Spiritual care of the school-age child with a chronic condition.

Chronic conditions present many challenges to the school-age child and the family that may create physical, psychosocial, and spiritual disruptions. The spiritual well-being of the child and family greatly influences coping and condition management. Therefore, spiritual assessment becomes an integral part of nursing care for these families. A case study describes the spirituality of the school-age child and the family within the context of having a chronic condition. Therapeutic play, bibliotherapy, and use of self are discussed, using the nursing process, as strategies to meet the spiritual needs of child and family.