What does partnership in care mean for children's nurses?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Healthcare Partnerships
• Family-Centered Care

Background:

• Partnership in care is a key aspect of children's nursing in the UK.
• It is considered part of the broader concept of family-centered care.
• The term "partnership in care" is often ambiguously defined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore children's nurses' understanding of partnership in care.
• To assess the extent to which partnership in care is practiced.
• To compare findings with existing literature and inform the Children's National Service Framework.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study was conducted.
• The study involved a small sample of 10 experienced children's nurses.
• Data were collected to understand their perceptions and practices of partnership in care.

Main Results:

• Seven key categories emerged: attitudes, respect for family, communication, parent understanding, effective partnership, satisfaction of all parties, and improved well-being.
• A negative approach to the initial four categories (attitudes, respect, communication, parent understanding) results in ineffective partnership in care.

Conclusions:

• Improving attitudes, respect for families, and communication are crucial for enhancing partnership in care.
• Respect for the child/family and effective communication are vital components of the National Service Framework for Children.
• Further research is recommended to extend these findings to the wider multidisciplinary team.