Coping and caring in different ways: understanding and meaningful involvement.

The experience of having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is frightening and creates uncertainty for families. Each parent copes with the challenge in his or her own way. Nurses can play an important role in helping parents find their own unique paths to meaningful involvement in caring for their infant by utilizing five frameworks in the assessment and planning process. The frameworks include: (a) family-centered care, (b) a cultural context, (c) loss and grief issues, (d) personal style considerations, and (e) reflections on the caregiver's own value system. The stories of three families illustrate individual coping styles and the application of these frameworks in understanding family coping in the NICU. A list of suggested questions identifying family background and strengths can assist in applying the five frameworks in assessment. A list of areas of potential parental involvement can assist nurses in helping families determine the ways in which they would like to be involved in their infant's care while in the NICU.

Exploring complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics: parents and professionals working together for new understanding.

In the United States, consumer interest in and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including in pediatrics, is growing. Despite the reservations of many conventional practitioners, the multi-billion dollar industry is here to stay. To maintain positive relationships with pediatric patients and their families, health care professionals must acknowledge the reality of CAM, be informed themselves about its various therapies, and encourage open dialogue with patients and families. This article offers background about the current status of CAM, in general as well as specific information about CAM in pediatrics. The parent/family perspective, a list of suggested questions to help initiate parent/professional discussion about exploration and use of CAM, and a resource list for use by both parents and professionals are provided.

Helping families mobilize their personal resources.

With changes in delivery of and payment for health care, hospital stays may be shorter and children may be going home sooner and sicker. Therefore, more care may be required at home. Even with access to a variety of services and resources in the community, families of medically fragile or chronically ill children can be overwhelmed and stressed. Relief can be provided to some degree if families creatively mobilize their own personal resources. However, for a variety of reasons, families may find it difficult to do this. While nurses and other health care professionals are accustomed to helping families find professional services and resources in the community, they can also be invaluable before discharge by assisting families with their personal resources--from giving encouragement and motivation to outlining practical planning steps. Pediatric nurses can use guidelines and a checklist to assist families with mobilizing their resources to ease the transition from hospital to home for the whole family.