Pediatric illnesses have the potential of affecting the entire family physically, psychologically, and finacially. Chronic constipation is a condition that can have devastating negative consequences upon the child, parents, siblings, and extended family. Families frequently report a diminished quality of life overall. It is a diagnosis that is underecognized by pediatricians, school nurses, and school adminstrators. This presentation will describe the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of chronic constipation. Attention will also be focused on the potential adverse psychological affects of this disease. Description of an interdisciplinary support group formed in response to the emotional needs of affected families will also be presented.

Section Description

We are pleased to present the abstracts from sgna's 36th annual course, SGNA: your gateway to opportunity. The diversity of these topics certainly reflects the richness and breadth of our specialty. in keeping with the tradition of the annual course, we hope the following abstracts will encourage discussions for improving nursing practice and patient care outcomes.