Crohn's Disease — More Than a Chronic Illness

Crohn's disease is a chronic, inflammatory bowel disease which may occur in single or multiple areas of the entire GI tract from the mouth to the anus. This multifaceted disorder is manifested by various unpredictable health disturbances, affecting its victims' physical and psychosocial well-being. Individuals with Crohn's disease present a multitude of nursing challenges as they often lack the positive effects of proper nutrition, physical activity, emotional expression, interpersonal relationships, and family life. Nurses are the primary care providers who can comprehensively address the varied and complex health care needs of individuals with Crohn's disease. The core theme is the belief that it is essential for these individuals to maintain a sense of control in the midst of an altered lifestyle. Occupational health nurses can assist employees with Crohn's disease to develop a variety of physical and psychosocial strategies to cope with the unpleasant, even repugnant, aspects of a disease for which there is no known cure. The promotion of optimal health, based on the nursing process, is the objective toward which the unique efforts of nursing are directed.