What Nurses Know...Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Lorraine Steefel's interest in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) developed when her daughter Trisha was diagnosed at age 12 with the illness. As a parent and an RN, she searched for information necessary to help her daughter cope with and manage it. She became a volunteer trainer in the program ""Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): A Diagnostic & Management Challenge,"" prepared and sponsored by the CFIDS Association of America, and presented this program to RNs and other healthcare professionals across the country. She became a member of and volunteer for the NJCFSA, Inc. (New Jersey CFS Association), on whose behalf she has provided talks to healthcare groups and the general public. Her factsheet Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Information for Family, Friends and Caregivers appears on the organization's website. Lorraine is a professional writer, published widely in various publications including: Clinical Nurses Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice; RN; Creative Nursing: A Journal of Values, Issues, Experience & Collaboration; Nursing Spectrum; Healthcare Travel; Alternative and Complementary Therapies; New Jersey Monthly; Ophthalmology Times; as well as in newspapers and in healthcare websites online. As an adjunct assistant professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at UMDNJ School of Nursing, Newark, NJ, a major portion of her time is spent assisting nursing faculty members and students to write for scholarly publications. A 2009 graduate of the DNP program at UMDNJ School of Nursing, Lorraine earned her MSN from Kean University, Union, NJ and MA from The New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, MD; an A.A.S. in Nursing from Maria College, Albany, NY; a NJ school nurse certification from The College of NJ, Ewing, NJ; an advanced certification in Transcultural Nursing (CTN-A) from the Transcultural Nurses Society, Livonia, MI; and a certificate in journalism from New York University. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the National League for Nursing, the American Nursing Association, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She serves on the Boards of the New Jersey League for Nursing and the Transcultural Nursing Society, New Jersey Chapter. She is the diversity editor for The Journal of the Philippine Nurses Association of America and serves on the Editorial Board of Creative Nursing: A Journal of Values, Issues, Experience & Collaboration. Lorraine lives in Morganville, NJ, with her husband Peter. She has two adult children, Kimberly and Trisha, and son-in-law, Russ.

Foreword ; Introduction; 1 What is CFS ; 2 Getting a Diagnosis ; 3 CFS Symptoms ; 4 Your Health Care Team ; 5 Save Energy, Keep up With Living, Prevent Postexertional Malaise ; 6 Feelings, Mood Swings, and Depression ; 7 Medical Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ; 8 Alternative Approaches ; 9 The Importance of Advocacy ; 10 Looking Ahead: Living With Chronic Illness ; Glossary ; Resources ; Bibliography ; Index