equipment and tests.
I thought the waiting would never end.
This period is often described by parents as a terrible time as they waited for…