The Power of Presence: Activities to Engage and Empower Families in the NICU
- Duration: 60 Mins
- Credits: 1 CERP, 1 R-CERP, 1 Nurse Contact Hours, 1 CME
- Handout: Yes
Abstract:
In this presentation, I will discuss the importance of family integration into developmental care in the NICU and the significant implications for nursing care. More evidence is shedding light on the impact of early life stress experienced by NICU infants, helping to shape how best we choose and implement newborn intensive care strategies and therapies. This new evidence is shaping nursing care with a greater emphasis on supporting neurophysiology and neuro-connections. For example, decreasing family separation and increasing family engagement in all caregiving activities is neuroprotective for the infant as well as developmentally supportive. Now, with the increasing focus on neuroprotection, it is a perfect time to align well-established family-centered developmentally supportive care with neuroprotection strategies. It is truly not possible to have one without the other. When every baby and family receives care that is individually tailored, developmentally appropriate, and neuroprotective, then we can diminish inequities in the NICU. Encouraging family visiting and presence is just not enough; now care must be focused on enhancing and supporting families to be fully engaged in the care of their infant in the high-risk environment of the NICU. Strategies to increase family engagement and empower families in decision-making will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe research that supports meaningful implementation of infant and family-centered developmental care in the NICU.
2. List strategies to increase family presence and engagement in the NICU.
3. Describe strategies with supporting evidence for increasing integration of families into caregiving in the NICU.
