PTSD for NICU Parents

[littleneoRN]

Someone decided to do a study of what we already know. That having a baby in the NICU is traumatic for parents. I would love to see more family support...in the form of staffing that allows time for emotional care of families, increased social work and child life, support groups, and parent-parent connections with veteran parents from the NICU. Maybe having research to demonstrate this problem will speak louder to the people who make the tough money decisions on these things.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/health/25trau.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&em

I found this on the general nursing discussion and thought it might open up an interesting discussion in this group. What do your hospitals do to support families? What ideas do you have?

[spacey]

wow...thank you for such a great article link. We currently have only social workers and they are seemingly overwhelmed with meeting the families insurance / financial / practical needs. I am deeply passionately interested in starting a family support position....for exactly the reasons listed in the article. I will certainly be copying the article for documentation of PTSD as a result of the NICU experience. I've been claiming this happens for years! You might be interested in looking at the thread posted recently on parent support (gosh, I think that's what it was titled -- maybe family support?). I think the primary problem in creating these positions is funding. (seems it always comes back to money). If you find anything else of interest, supporting the need for this type of position please please post it here! I noticed the article mentioned the March of Dimes providing support...wonder if they provide funding for it? Going to go research that next! Anyway, you may not get lots of replies to this...but there are a few of us here who's niche is family support...and we should all stay in touch!

thanks!

spacey