Going home from the NICU can be one of the most stressful moments for parents of premature babies, especially without proper guidance. Families often face the challenge of caring for a baby who requires more attention than a full-term infant, and without a structured transition program, the stress can quickly become overwhelming.
The implications of current discharge practices are significant. Parents of premature babies may experience depression and anxiety due to the high level of responsibility and uncertainty. While in the NICU, families endure the emotional roller coaster of whether their baby will survive. Once the infant reaches a stable point, planning for home care begins. If the baby requires tube feedings, oxygen, a tracheostomy, or monitoring devices, major family adjustments are necessary. One parent may leave work to provide care, and missed home health visits can create unsafe situations, placing the primary caregiver under intense stress and extended hours of vigilance.
A multidisciplinary team—including nurses, doctors, occupational therapists, child life specialists, and nurse educators or consultants—should support families during this transition. The bedside nurse is particularly critical, as they develop the closest relationship with the family and understand the baby’s daily needs.
Parents benefit from clear, step-by-step instructions, demonstrations, and written reference materials that they can consult at home (Ronan et al., 2015). Current educational resources often use full-term infants, which does not realistically reflect the challenges of premature babies with medical complexities. Future research should include infants of varying gestational ages and medical conditions to better guide transition programs.
By implementing structured transition programs, NICUs can help reduce parental stress, promote family safety, and improve long-term outcomes for premature infants.
Reference:
Ronan, S., Liberatos, P., Weingarten, S., Wells, P., Garry, J., O’Brien, K., & Nevid, T. (2015, March/April). Neonatal Network, 34(2), 102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0730-0832.34.2.102