Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

The nurse's role in treatment decisions for the child with neurological impairment

Lisa V Duffy1

  • 1Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA, USA. lisa.duffy@childrens.harvard.edu

The Journal of Neuroscience Nursing : Journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
|October 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Navigating ethical dilemmas in pediatric neurological impairment treatment requires balancing family wishes with clinical judgment. Nurses play a crucial role in advocating for family involvement in these complex medical decisions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Bioethics
  • Healthcare Policy

Background:

  • Ethical dilemmas frequently arise in pediatric neurological impairment treatment decisions.
  • Conflicts can occur between family preferences and healthcare team recommendations regarding the child's best interest.
  • Numerous factors influence treatment decisions for children with neurological impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the ethical challenges in pediatric neurological impairment treatment.
  • To highlight the importance of family involvement in decision-making processes.
  • To define the role of nurses in advocating for families.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on ethical frameworks in pediatric care.
  • Analysis of case studies involving neurological impairment and treatment decisions.
  • Qualitative assessment of nurse perspectives on family advocacy.

Main Results:

  • Ethical conflicts are common when family desires diverge from medical recommendations.
  • Comprehensive consideration of multiple factors is essential for optimal treatment planning.
  • Nurses are pivotal in bridging communication and ensuring family participation.

Conclusions:

  • Ethical decision-making for pediatric neurological impairment necessitates a patient-centered approach.
  • Integrating family values with clinical expertise is vital for effective care.
  • Nurses serve as key advocates, promoting collaborative treatment planning.

Related Concept Videos

Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I01:27

Nurses' Legal Responsibilities I

In healthcare, informed consent is a crucial process that involves thoroughly communicating medical treatment options to patients, including benefits, risks, potential side effects, and alternatives. This process enables patients to make well-informed decisions about their care, ensuring they understand the implications of their choices before consenting to or refusing treatment.
The legal responsibilities of a nurse regarding informed consent include the following:
Ethical Dilemmas I01:17

Ethical Dilemmas I

Ethical dilemmas in nursing are of utmost importance, as they often arise from the tension between adhering to core ethical principles and the practical realities of healthcare delivery. These dilemmas require nurses to navigate complex situations where competing ethical considerations pull them in different directions.
Let us explore some examples to understand the potentially complex moral decisions nurses face.
Take the case of caring for minors, particularly in areas related to reproductive...
Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis01:24

Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis

The nursing process provides a clinical decision-making framework for patients and families to establish and implement a personalized care plan. Since part of the nurse's duties is to teach patients, the steps of the nursing process are the most effective way to approach instruction. The nursing process and the teaching-learning process are inextricably linked.
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data from the...
Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions01:29

Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions

Creating and executing a nursing diagnosis helps nurses plan care and guide patient, family, and community interventions. They are developed based on a patient's physical evaluation and support measuring the outcomes. It is not recommended to select random interventions throughout the planning process. Instead, consider the following six essential factors when choosing interventions:
Ethical Issues01:27

Ethical Issues

Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...