Parents’ perceptions of the transition of their child who is ventilator dependent from hospital to home
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Parents’ perceptions of the transition of their child who is ventilator dependent from hospital to home

Aoife Condon Staff Nurse, Children’s Health Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

Why you should read this article
  • To enhance your awareness and appreciation of the experiences of parents caring for a child with complex needs who is undergoing transition from hospital to home

  • To consider your role in supporting parents and families undergoing transition from hospital to home

  • To be aware of the emotional challenges faced by parents and families caring for a child who is ventilator dependent at home

The number of children who are ventilator dependent and being cared for at home by their families has risen dramatically in recent years. Parents’ roles are often taken for granted, with little recognition of the effect of the shift from parent to carer on families.

The aim of this literature review was to explore parents’ perceptions of the burden of care placed on them during the transition of their child who depends on a ventilator from hospital to home, the support they received during discharge and any gaps in continuity of care. An electronic database search was undertaken of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and PsycINFO. After exclusion a total of 14 studies were reviewed and critiqued. The main themes identified were: transition: preparing for discharge; feelings of isolation on transitioning home; and the strive for normality or a sense of control felt by parents and family members.

Where facilitated, families are more than capable of providing skilled, competent care at home to a child who is ventilator dependent. The long-term effects of this arrangement are largely unknown so far, but the literature shows that it has a substantial psychosocial effect on families. More information and education for healthcare professionals is required about the experiences of these families to appreciate the struggles they face after discharge. This may have a positive effect on how nurses and other professionals support parents during the discharge process.

Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2019.e1259

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

aoifecondon@live.ie

Conflict of interest

None declared

Condon A (2019) Parents’ perceptions of the transition of their child who is ventilator dependent from hospital to home. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2019.e1259

Published online: 16 December 2019

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