How Do Pediatric Nurses Practice Family-Centered Care in Pediatric Units? A Phenomenological Inquiry from Eastern India

AIM: The current study aimed to explore the practice of pediatric nurses in family-centered care (FCC) in pediatric settings.

METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological descriptive design was used to explore the practice of FCC among pediatric nurses. Pediatric nurses worked in medical, surgical, and intensive care units of a tertiary care public hospital in Eastern India. An in-depth face-to-face individual interview was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide among 15 nurses. Content analysis was done, and data were managed using NVIVO software.

RESULTS: The two main themes that emerged from the data on the practice of FCC were “Enablers of FCC” and “Disablers of FCC.” The subthemes under “Enablers of FCC” were “participation, cooperation, connectivity, decision making, orientation/awareness,” and the subthemes under “Disablers of FCC” were “parental resistance, undermining, language barrier, dysfunctional parental behavior, and policy deficit.”

CONCLUSION: Nurses reported barriers that hindered their ability to practice those FCC components. Nurses acknowledged the willingness of parents in childcare, their participation in decision-making, and cooperation from parents in childcare. As the FCC has been considered a trend in child care, and when applied in the Indian scenario, identifying the primary obstacles, orienting the FCC concept, and addressing cultural differences is highly essential. Before implementing the policy, it can be modified to fit the settings that contribute to better healthcare.

Cite this article as: Alfianoora, K.N., Joseph, H. B., & Shetty, A. P. (2026). How do pediatric nurses practice family-centered care in pediatric units? A phenomenological inquiry from eastern India. Florence Nightingale Journal of Nursing, 34, 0170, doi:10.5152/FNJN.2026.24170.