Date Available

5-3-2015

Year of Publication

2015

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Committee Chair

Dr. Nora Warshawsky

Clinical Mentor

Dr. Sharon J. Barton

Committee Member

Dr. Leslie Scott

Abstract

Background: A children’s hospital within a hospital (CHWH) in the Midwest region of the United States established a strategic goal to become the preferred provider for children in the region. Outcomes in patient and family experience had fallen short of established organizational expectations. Recognizing that parent advisors are an essential component of patient and family centered care, the strategic plan called for integrating parents into formal, advisory roles.

Purpose: The purpose of this practice improvement project was to perform an assessment of organizational readiness to incorporate parents into formal advisory roles at this CHWH.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used to measure indicators of organizational readiness: 1) an analysis of the current state of patient and family centered care (PFCC) 2) an analysis of stakeholder attitudes and beliefs about incorporating parents as advisors.

Results: A score of five for each question on the PFCC Organizational Self-Assessment Tool indicates an organization’s culture is consistent with best practice organizations. Assessment of the current state of PFCC in this CHWH resulted in only five of eleven domains on the PFCC Self-Assessment Tool having a mean score >3. However, 83.7% of all stakeholders responded in support of integrating parents into formal advisory roles. These results suggest that the CHWH is in the contemplative stage of organizational readiness (Prochaska, Norcross, & Diclimente, 1994).

Conclusion: Stakeholders in this CHWH recognize knowledge gaps regarding PFCC culture in their organization. They are confident their individual clinical practices are supportive of PFCC, yet recognize that integrating parents into formal advisory roles will require adoption of complex organizational changes in this CHWH.

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