PNCB Family-Centered Care, Advocacy & Ethics — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a key principle of family-centered care in pediatrics?
- The nurse makes all medical decisions
- Family is updated only upon request
- Families are treated as care partners (Correct answer)
- The child is solely responsible for decisions
Correct answer: Families are treated as care partners
Family-centered care is a philosophy that recognizes the family as the constant in a child's life. A key principle is treating families as active partners in the child's care, involving them in decision-making, care planning, and providing support. This approach respects family values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds, fostering collaboration between healthcare providers and families.
Question 2: Which action demonstrates effective pediatric advocacy by a nurse?
- Following all physician orders without question
- Asking the parent to leave to save time
- Reporting unmet healthcare needs to the provider (Correct answer)
- Delaying medication to avoid confrontation
Correct answer: Reporting unmet healthcare needs to the provider
Effective pediatric advocacy involves speaking up for the child's best interests and ensuring their needs are met. Reporting unmet healthcare needs to the provider demonstrates advocacy by bringing potential issues or gaps in care to the attention of those who can address them. This ensures the child receives appropriate and timely interventions.
Question 3: What ethical principle supports telling the truth to a pediatric patient?
- Non-maleficence
- Justice
- Veracity (Correct answer)
- Autonomy
Correct answer: Veracity
Veracity is the ethical principle that emphasizes truthfulness and honesty in interactions. In pediatric care, upholding veracity means providing accurate and complete information to the child (in an age-appropriate manner) and their family about their condition, treatment options, and prognosis. This builds trust and empowers patients and families to make informed decisions.
Question 4: What should a nurse do when a family's cultural beliefs conflict with medical advice?
- Ignore the family’s beliefs
- Report the family to child services
- Discuss and integrate cultural values into care (Correct answer)
- Instruct the family to follow hospital policy strictly
Correct answer: Discuss and integrate cultural values into care
When a family's cultural beliefs conflict with medical advice, the nurse's role is to discuss these values respectfully and explore ways to integrate them into the care plan. This approach demonstrates cultural competence and sensitivity, fostering trust and collaboration. Ignoring beliefs or strictly enforcing hospital policy can lead to mistrust and non-adherence.
Question 5: Which nursing action supports autonomy in a hospitalized adolescent?
- Speak only to the parents about the care plan
- Exclude the teen from decision-making
- Encourage the adolescent’s input on treatment choices (Correct answer)
- Limit communication to written materials
Correct answer: Encourage the adolescent’s input on treatment choices
Supporting autonomy in a hospitalized adolescent means empowering them to participate in decisions about their own care. Encouraging their input on treatment choices, explaining options, and respecting their preferences (within safe limits) helps them feel in control and fosters a sense of self-determination. This is crucial for their developmental stage and promotes better adherence to treatment.
Question 6: What is the nurse’s priority when there is suspected child abuse?
- Ask the child for confirmation repeatedly
- Document the suspicion and report per policy (Correct answer)
- Confront the suspected abuser
- Discuss the case with other patients’ families
Correct answer: Document the suspicion and report per policy
When child abuse is suspected, the nurse's priority is to ensure the child's safety and adhere to legal and institutional reporting requirements. This involves thoroughly documenting the observations and suspicions, then reporting them to the appropriate authorities (e.g., child protective services) according to facility policy. Confronting the suspected abuser or discussing the case inappropriately can jeopardize the investigation and the child's safety.
PNCB Family-Centered Care, Advocacy & Ethics
What is a key principle of family-centered care in pediatrics?