ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to understand the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) healthcare providers' (HCPs) experiences and needs during their own past, present and desired pregnancies. It has been reported that HCPs' personal and professional lives are mutually interconnected. Given the NICU HCPs' knowledge of the risks and potential adverse outcomes of newborns admitted to the NICU, their pregnancy experience may be more challenging than that of the general population. However, to date, these aspects are still little studied. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study design was adopted. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and April 2021 in a single third-level NICU in northeastern Italy. Transcripts were analysed using inductive content analysis. Findings are reported according to the COREQ guidelines. RESULTS: Nineteen HCPs participated in this study. Participants included 12 nurses, 6 medical doctors, and 1 paediatric physical therapist. All participants reported that their professional knowledge and experience influenced their pregnancy-related experiences, emotions and behaviours. Some participants employed adaptive coping strategies, while others were likely to experience post-traumatic stress reactions. The narratives of the men and women were similar. Three themes were identified: 'Feeling different'; 'Influence of work experience on decision-making'; 'Coping with difficulties'. CONCLUSION: To reduce the potential impact of NICU HCPs' work experience on pregnancy, family functioning and infant health, management of parental emotions should be considered for this population. IMPACT: Hospital managers could prevent the potential distress of vulnerable NICU healthcare workers during pregnancy by tailoring interventions aimed at supporting them in becoming aware and making sense of their work experiences or sensitizing individual psychological support. Moreover, university students should be offered self-help strategies to face potential dual role conflicts in their future careers. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: No patient or public contribution.
Subject(s)
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Parents , Male , Infant , Pregnancy , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Female , Child , Parents/psychology , Health Personnel , Adaptation, Psychological , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Politics, the science and the art of administering public affairs, is a very important field. Dealing with professional policy means to dedicate ourselves to the good of the profession. Professional policies are an integral part of taking care; the professional family needs clear reference points: training, tutoring, promotion and institutional representation. AIM: Exploring perceptions, ideals, shared imagination and desires about the professional policies of nurses/midwives and of master's students in order to be able to have a representation of the reality and to start a critical reflection on the subject. METHOD: A qualitative study was conducted on a proactive sample of 22 nurses / midwives as qualified witnesses of the national situation. The data was collected through a questionnaire built ad hoc. RESULTS: From the analysis of the answers given to the questionnaire, we identified 10 main themes. In the training sector two of the themes that were selected are the importance of the new knowledges and inadequate differentiation of the positions; Regarding the working sector two of the themes that came out are the lack of meritocracy and of new opportunities; meanwhile, in the research field one of the main theme identified is the gap between the theory and the practice. CONCLUSION: The present study finds out that participation in policy-making processes is occasional and of little intensity: just few nurses/midwives are actively involved in the promotion and development of projects in the health sector and of healthcare policies.
