Implementing a Parent Education Program in the Special Care Nursery.

BACKGROUND

Parents of preterm hospitalized infants, whose lengths of stay can range from a few days to several months, often experience emotional liability. Because the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery (SCN) is a stressful and intimidating environment, prompt attention should be given to reducing parental stress and increasing parental confidence in preparation to care for their child post-discharge.

METHODS

A quality improvement pilot project was designed to evaluate the parent education and support program, titled HUG Your Baby, in a Level II SCN for its ability to decrease stress and increase confidence for postpartum mothers of preterm infants born at less than 35 weeks gestation during the infant's hospitalization.

RESULTS

The outcomes demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in maternal stress and a statistically significant increase in maternal confidence.

DISCUSSION: The HUG Your Baby program is an effective parent education and support program that would benefit NICU and SCN families.