Table 4.

Family-centred care core measure

Attribute	Criteria
The family (defined by the infant’s parents and/or guardians) has 24-hour unrestricted access to their infant and is provided the opportunity to parent; family definition and participation is documented (Johnson et al. 2004, Nibert & Ondrejka 2005)	1.Family is offered the opportunity to be present and/or participate in medical rounds and change of shift report
	2.Family is offered the opportunity to be present during invasive procedures and/or resuscitative interventions
	3.Family is supported in parenting activities to include skin-to-skin care, holding, feeding activities, dressing, bathing, diapering, singing and all infant care interactions
The family’s level of emotional well-being and parental confidence and competence is assessed and documented weekly (Doucette & Pinelli 2004, Kaaresen et al. 2006)	1.Mental health professionals resource families weekly
	2.Family observations and input regarding their infant are sought by the clinical care providers and documented in the patient’s health records
	3.Health care providers share unbiased infant information weekly with the family
The family has access to resources and supports that assist in short term and long term parenting, decision making and parental well-being (Doucette & Pinelli 2004)	1.Families are invited to participate in a neonatal intensive care unit family support group
	2.Culturally sensitive family education on infant safety and infant care is available in various formats
	3.Resources for the social, spiritual and financial needs of families are provided