Talking to your neonate patients

[Journey_On]

This might be kind of silly, but I was wondering if you talk to your NICU patients when you are caring for them?

In school, we are told that we should talk to our patients, even when they are intubated and/or comatose because you never know if they can hear you or not. If you were that patient, it must be scary not being able to talk to someone, or have people do procedures on you and not know what is going on.

I was in the MSICU twice for clinical this past semester, and I had one patient who was intubated (and therefore, sedated). I felt comfortable talking to her, even though she could not respond verbally. I enjoyed caring for a patient like this.

Even though the babies cannot comprehend what you are saying (as an older ICU patient might), do you still talk to them? Do you think the sound of your voice might be comforting to them?

[UTVOL3]

I love talking to the babies. It is sort of normal to me. They hear plenty of harsh noises, a friendly voice once in a while is a change.

[preemieRNkate, RN]

I talk to the babies too. I carry on as if I'm having a conversation with them. "Ok, let me just change your diaper and then wash my hands. Then you get to eat! You want to eat, don't you?" Parents at first think I'm a little nuts, but I think they eventually like that I'm treating the babies as "real people."

[WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN]

The little time I got to work with them, I did talk. Mainly trying to get said kiddo to cooperate with me just a wee bit. I swear they knew I was new as the diaper change was a fight sometimes. Once I started feeling a bit more confident, so did they.

During Clinicals, during or peds rotation I met one little one on the ICN. She was a bit fussy and she looked at me as if to say "um, a little help here". I changed her diaper and she settled down. I asked her if that was all, and she opened her eyes and smiled as if to say "yep, now just hold me for a bit will ya"...too cute.

[Preemienurse23]

I absolutely talk to my babies. Most of the parents like it. I talk to calm them, esp my bigger vent kids. I also encourage parents to talk to them.

[MegNeoNurse]

Yes! I cannot imagine not talking to my patients! It's obviously a very one-sided conversation

[NICURN29]

I basically keep up a running commentary with the babies when I am caring for them. I talk to them less when they are less stable, but other than that, sure! They probably "know" more about me than my best friends too!

[efraim23]

yah! i tink ur voice s comforting 2 dem... even fetus onli lyk da stories from der mom.. lol

[gigi1973]

I absolutely talk to the babies. I let them know what I'm about to do... blame the 'bad' things on my co-workers...tell them what a good boy/girl they are and what a good job they are doing, etc. It's just something that is natural and seems wrong to me to not do it. Plus, sometimes they are the only ones that will listen to me. And unlike my own kids...they don't talk back.

[unikuelady, RN]

my co-workers think i'm a bit crazy...well ok so I am...but thats not the point. I have always introduced myself to every pt I care for. I always tell the baby what I am going to do to them before I do it. I think I started doing this because there is usually a father or grandmother at bedside at delivery and admission to our unit. They seem to appreciate the explanation of care and why it is being done, as well as seeing that I am treating their baby as a person. It helps them to understand the need for pokes and prods and that the babys care is a priority. I have been on occasion called a baby whisperer. A coworker will ask my opinion on their baby...so I go over and talk to the baby and observe-I think I just have good observational skills-I will then ask a series of questions to the baby and by their response narrow down what is going on. I doesn't work all the time-but enough to figure out how to make them happier/more comfortable.

I work in a small unit and when all the babies are old enough (grower/feeders) we will even put on some music and sing as a group. It doesn't happen often-but when it does the job is that much more enjoyable. I say "talk away-as long as their condition permits"