Parent Participation in Care: Bridging the Gap in the Pediatric ICU

Family-centered care is emerging as a driving philosophy in all aspects of health care. Active participation of parents in the care of their child in the hospital setting is becoming one of the central concepts of this philosophy. Studies demonstrate the benefits for children, parents, and families. Although research supports the need for increased parent participation during a child's hospital stay, integrating research findings and changing practices of health care professionals may not be easy. Pediatric nurses, especially those working in critical care environments, may have difficulty integrating this philosophy into their care. Realizing the numerous benefits that exist, health care providers would be prudent to embrace the concept of parent participation in care. This article reviews the emergence of parent participation, what it encompasses, its benefits, and the challenges of implementation. Several strategies are examined as a basis to find ways in which the concept of parent participation can become a daily reality in the pediatric intensive care unit. Only after gathering a full understanding of the nature of parent participation in care can we begin to develop individualized strategies and approaches for incorporating these interventions into our practices and thus provide children with true family-centered care.