The Parents' Perception of Nursing Support in their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Experience

Abstract

Parents of sick infants who require neonatal surgery or who have a cardiac condition which may require surgery often face a very stressful and difficult time. Meeting their needs may be difficult in a neonatal care unit (NICU) where the average length of stay is short (approx 12 days). This high patient turnover rate may impact on neonatal nurses' ability to provide the level of support needed by these parents. The aim of the study was to explore the level of stress perceived and experienced by parents related to nursing staff behaviour and communication during their infant's hospitalisation and to also assess their perception of the support they received from nursing staff. This pilot study was undertaken in a children's hospital in Australia with families of English, Chinese and Arabic speaking backgrounds whose infants were admitted primarily for a cardiac or surgical problem. The study utilised a self-report questionnaire consisting of a sub-scale of the Parental Stressor Scale: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (PSS: NICU), a subscale of nursing staff behaviour and communication, and the Nurse Parent Support Tool (NPST). Sixty-six parents were approached; 62 completed and returned the questionnaires, giving a response rate of 94%. The majority (76%) of respondents were mothers. Insufficient information regarding tests and treatment and uncertainty as to whether nurses would call them about changes in their baby's condition caused parents the most stress. The overall mean score for 'nursing support' was 4.2, indicating a high perception of support. A moderate correlation was found between the level of stress experienced/reported and perceived support (R2=0.35), with increasing support associated with decreasing stress. Generally, parents of infants admitted to the NICU had a low level of stress and perceived a high level of support. To provide a high level of support, there is a need for ongoing education for nurses in the use of support strategies.