Neurofibromatosis: a familial and family disorder.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a devastating illness which is extremely variable in its symptoms, intensity, and progression. Nursing literature has suffered markedly from lack of information on this important health care problem. This article is the result of an interface of the senior author's own personal experience with neurofibromatosis and an extensive review of international and multidisciplinary publications on the subject. The nurse can exert a profound impact on the care of the patient/family experiencing the crisis of neurofibromatosis.