title: Parents' perceptions regarding readiness for their infant's discharge from the NICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify what parents need to feel ready for the discharge of their infant from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 parents of infants admitted to a Canadian Level III NI CU were interviewed (2011-2012) and asked to identify what they require to feel ready for discharge. Interview transcripts underwent qualitative content analysis to produce a descriptive summary of parents' perceptions of their needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents indicated a need for information and hands-on experience to enhance their readiness for discharge. Observations of their infant and of the NI CU environment impacted parents' perceptions of their infant's readiness for discharge, which influenced perceptions of their own readiness for discharge. Finally, parents require tailoring of information and experiences to meet the unique needs of their family.
authors.affiliation: Family Birthing Centre, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burnham
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Feeley
authors.forename: Kathyrn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sherrard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007224:Infant Care / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D036301:Qualitative Research