Nursing care for parents of injured infants in the pediatric intensive care unit

Abstract

 In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), nursing care that provides psychological support to parents of infants with traumatic injuries is essential. This study aimed to clarify how nurses engage with parents of infants admitted to the PICU due to trauma. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four PICU nurses, and the data were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. As a result of the analysis, three main themes were identified : (1) identifying factors contributing to injury embedded in daily life in order to understand parents’ childcare practices ; (2) creating an environment that relieves parental tension and prevents relationships with healthcare professionals from becoming closed; and (3) supporting parents by anticipating post-discharge life to protect the child’s safety. The findings indicate that, within the limited PICU stay, nurses build trusting relationships by acknowledging parents’ emotions and childcare backgrounds, while working together with parents to consider their child’s safety after discharge. These practices highlight nurses’ efforts to support parents experiencing psychological crisis and to promote safe childcare following hospitalization.