on site counseling

[spacey]

HI......

Does anyone currently have available to their parents on-site counseling? Looking at the family centered care trend, and noting that NICU admission for premature birth or illness is usually a family crisis, I was just wondering what type of emotional support is available in other units.

I know in our unit, we frequently have lots of families with multiple family dysfunctions that seem to get worse when placed in a stressful situation. I'm thinking specifically of teenage parents, parents who have a spouse in jail, and parents who are no longer together and perhaps a new girlfriend / boyfriend has entered the picture. We've even recently had parents diagnosed with a terminal illness during the pregnancy, and families where the mother has died related to childbirth. Is this a universal NICU trend?.......and, do you think a trained crisis counselor on-site would be helpful in your unit? (for short term support / counseling only)

thanks for any input!

Spacey

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

We have several social workers of varying quality. Some can only deal with the practical Medicaid and parking voucher stuff, and some are good with the emotional side too. We also have two psychologists, but I don't see them all that much and have yet to have a parent express to me that they've used their services.

[spacey]

Elizabells:

Wow....that's a lot of support staff! We have only 1 social worker. Our unit is a regional level 3 center with about 55 beds. Do you work in a much larger unit? -- or perhaps a teaching hospital?

Anyone else have thoughts about parents needing crisis support or counseling or something similar?

thanks for all input! -- spacey

[UTVOL3]

It sounds like a great idea to me. Like you said SW doesn't always have the time, whatwith signing everyone up for Medicaid an SS$.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I'm at a regional level... IIIc? IV? Whatever numerical system we're using these days. Census generally around 70, although technically we're a 58 bed unit. And yeah, a teaching hospital.

I have had the experience of parents telling me that they don't actually like the SWs trying to provide them with counseling. I even had one ask me to keep the SW away from her when her child was dying. I guess it depends on the person, though.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We have 2 dedicated social workers for our unit, but we also have 4 others that help cover peds.

We tried support groups, but always had a poor turnout...I think our demographics have something to do with it.

We also have a child life specialist that is dedicated to our unit, she not only works with our bigger kids, but she is available for the sibs too.

We have case workers for our unit also, and they work with the social workers on d/c stuff, medicaid, etc .