Family-centered care at home for families with children who are technology dependent

The philosophy of family-centered care recognizes parents as equal in partnerships with professionals. An adapted nursing process can provide a useful mechanism for members of this partnership to create and maintain a system that promotes an optimal quality of life at home for children who are technology dependent and their families. A family-centered assessment requires the nurse to facilitate the family's self-assessment and promote a family systems perspective. The family and the nurse together develop a plan of care, with the family establishing priorities. The nurse assumes joint responsibility with the family in implementing the plan of care, and promotes the principle of normalization and the use of informal options whenever possible. Evaluation is formal, informal, and ongoing and includes the family and nurse's evaluation of both outcome and process.