Unaccompanied Hospitalized Children: A Review of the Literature and Incidence Study

The aim of this study was to review literature on unaccompanied hospitalized children and report the incidence at a pediatric hospital over 2 weeks. The philosophical model of most pediatric hospitals is family-centered care (FCC) and reducing separation effects. Although the FCC model includes parents/guardians as collaborators and participants in the care of the child, parents cannot always be present. Nurses try to meet the needs of unaccompanied children. Children and parents express that they want to be together, but many parents have obstacles to participation including increased expectations. The incidence study found that about one third of children were sometimes unaccompanied.

Key words: Unaccompanied hospitalized children, Literature review, Incidence, Separation, Parental presence, Nursing boundaries