Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a family-centered approach

Care of the patient with CJD requires particular attention to infection control and optimizing comfort. It also demands a great deal of consideration to family needs. Although none of these nursing interventions can change the final outcome for these patients, each may have an effect on the outcome for the family. A nurse with a finely tuned sense of ethics, who can prioritize the compassionate delivery of comfort, safety, and support, can make a great difference in the way a family copes with their loss.