title: Neonatal nurses' views on the barriers to parenting in the intensive care nursery--a pilot study.
abstract: A descriptive study, using a self-reporting questionnaire, was undertaken to identify neonatal nurses' views on barriers to parenting in the intensive care nursery. The objective of the study was to determine nurses' responses to the barriers to parenting identified in the nursing literature. Relevant literature was examined and the questionnaire developed. To determine reliability and validity, the questionnaire was examined by both medical and nursing experts and a pilot study was undertaken, with relevant changes made, as many answers reflect current unit policy rather than opinion. Questionnaires were distributed in an intensive care nursery in Brisbane, Australia; the nurses were asked to rate the extent of their agreement with the points identified in the literature on a seven-point scale, with 1 being the lowest score and 7 the highest. Of the 80 questionnaires distributed, 40 were returned. The results of the questionnaire indicated an understanding of the environmental and emotional barriers confronting parents. However, there was little acknowledgement of the nurse-initiated practices which also prevent parents fulfilling their parenting role. Evenly divided responses were received to several questions, indicating inconsistency in neonatal nurses' views on what constitute barriers to parenting. The results of the questionnaire are of value in extending neonatal nursing knowledge. They provide a snapshot of neonatal nurses' views on the barriers confronting parents as they attempt to fulfill their parenting role, and bring nurse-initiated barriers, such as policy and procedures, to the attention of neonatal intensive care nurses.
authors.affiliation: Central Queensland University.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014789:Visitors to Patients / Q000523:psychology*