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Parenting foster children with chronic illness and complex medical needs
1Thomas Jefferson University, School of Nursing, Nursing Education Center, Danville, PA 17822, USA. Lori.Lauver@jefferson.edu
Insights
Parenting foster children with chronic illness is a profound journey. Foster parents develop deep commitment, navigate complex medical needs, and experience significant life changes, including loss.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Psychology
- Social Work
Background:
- Foster care involves unique challenges for children with chronic illnesses and complex medical needs.
- Understanding the experiences of foster parents is crucial for improving care and support systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experiences of foster parents caring for children with chronic illness and complex medical needs.
- To identify key themes and challenges faced by these foster parents.
Main Methods:
- A phenomenological inquiry was conducted with 13 participants from 10 foster families.
- Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using van Manen's method.
Main Results:
- Five essential themes emerged: commitment, understanding complex needs, identifying interventions, experiencing loss, and life-changing impact.
- Foster parents demonstrated deep dedication and adaptation to the demands of medically complex children.
Conclusions:
- Parenting medically complex foster children is a multifaceted experience with profound emotional and practical implications.
- Findings highlight the need for enhanced support for foster families in pediatric complex care.
Abstract:
The experience of parenting foster children with chronic illness and complex medical needs was explored in a phenomenological inquiry with 10 foster families. Thirteen participants currently fostering chronically ill children with complex medical needs were interviewed. Recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using van Manen's method. Data analysis yielded five essential themes: Foster parents described being committed to the child in their care, coming to know the needs of a medically complex foster child, and identifying effective and ineffective interventions encountered through day-to-day living with a medically complex child. Furthermore, they shared what it was like to experience loss of a child through relinquishment and death. Last, for these parents, fostering children with complex health care needs was a life-changing experience. The findings show that parenting a chronically ill foster child with complex medical needs is a multifaceted experience having implications for multiple disciplines.
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