title: Selection of primary patients in a neonatal intensive care unit.
abstract: The motives for the selection of primary patients in a neonatal intensive care unit were identified by 34 participants in a series of staff development programs on primary nursing. Motives were identified and ranked in order of importance. These included: (1) medical problems; (2) continuity of care; (3) impression of parents; (4) impression of the infant; (5) altruism; (6) nurses' self-esteem; and (7) impression of other staff. This paper considers the potential impact of these motives on the ability of the nurse to fulfill the expectations of primary nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: Special Care Nursery, Prentice Women's Hospital of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sterk
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D009042:Motivation; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D011321:Primary Nursing; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013192:Staff Development