What kind of help do parents with newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit seek?

The aim of this article was to identify the kind of help that parents with newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit seek from health professionals in general and from nurses specifically. Two personal interviews were conducted with the parents (father or mother) of four hospitalized neonates. The parents volunteered to participate. Through the use of previously-established, open-ended questions and under conditions facilitating a supportive relationship, the parents were interviewed by a nurse who listened actively, tried to understand, and validated their feelings. During the interview, the parents had the opportunity to express their feelings and experiences. At the same time, these interviews increased the data available on the type of help needed by parents, taking into account both nursing care planning and the type of nursing interventions to be performed in these families. The results show that most of the help required by families is related to their own needs: communication, learning and feeling occupied. We present a standardized care plan that follows the NANDA, NOC and NIC taxonomies and shows how these needs could be managed by nursing professionals, based on a supportive relationship that includes three main elements: respect, understanding, and empathy. (C) 2008 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.