Clinical Pearls

Selecting a Practical and Person-Centered Pediatric Functional Assessment

Deborah L. Lindell, BSN RN, and Deanna Erickson, MS APRN CNS

Providing palliative and hospice care to children with life-threatening medical conditions is a complex and challenging endeavor, amplified by the responsibility to meet the intertwined needs of the family. It takes patience and understanding to obtain the information necessary to provide the best possible care. One component of that information is a functional assessment, which aligns with AAHPM’s pediatric competency requirements for patient and family care.¹