Preparing the family for home tracheotomy care.

Children with tracheotomy tubes are frequently cared for by nurses in critical care settings, as well as on general patient care units. These children require tracheotomies for a variety of reasons and often are ready to be discharged before they are ready to be decannulated. As a result, many children are cared for at home by their parents, other family members, or other care givers. Discharging a child home with a tracheotomy is a process that involves many people. The staff nurse plays a valuable role in providing education and support to the child and family. After discharge, otolaryngology nurse-clinicians provide some of the support and continuing education the families may need, while parents and school personnel assist the families with support in normalizing their lives and meeting the developmental needs of the child.