Clinical holding: ethical guidance for children’s nurses working in the UK
Intended for healthcare professionals

Nursing Children and Young People

Evidence and practice    

Clinical holding: ethical guidance for children’s nurses working in the UK

Andrea Page Associate professor, Department of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England
Bo Hejlskov Elvén Psychologist author and PhD student, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England
Suzanne Seabra Programme lead, Children’s Nursing, University of Chester, Chester, England
Alison Warren Clinical matron for children and young people’s services, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, England
Andrew McDonnell Visiting professor in autism studies, Consultant clinical psychologist, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England
Imogen Lucy Mortiboys Teaching fellow, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, England
Nicola Vanes Senior matron, Ophthalmology, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, England
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This article explores ethical decision-making surrounding clinical holding of children and young people in healthcare environments with the aim of enhancing autonomy and engagement on their behalf. A considerable body of evidence, published over the last 20 years, suggests that this complex and challenging area of practice is not always well managed, with mixed messages about the nature of consent, choice and negotiated practice countered by best interests decisions taking precedence ahead of the child’s wishes.

An ethical framework is proposed comprising four levels of value-based interventions and how they may be applied in clinical practice, allowing for increased engagement, empowerment and support on behalf of children and young people in relation to clinical holding decisions.

Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2019.e1021

Peer review

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

Correspondence

andrea.page@bcu.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Page A, Elvén BH, Seabra S et al (2019) Clinical holding: ethical guidance for children’s nurses working in the UK. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2019.e1021

Published online: 17 June 2019

Keywords :

autonomy - child health - consent - decision-making - ethical issues

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02 November 2023 / Vol 35 issue 6

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