Your field and children with s/n's

[I am Groot]

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday!

I'm T. After looking around a little lastnight I decided it was time to come in and ask everyone a few questions related to having children with special needs and nursing.

Here is some background info to lay the foundation for my questions: There are three minions in my house - 10, 5 and 2.5 - all girls. Our middle daughter has some special needs. She is hypotonic, has XLH, has late-term effect of a right-hemisphere intrauterine stroke and some time between now and when she turns 7 will have surgery in an attempt to correct the bowing of her lower extremities. We are going the route of hemi-epiphysiodesis instead of the traditional osteotomy. As far as her metabolic bone disease goes she appears to be a complete spontaneous case after reviewing family members on both sides of our families three generations back (including my husband and I). She was very delayed in meeting motor milestones as an infant and toddler. Aside from being atypical physically she is right on target cognitively.

Questions: If you have a child with special needs did you decide to work in a field related to your child's specific needs? Would you choose to if you had a child with s/n's? Why or why not?

Thanks so much for your time!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

There are plenty of healthcare providers that work directly with children who have special needs, while having similar circumstances at home. Others feel like it is too close to home. Every person is different. I would think that if your patient would have a bad outcome it would hit closer to home for that caregiver than perhaps others.

[brownbook]

I am sorry about your daughter.

I was a nurse for 22 years before my daughter had a special needs son. Prior to his diagnosis I would occasionally care for a special needs child in acute care or out patient surgery clinic. I'm sure I gave good compassionate care to the child and parents. However after my grandson was diagnosed I soooo over emoted when a special needs child would come in! I think I scared a few parents! I went over the top to show the parents I felt their pain! I have learned to keep my emotions more in check.

From your post, your description of your situation, I don't get the feeling this would be an issue with you?