Do neonatal nurses′ perceptions agree with parents’ self-reported needs and stressors in a surgical neonatal intensive care unit?

Abstract

To explore neonatal nurses' and parents’ perceptions of parental needs and stressors in a surgical neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using the Neonatal Family Needs Inventory and Parental Stressor Scale:NICU. Matched data for 99 nurse-parent dyads showed only limited agreement (Gwet's agreement coefficients 0.23 - 0.26). Nurses recognised Assurance as parents' priority need and Parental Role Alteration as parents' greatest stressor. They identified 8 of parents' 10 most important needs and recognised parents' highest stressors. Nurses under-estimated the importance of mothers' (p's < 0.01, large effect sizes [ES]) but not fathers' needs. They under-rated parents' stress at feeling helpless to protect their baby and overrated stress around NICU sights and sounds (medium ES's). Nurses' years of NICU experience showed no significant effects. Greater awareness is needed of the importance and uniqueness of parents’ needs and stressors. Education to enhance attunement would better support individualized family-centred care.