healthcare – JRM Nurse Consultants

In our rapid changing healthcare system, it is very important to be able to have information at the tip of our fingers so that we can best help our patients. How great it is to have the patient’s medical records available after entering their information in the system when the patient asks a question. My favorite thing about having the patient’s information at your fingertips, is when a patient calls me, to help me remember them I always jot down some personal information about them; for example, one patient loved to watch her Spanish soap operas, another had a pet bird named Sam. Knowing these trivial things helps me build a relationship telephonically with the patient, this allows me to ask about it so that when it comes time to discussing their healthcare and goals, I have established a trust to build a stronger effective care plan.

Critical thinking needs to be incorporated in to the informatics process. Through critical thinking and informatics, we are encouraged to consider our own needs, have positive feedback and think logically to assist us to make good decisions that are based on evidence rather than on emotional feelings (Rubenfeld & Schaeffer, 2014).

References

Rubenfeld, M. G., & Scheffer, B. (2014). Critical Thinking Tactics for Nursing Achieving the IOM Competencies (3rd ed.). Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9781284059571

For parents of premature babies, every moment in the NICU brings a mix of hope, fear, and overwhelming stress. Various studies have been conducted on the stress levels that parents of premature babies experience while their infants are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A qualitative study was conducted to explore this subpopulation, using semi-structured interviews with two mothers who experienced preterm labor. The mothers reported feelings of separation anxiety after delivering prematurely. They described a sense of a shattered dream, as their ideal scenario of an uncomplicated birth and taking their newborn home immediately was disrupted (Da Costa Krieger et al., 2014).

Numerous studies confirm that parents of premature babies experience high stress, making this a valuable population for ongoing research to identify supportive interventions. Using Spradley’s domain analysis, the study highlighted that mothers were stressed not only because their baby was in the NICU, but also because nurses sometimes made parents feel like visitors rather than primary caregivers (Heerman, Wilson, & Wilhelm, 2005).

These findings emphasize that, regardless of sample size, the common denominator remains: parents of premature babies endure significant stress. This stress is compounded at home due to family obligations, financial concerns, complex schedules, hospital visits, and caring for other children. The NICU itself adds another layer of anxiety, as parents worry about the survival and well-being of their infant.

Conclusion:
While the NICU journey can be overwhelming, parents are not alone. With compassionate healthcare teams, proper guidance, and ongoing support, families can gain confidence and find strength in caring for their premature babies. Every step, no matter how small, is a milestone worth celebrating, and creating a nurturing environment at home helps both parents and infants thrive.

References
Da Costa Krieger, D., Valeria de Oliveira, J., Bittencourt, V., Garcia Parker, A., Ambrosina de Oliveira Vargas, M., Regina de Luz, K., & Marin, S. (2014, August). Perception of Prematurity: A Case Study Aimed at Approaching Mothers. Journal of Nursing, 2754-2761.

Heerman, J. A., Wilson, M. E., & Wilhelm, P. A. (2005, May/June). Mothers in the NICU: Outsider to Partner. Pediatric Nursing, 31(3), 176-200.

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Tag Archives: healthcare

Rapid Changing Healthcare System

Stress Levels Among Parents of Premature Babies in the NICU