Pediatric Safety and Family Centered Care

The Pediatric Patient:

Before we can start exploring best clinical  practices in caring for pediatrics we first must explore the key elements in family centered care in the  pediatric patient.  In pediatric nursing you are not just caring for the patient but the family.  The family is intrusting you to care for their most precious gift,  their child. 

 

In the past decade we have changed are model of care for the pediatric patient and have gone to family centered care approach.  We have found that partnering with the family in their love ones care has positive outcomes for the patient.  It has been almost 10 years ago when I first viewed the video of Josie King Story, her story is still relevant today and a reminder to why family centered care can save lives. 

How can you help promote family centered, by allowing parents to participate in daily rounds.

• The two main purposes of rounds are to make decisions regarding the plan of care, and to ensure communication among the caring team ( providers, nurses, respiratory therapist, pharmacy).
• In 2007, the American College of Critical Care Medicine released a recommendation that parents/guardians of pediatric patients be given the opportunity to participate in rounding.
• 90% of parents in a 2011 Survey said that they would like to be present for rounds when their child was hospitalized.
• Parents want the opportunity to decide whether or not to participate in rounds.  Parents feel frustrated adn distrustful if they feel that information is being withheld or inconsistent.
• Parental participation in rounds may reduce anxiety by giving parents a forum to learn more about their child's care and may foster a sense of mutual respect between parents and health care providers.

After viewing the Josie King Story, and then reading how allowing parents to particpate in daily rounds, you cannot help to think if Sorrel King was allowed to round with the team at Johns Hopkins, would Josie be alive today.



McPherson,G.,Jefferson, R., Kissoon, N., Kwong, L. and Rasmussen, K. (2011). Toward the inclusion of parents on pediatric critical care unit rounds. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine(12)6, P255-261.