How to Work with Military Families as a Pediatric Home Care Nurse

Many of our Thrive SPC locations are in areas that are near military bases and we understand how military families of medically fragile children face a unique set of challenges. Here are some ways Pediatric Home Care Nurses can support these families beyond clinical care.

How Are Military Families Different from Civilian Families?

A military family is a family where at least one member is a current or former member of the armed forces. They can be a parent/spouse or a child/sibling (who is over the age of 18). Military families move more often than civilian families due to relocation or reassignment and can also be separated during times of deployment to another country. 

Provide Emotional Support

In situations of deployment, the absence of a parent or caregiver can cause emotional distress for both patients and their families. However, Pediatric Home Care Nurses can help ease the patient and family’s anxieties by providing emotional support. Like with any other family, you can listen and offer validation to the family when they express their sadness or concern about their situation, be patient with any schedule changes that might arise, and promote self-care for the patient and their family.  

Help with Relocation

In the case where a family needs to relocate, you can assist them in this transition by helping to find healthcare services in the new location, transferring medical records, and communicating with new providers to ensure that the child will still receive appropriate care after relocation. 

At Thrive SPC, our Area Location Directors are always ready to help our patients, families, and local hospital Case Managers find the right nurse for their needs. 

Connect Families with Military Resources

The government and nonprofit organizations offer valuable resources to help support all military families. While families might already be aware of them, it’s still beneficial to remind them of the options and encourage them to use them. These resources can range from financial aid and tax counseling to housing, educational opportunities, and mental health counseling. For more information on resources offered for military families, go to https://www.militaryfamily.org/programs/operation-purple/resources-for-military-families/ 

Thrive SPC Supports Military Families

Thrive SPC understands the sacrifice that military families make which is why we are committed to caring for them, understanding them, and supporting them in any way we can. Discover more about how Thrive SPC provides high-quality care to medically fragile children for military families and all families by visiting https://www.thrivespc.com/.