Times: 2:00PM Eastern, 1:00PM Central, 12:00PM Mountain, 11:00AM Pacific
Click here to view the Archived Webinar with Sharon A. Frierdich, Nurse Practitioner,
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Specialist and eSchoolCare Content Expert.
Because cancer is relatively rare among children, most
nurses do not have experience caring for a child returning to school with the
disease. eSchoolCare content expert
Sharon Frierdich, NP, a pediatric hematology and oncology specialist, has
worked with dozens of schools to ease the transitions between treatment and the
rest of life.
The good news is that many more students can return to class
and to a normal life after cancer than was once the case. Thirty years ago, only three in 10 childhood
cancer patients survived their disease; today 80 percent of all children
diagnosed with cancer will be cured.
A pro-active, carefully planned school re-entry program can
minimize potential problems and enhance the school's contribution to the care
of the child. Often teachers and classmates visit the child in the hospital or
send get well wishes through cards, posters, Facebook, e-mail, etc.
It is vital that children with cancer maintain as normal a
lifestyle as possible. For school-age children, continued school attendance
helps provide a sense of well-being, an opportunity for academic success, and
socialization with peers. Studies of children who do not return to school have
shown they have lower self-esteem, difficulty developing relationships, and
remain very dependent on their parents.
School nurses also need to know how to address the special needs of these children such as catheter safety and protecting the child from infections and exposure to communicable diseases which may result in serious complications.
Webinar attendees will have a chance to ask questions about infection prevention and any other concerns they may have about caring for a child who has been diagnosed with cancer.
