A nurse manager in the pediatric intensive care unit understands that when providing information to parents of a critically ill child, the following should be performed FIRST:

A. Critical pathways are designed to standardize care and ensure that key interventions and assessments are performed within specific timeframes to achieve optimal outcomes. However, flexibility might be necessary based on individual patient needs, and strict adherence to the exact order may not always be feasible or appropriate.
B. Critical pathways are primarily used to guide the management of specific clinical conditions or procedures rather than health promotion activities. They focus on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care for specific diagnoses or treatments rather than general health promotion.

C. Critical pathways aim to standardize care and improve outcomes by following evidence-based practices, which can lead to more efficient use of resources and reduced costs. By streamlining care processes and minimizing variations, critical pathways can help achieve better patient outcomes and cost savings.
D. Critical pathways are typically developed by multidisciplinary teams, including clinical experts, to create standardized care plans based on best practices for specific conditions or procedures. They are not usually developed by individual providers for individual clients.

A. Assessing the parents' preferences regarding the amount and type of information they want is crucial because it helps tailor the communication to their needs and emotional state. This initial step ensures
that the information provided is appropriate for the parents’ level of understanding and readiness. By understanding their preferences, the nurse manager can offer information in a manner that is most supportive and useful for the family.
B. Arranging for a specialist to speak with the family might be necessary. However, it is not the first step in the process. This step would be more relevant after understanding the family’s needs and preferences, as the specialist can then provide more targeted and relevant information based on the family's specific questions or concerns.
C. Directing the family to online resources might be useful, but it is not the first priority. Providing online resources should come after assessing the family's needs and preferences to ensure that the resources are relevant and appropriate.
D. Having patient education brochures available is important but it should come after assessing the family's preferences. The brochures alone might not address the family's immediate concerns or preferences for the amount of information they wish to receive.