NPS Family-Centered Care and Ethics Flashcards

During a family meeting regarding a critically ill neonate, the NPS notices the parents seem confused by medical jargon. What is the best communication strategy?

Answer: Use teach-back method: ask parents to explain information in their own words to verify understanding

The teach-back method is the gold standard for assessing health literacy and ensuring comprehension — asking families to restate information in their own words confirms understanding.

A neonate with trisomy 18 is born with multiple severe anomalies. The parents request full resuscitation. What is the most appropriate provider response?

Answer: Honor parental wishes while providing honest prognostic information and offering palliative care as an option

Current evidence shows some trisomy 18 infants can survive with aggressive intervention; providers should share accurate outcome data while respecting parental values and offering all options including palliative care.

NICU noise levels above which threshold are considered potentially harmful to neurodevelopment in preterm neonates?

Answer: 55 dB

The AAP recommends NICU sound levels not exceed 45–50 dB (continuous) or 65 dB (transient peak) to protect the developing auditory system and prevent noise-induced stress.

Which model of care best supports family involvement during rounds in the NICU?

Answer: Family-integrated care (FICare) with parents participating in daily bedside rounds

Family-Integrated Care (FICare) incorporates parents as active participants in daily rounds, care decisions, and hands-on care, improving outcomes and parental competence.

A nurse reports that a colleague failed to wash hands before touching a NICU patient. What ethical principle requires the reporting nurse to speak up?

Answer: Beneficence and non-maleficence

Beneficence (duty to benefit the patient) and non-maleficence (duty to avoid harm) require healthcare providers to report unsafe practices that could cause patient harm.

What is the primary goal of the 'Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care' model in the NICU?

Answer: Supporting the infant's neurodevelopment and family well-being through integrating developmental principles into clinical care

The Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care model aims to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes by aligning medical care with each infant's developmental needs and integrating family as caregivers.