Family-centred care in children's nursing - perspectives, challenges and the child's voice : a critical literature review.

Abstract

This literature review investigates a possible theory-practice gap within Family-Centred Care in children’s nursing. The investigation into this theory-practice gap was conducted by critically examining primary research that presents perspectives of those involved in Family-Centred Care. Nursing, family and children perspectives were examined to reveal a number of perceived challenges of Family-Centred Care in children’s nursing. However children’s perspectives revealed that children may not experience the same challenges, suggesting that children’s views and the child’s voice may help to resolve the theory-practice gap. The rights of the child support the idea that the child’s voice is fundamental in children’s nursing, however it was revealed that the child’s voice may not be acknowledged as it should. This may be due to poor understanding of the multidimensional ‘voice’. Role identification and decision-making are examples of why the child’s voice should be fundamental in children’s nursing and this could be improved with changes in nursing education. Children’s nursing may need to re-direct its focus from Family-Centred Care to a more child-centred model. Child-Centred Care is an area for further investigation to enhance the findings of this literature review.