NICU program gives charge of baby's care to parents

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Sep 27, 2013

With the population we serve in my hospital, I don't think it would work as well as in this hospital. We are lucky if we can get parents to come in once a week sometimes I have to wonder how long it took to implement this, our legal department would be having a stroke lol We do a great job of family centered care with the few families we get who want to spend all day with their kiddos...they do hands on care, etc. We already do know that the kids with families who are very involved do better than the poor baby who has no one visit Interesting article.

HyperSaurus, RN, BSN · Sep 29, 2013

Like you said, with the population my hospital serves, I think there would be some very mixed results. When a baby is getting ready to go home, they will have the parent room in with them and do much of the cares, including recording I/Os. Works out some of the times.

umcRN, BSN, RN · Sep 30, 2013

Interesting. At my hospital we try to encourage parents to be there as often as possible. We have private rooms and parents are taught from day one how to change diapers, take temperature (and know the appropriate ranges), PO feed if applicable. They don't chart anything of course, they tell the nurses. They are also encouraged to participate in daily rounds.

Sometimes parents can get a little carried away though. Refusing certain treatments (or demanding others like blood transfusions) is over stepping...yet the doctors will allow it so they don't have to deal with them. Took care of a baby once whose parents refused a PDA ligation for so long that by the time the baby finally had it repaired (months too late) the baby had severe pulmonary hypertension and was trach/vent dependent. To this day that father still claims to have "saved" his baby from unnecessary procedures.

brittwitt · Sep 30, 2013

If parents actually spent that much time with their premature infants in a hospital this would be a huge success but, they don't because of the fact that they have jobs and other kids therefore they need to be at other places besides the hospital. Even though it takes away from the nurses job, if the recovery rate is quicker they could help more infants.

NBmomto2 · Jan 23, 2014

The link is not working right now, but I am assuming you are referring to the Family Integrated Care study. We are using it currently in the Unit I work. We find it to be quite helpful for the parents and have gotten much positive feedback with it. Not all parents do it...only the ones that will have an infant there for three weeks or more, and only the parents who agree to do it. As for staffing, we have actually found that it does require more time from the Nurses for teaching, and facilitating the parents' learning. We do regular information sessions as well, on medications, infection control, etc.

Overall, it's been a great addition to our unit.