Training Clinicians in Family-Centered Care

Training of adult and pediatric clinicians is critical to the delivery of high-quality family-centered care in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this chapter, we highlight several educational opportunities to promote family-centered care that are present within the training environment. First, we review studies that support the use of directed educational programs intended to promote family-centered care, describe different types of educational programs that have been used, and highlight key features that educational programs should include. Second, we consider the impact of the care environments in which we practice and train clinicians with a focus on factors that come together to form the culture and the hidden curriculum which shape aspects of training and patient care. Third, we explore the importance of self-care and programs that incorporate clinician wellness into training, highlighting domains of wellness and potential opportunities for clinicians to engage in self-care. We review ICU-and hospital-level programs that may be used to promote self-care and wellness. Finally, we present published guidelines that are relevant to clinician training and discuss opportunities to improve the evidence-base regarding training clinicians in family-centered care.