title: Who will care for me? The debate of orphanages versus foster care.
abstract: The issue of how best to address current problems in the foster care system while at the same time considering past problems with the orphanage concept is a cause of national debate. Among the questions being examined are, is a return to orphanage care feasible and if so, would the re-creation of orphanages benefit the children who would be placed in them. The advanced practice nurse is perfectly situated to participate in this discussion and to advance a theory of harmony by addressing social, economic, and political factors within a patient's environment. Nurse practitioners can also fill an important gap in care for these children who often suffer the consequences of well-intentioned but flawed child care systems.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital's Institute of Health Professions in Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'sullivan
authors.forename: Maria F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000639:trends*; D002674:Child, Institutionalized; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D019372:Orphanages / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011057:Politics; D012940:Social Problems; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors