Making the transition from hospital to home: caring for the newly diagnosed child with cancer.

Current trends in the management of health care show increasing pressure for earlier discharge of children, and their families may or may not be ready to continue the child's care at home. This article provides information that helps the home care provider bridge the transition from hospital care to home care. Care frequently is coordinated by a hospital-based clinical nurse specialist who provides psychosocial support, reinforces teaching, minimizes risks for complications, and performs home infusion therapy, such as antibiotics, chemotherapy, analgesics, total parenteral nutrition, and biologic therapy.