Postpartum/mother infant unit

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Hey everyone! I am going to be graduating nursing school in a couple of months. I am doing my senior practicum capstone on the mother and infant unit. I noticed that sometimes I have trouble talking to the parents and figuring out what to say to them to make conversation. What are some things that you ask them (whether that be about the baby or about themselves) that helps you strengthen the nurse patient relationship?
 

Some of the things that I ask are if they have any other children at home, how did they decide to pick their baby’s name, so on. But I feel like it is always the same couple of things I talk about and I want to build stronger rapport with my patients. I would appreciate your advice!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Are you worried about anything when you go home? 

Are there any questions you want to ask but might be embarrassed?  

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Specializes in Nursing Student.
On 2/28/2021 at 8:58 AM, meanmaryjean said:

Are you worried about anything when you go home? 

Are there any questions you want to ask but might be embarrassed?  

This is great advice!  Create opportunities for patient education.

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Specializes in postpartum, neonatal.

Ask them about their delivery! It was just one of the most wild experiences of their lives and they are usually bursting to talk about it. + I read an AWONN article about c-section moms or ones with traumatic deliveries telling their birth stories helped reduce anxiety, feelings of "failure" to not deliver lady partslly, and helped them process their delivery. & helping a mom feel positive about her delivery can help her bond with baby & decrease pain.

https://www.jognn.org/article/S0884-2175(20)30309-9/fulltext

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