With more families closely involved in medical care and free to visit 24/7 at many hospitals, the most important relationship—and sometimes the most intimidating one—is with the nursing staff. ENLARGE Karen Anderson, a nurse at the Family Caregiver Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Nurses benefit when families are active participants in care, Ms. McCullough says. When Kathleen Turner got off a plane to visit her father in a Florida hospital, her first stop was an airport shop to buy candy for the nursing staff. They want to determine care or start trying to dictate things,” says Karen M. Anderson, a clinical nurse specialist in patient- and family-centered care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.

Source: Wall Street Journal July 04, 2016 16:27 UTC