Case Study of a Child with Cystic Fibrosis

RNSG 2262

Community Resources

Case study of a Child with Cystic Fibrosis

The case scenario is of a six month old child who was recently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Child protection services took the child from her biological parents, due to child neglect as evidenced by child was <3% for height, weight, and FOC. Child was recently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and was hospitalized. At this time a foster family is taking care of the child. This is the first time they are taking care of medically ill child. They seem to have no knowledge of Cystic Fibrosis, however seem very willing to learn.

They foster family as well as the biological family would benefit from attending a class that teaches about cystic fibrosis. This would help them learn about the disease and the importance of nutrition and how it will affect the child's growth and development. It will also offer a support system for the family to have since the disease is a life altering event. For the biological parents it would benefit them to know that the disease is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder of the exocrine glands that results in physiologic alterations in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, integumentary, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems, which means there is 25% chance that there other children would have the same disorder. In evaluating this which resources would best benefit this family I used Roach's Competence by knowing the condition and what is available such as community resources and being aware of the upcoming deterioration of the condition. I assumed that the parents would want their child back eventually and would want to learn about possibility of wanting more children together.

Children that had cystic fibrosis in the 1950s survived to school age, but because knowledge of the disease and treatment has improved the life expectancy has improved. Currently the cystic fibrosis foundation reported a median predicted survival age of 37 years. With proper treatment and nutrition the patient would be able to live longer. It is extremely important that the foster and biological parents are aware. If the biological parents would want to eventually get their child back from CPS than they would have to prove that they are capable of caring for the child.

The community resources that would be recommended to both foster parents and biological parents would be the Texas Department of Human Services this program helps family with Medicaid or food stamps. Cystic fibrosis patients have an increased caloric need because they have a pancreatic insufficiency. Patients with this disease have to take pancreatic enzymes every time they eat and eat a high caloric meal. This is why nutrition is important and that is where the food stamps might help if the parents are unable to provide for child. The disadvantage to this resource would be they would have to be approved and it might not include the pancreatic enzymes that need to be given.

The second community resource in San Antonio would be the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, they offer Medicaid for children with disabilities which may be helpful and relieve