A Parent's Perspective: Family Integrated Care as a Tool to Help NICU Families Thrive
by Fabiana Bacchini, MSc, BJ
- Duration: 60 Mins
- Credits: 1 CERP, 1 R-CERP, 1 Nurse Contact Hours, 1 CME
- Handout: Yes
Abstract:
This presentation provides a heartfelt account of the hurdles and victories encountered during a 146-day NICU stay after a preterm birth, from a parent's point of view. Focusing on the Family Integrated (FiCare) model, which incorporates parents as essential members of the care team, it highlights the crucial impact of family engagement in the NICU, offering benefits that extend beyond the immediate term. This includes the development of enhanced advocacy skills, especially important for infants with additional diagnoses requiring specialized care in complex healthcare settings.While the NICU represents a temporary phase in a lifetime, FiCare lays enduring foundations for post-discharge care. Parents engaged in this model of care report increased confidence in taking care of their baby, and decreased stress and anxiety at discharge.
This presentation argues that the NICU, crucial for saving lives, must also serve as a beginning for thriving. Thriving involves holistic family well-being. Adequate support within the hospital becomes a cornerstone for navigating the road ahead. The repercussions of preterm birth, traumatic delivery, and NICU goes beyond discharge, emphasizing the need for families to be part of their babies’ care team in hospital.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the significance of the Family Integrated (FiCare) model in incorporating parents as crucial members of the care team, and how this integration impacts the well-being of both parents and infants.
2. Describe the impact of family engagement in the NICU, extending beyond the hospitalization, including the development of enhanced advocacy skills.
3. Explain the critical components of integrating families into the care of their infant, which includes communication, parent education and peer support.
Categories:
Family-Centered Care, Parents in the NICU,
