The National Hemophilia Foundation’s (NHF) Nursing Working Group has been revising and expanding the Nurses’ Guide to Bleeding Disorders (NGBD). First published in 1995, the guide provides comprehensive information and practical ideas to assist nurses at all levels in caring for patients with bleeding disorders.
Over the last several years, the NGBD has further evolved into a readily accessible online resource, serving as an introduction to nurses new to the field and as an information source for more experienced nurses. New chapters, which continue to be added in downloadable PDF format, cover a wide range of topics such as orthopedics, pain, rare bleeding disorders and women with bleeding disorders.
“Child Development with a Bleeding Disorder and Transition,” written by Maribel J. Johnson, RN, MA, and Jocelyn Bessette Gorlin RN, MSN, CPNP, provides an overview of pediatric development in each of the life stages: infancy, toddler, preschool, school-age and adolescent. The authors also describe the many facets of child development within each stage, including personality, cognitive, physical, motor, social and language development. Particular emphasis is placed on the special considerations unique to a child with a bleeding disorder, who will often encounter both physical and psychosocial challenges during childhood and adolescence. The chapter closes with references to several educational resources for both nurses and parents on topics such as transitioning from pediatric to adult care.
