Learning Objective #1: Describe the implications of Family-Nurse Role Boundary Ambiguity when caring for families of ill children

Learning Objective #2: Discuss situational variables related to Family- Nurse Role Boundary Ambiguity

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This exploratory study reports relationships between situational variables theoretically linked to parents' perceptions of Family-Nurse Role Boundary Ambiguity (FNRBA) during child hospitalization. FNRBA is defined as ambiguity that exists at the interface between family and nurse boundaries relative to the care of the hospitalized child. Families cite interruption in parent role as a significant source of stress during child hospitalization. FNRBA was measured with a 14- item Likert self-report survey with reliability and validity established using 156 parents of critically ill children. More information is needed regarding the relationships between FNRBA and contextual variables, particularly in non-ICU pediatric settings. In the present study, a convenience sample of 155 parents of children hospitalized on an acute care pediatric floor were administered the FNRBA scale, and a demographic/situational form. It was hypothesized that FNRBA would be significantly related to the following situational variables: Child illness severity, number of days of child hospitalization, the number of other child admissions, years of parent education, child and parent age, how prepared for the hospitalization parents felt, and parent perception of child's awareness. Pearson correlations revealed significant relationships between FNRBA and a) child age (r = -.164, p= .04); b) parent preparedness (r = -.332, p= .000); c) child awareness (r = -.266, p= .001); and d) parent age (r = -.167, p= .04). These findings suggest that nurses should consider the age of the child and parent, the child's awareness of parent presence, and how prepared parents feel for the hospitalization when assessing ambiguity between family and nurse role boundaries. However, child illness severity, length of hospitalization, child chronicity, and parents' educational levels were not related to parent perceptions of role uncertainty. Further analyses will provide data to create a model illustrating relationships between situational and other variables to FNRBA based on Family Stress Theory.