Family-centered care in Ontario general hospitals: the views of pediatric nurses.
Registered nurses and registered practical nurses working on pediatric units in 35 Ontario general hospitals participated in a study that examined their perceptions and practices of family-centered care (FCC). The Family-Centered Care Questionnaire-Revised (FCCQ-R) was used to collect the data. The participants were asked to rate their level of agreement regarding necessary elements (perceptions) of family-centered care and whether these elements are part of their current work (practice). The participants had a reasonable knowledge of the necessary elements of family-centered care, but were not consistently including these in their every day work. A number of barriers to the implementation of family-centered care were also identified. Perception and practice scores were higher among those who had participated in continuing education on family-centered care than those who had not. The findings suggest that some nurses may be having difficulties shifting from a medical helping model of care to an enabling helping model of care, which is considered the foundation of family-centered care. Difficulties in implementing family-centered care appear to be systemic, both at the unit and organizational level. Based on the findings, implications for practice, education and research are suggested.
Caty
S
S
School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON.
Larocque
S
S
Koren
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004645:Empathy; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009864:Ontario; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires