1Clinical Instructor, National Institute of Nursing Education, PGIMER, Chandigarh
2Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS, New Delhi
3Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, WHO Collaborating Centre for Newborn Training and Research, AIIMS, New Delhi
4Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi
5Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery, AIIMS, New Delhi
To determine and assess the loss and grief response, and perceived needs of parents who are having their newborns in neonatal care units.
Qualitative, phenomenological, hermeneutic study was conducted at Neonatal care units (neonatal intensive care unit NICU/neonatal surgical intensive care unit NSICU) AIIMS, New Delhi. Sixteen parents participated in study In-depth interview of twenty to seventy fi ve minutes duration were conducted and documented systematically. The data were analyzed following 12 steps based on Van Manen's analysis.
The study found that the loss of parents was ‘Anticipated’ and ‘Actual’ related to separation from baby, loss of baby etc. Grief responses were ‘psychological’ e.g. tension, anger, crying, denial, bargaining, confusion, preoccupation, and ‘physical’ e.g. loss of appetite, sleep etc. The perceived needs were mainly, to have a ‘Friendly visiting policy’, ‘Proper information’ and ‘Communication’.
The parents of neonates admitted to neonatal care units do have loss and grief reaction, and special needs, which a nurse needs to identify and meet in order to help parents cope with the grief.
Neonatal Care Units, Loss and Grief, Perceived Need, Coping
