I ntroduction: To explore experiences of Iranian parents with a hospitalized premature infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and examine socio-cultural factors associated with having a less than perfect infant. Methods: Purposely selected 21 participants in this study were 6 fathers, 7 mothers, 5 nurses and 3 physicians specialized in neonatology. Semi-structured in-depth interviews using inductive approach and content analysis helped obtain and analyze data by open encoding for classification and theme abstraction. Results: Findings revealed that parents of hospitalized NICU infants in Iran experienced: job and income loss; shattered confidence in parental role; challenges to family dynamics; shame as a social stigma; loss of control; overwhelmed with uncertainties; and stress induced physical and emotional problems. Conclusion: Unique and outstanding finding of this study was the social stigma of shame for parents of an NICU infant which directly explained the socio-cultural aspect of Iranian society where families place great importance on having a healthy and strong infant. Having a premature infant with anomalies is viewed as a family flaw. Physicians and nurses must focus more on communication with parents and fulfill an important role to educate, assure and comfort parents. Establishing support system for parents of NICU infants seem urgently needed to improve parentinfant bonding.

Introduction: Infant hospitalization is stressful event for parent in NICU. Parents think that they have lost control because of unfamiliar environment. Therefore, stress management is very important in this period. The family as the main factor of strength and protection for infant is required as the bases of standard care in NICU. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate stress management in Iranian NICU Parents. Methods: Using qualitative content analysis approach helped to collect and analysis data for open coding, classification, and theme abstraction. Twenty one parents with hospitalized neonates, physicians and nurses in the city of Isfahan were purposely recruited and selected for in-depth interviews. Results: The analyzed content revealed unique stress management approaches among the parents. The main themes were: 1) spirituality, 2) seeking information, 3) Seeking hope, 4) maintaining calm, 5) attachment to infant, and 6) communicating with the medical team Conclusion: Findings of this study highlights the importance of medical team’s attention to stressed parents who are trying to make adjustment or adapt to the hospitalization of their infant. A revised management approach to address the emotional needs of parents of neonates in Iran seems essential for improving communication with physicians and nurses.

Understanding the informational needs of cancer patients is a requirement to plan any educative care program for them. The aim of this study was to identify Iranian cancer patients' perceptions of informational needs. The study took a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were held with 25 cancer patients in two teaching hospitals in Iran. Transcripts of the interviews underwent conventional content analysis, and categories were extracted. The results came under two main categories: disease-related informational needs and information needs related to daily life. Disease-related informational needs had two subcategories: obtaining information about the nature of disease and obtaining information about disease prognosis. Information needs related to daily life also had two subcategories: obtaining information about healthy lifestyle and obtaining information about regular activities of daily life. The findings provide deep understanding of cancer patients' informational needs in Iran.

Family-centered care (FCC) is one of the important elements of care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The aim of this study was to understand the nurses' perception of FCC in NICUs. This qualitative study was performed using conventional content analysis. Participants in this study included 18 nurses who were selected by a purposeful method. Semistructured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with the participants. All interviews were written down, reviewed, and analyzed. Two categories were identified after the data analysis: (1) prerequisite for providing FCC and (2) parents' participation. Prerequisite for providing FCC consisted of two subcategories namely suitable facilities and adequate personnel. Parents' participation included subcategories of parents: neonate's attachment and parents' training. Nurses' perception of FCC in NICUs can facilitate an appropriate condition for the participation of family members in the care of neonates.

Background: The nursing process is a method used by students involving a systematic study of clinical decisions, but the students are faced with numerous challenges in application of nursing procedures. Therefore, the researchers sought to do a qualitative study with the purpose of examining nursing students' experiences regarding the nursing process. Methods: This was a qualitative study done in Hajar hospital in Shahrekord. The participants were 9 nursing students studying in their sixth semester who were selected through the purposive sampling method. Students' experiences were analyzed through the qualitative content analysis method. Data saturation occurred after interviewing 9 participants. Results: Based on data analysis obtained from students' experiences, 3 major categories were specified: decrease of performance, decreased critical thinking and students' dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Employing the nursing process has decreased critical thinking and increased students' dissatisfaction. It is necessary for nursing instructors and professors to use alternative methods that increase critical thinking for the nursing process.