Nursing

The role of nursing in the care of patients/families affected by craniofacial anomalies is multifaceted including education, case management, consultation, research, and primary care. Early intervention consists of assistance with infant feeding, access to team care, and family education. The nurse continues to interact with the family throughout all phases of the treatment period to assist them in understanding and complying with the recommended treatment plan, as well as providing crisis intervention and anticipatory guidance.

  1. Prenatal
    1. Assist with family education about clefting and other craniofacial disorders and team care after birth.
    2. Provide information about potential feeding issues.
    3. Introduction to Parent Support Network if applicable.
    4. Provide direct contact information for team evaluation.
  2. Neonatal
    1. Initial contact with newborn in birth hospital - discussion of newborn care, team care, and early cleft management, feeding, resources, support group.
    2. Modeling acceptance of child with craniofacial malformation.
    3. Ongoing follow-up of feeding and weight gain after discharge, directly or through consultation with primary care physician.
  3. Infant/Toddler
    1. Preoperative preparation for surgical procedures, discharge teaching, and follow-up.
    2. Ongoing coordination of team services/care.
    3. Ongoing support of family.
    4. Feeding issues - introduction of solid foods, prevention of bottle caries,weaning from the bottle, cup feeding.
    5. Anticipatory guidance regarding growth and development issues; particularly encourage parenting techniques that promote speech development.
  4. Preschool/School-Aged/Adolescents
    1. Preoperative preparation that involves both the child and family.
    2. Assistance with initiation of speech therapy and advocacy in the IEP process in obtaining services from the school district.
    3. Ongoing evaluation of audiology and ENT concerns.
    4. Referrals for social skills, self image concerns.
    5. Introduction to other similarly affected patients/families.
    6. Continued emphasis on multidisciplinary team care services.
    7. Referral of adolescent/adult for genetic counseling.

Core Curriculum for Cleft Palate and Other Craniofacial Anomalies

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