Which statement about family-centered care is accurate?

• A. Families are partners in care planning, communication and discharge planning
• B. Family involvement is discouraged to protect privacy
• C. Families should not participate in rounds
• D. Discharge planning is not part of family-centered care

Answer: (A)

Family-centered care centers on partnership with families in every aspect of the infant’s care. When we say families are partners in care planning, communication, and discharge planning, we’re describing a model where parents or guardians are actively involved with the neonatal team, sharing observations, preferences, and decisions. In the NICU, this means families participate in rounds, contribute to goals for feeding, growth, and development, receive information in understandable terms, and help shape the discharge plan to ensure home care needs, follow-up, and safety instructions are clear and feasible. This collaborative approach supports better infant outcomes, parental confidence, and smoother transitions home. The other statements run counter to this approach, suggesting families should be excluded from rounds or discharge planning, which would undermine continuity of care and family readiness.