Care of the Family of an Infant With a Congenital Heart Defect During the NICU Hospitalization

Abstract

The family of an infant born with a congenital heart defect is challenged by both the short- and long-term implications of the diagnosis and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization. Nurses are in a key position to support these families as they deal with the psychological, emotional, and financial impact of the NICU experience. Understanding how families perceive the NICU environment and their grief in losing the desired healthy baby provides the NICU nurse with the knowledge to engage in self-reflection on her or his interpersonal style and caregiving attitudes. Utilizing the concepts and principles of family-centered care and relationship-based practice, nurses can work together with the families to determine how to best meet the families' needs and to find the resources to support them. Families and colleagues appreciate nurses who demonstrate expertise in this approach to family-centered care. This appreciation leads to greater job satisfaction and decreased job-related stress.

Relationship‐based care model in paediatrics: A randomized controlled trial to implement the parents’ perception of the quality of nursing care

“…Furthermore, by interacting in this way with the patient, the satisfaction of nursing staff can also be improved. The helping relationship as the core element of nursing care is often not recognized as an implementation of care strategy (Johnson & Ezekielian, 2014; Lown et al., 2016; Milford, 2016). The RBC model also acts on communication between health professionals, thus favouring continuity of care and positively influencing relationships among health professionals (Johnson & Ezekielian, 2014; Leykum et al., 2014; Lown et al., 2016; Winsett & Hauck, 2011).…”

A randomized control trial: Effects of teach back method on self-efficacy among mothers of children with congenital heart defects

“…Nurses have a tremendous responsibility in instructing and educating patients. [12] Patient education is a vital aspect of nursing care and may consider the core of nursing practice. Effective education can improve health, reduce hospital readmissions, decrease the costs of healthcare, and improve patient and family satisfaction.…”

“…Effective education can improve health, reduce hospital readmissions, decrease the costs of healthcare, and improve patient and family satisfaction. [12] Therefore, nurses should utilize effective and feasible techniques to assure patient comprehension of instructions. [13] Teach-back method is a technique, whereby patient/caregiver should convey the received information from a provider and clarifying the feedback.…”