title: Nurses' perspectives on the close collaboration with parents training program in the NICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe nurses' experiences of a training program promoting family-centered care and its influence on their care practices in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive qualitative interview study. A training program was used to teach nurses and physicians to collaborate closely with parents in infant care. After the program, 22 nurses were interviewed. Participants were asked to describe their current care practices and reflect on training program-initiated changes. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main finding was that nurses felt the program had promoted beneficial change regarding family-centered care. The resulting new atmosphere and care practices supported increased parental involvement in infant care. Due to the nurses' increased interaction with parents, they became more aware of the parents' psychosocial situation. The role of the nurse changed from an active caretaker to a facilitator who supported the parents in infant care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The transition from professionally centered NICU care to family-centered care is achievable using a well-designed structured program that involves all staff members. The program was able to change the nurses' attitudes and care practices, signifying a successful implementation of family-centered care.
authors: Anna Axelin, University Research Fellow, University of Turku, Turun yliopisto, Turku, Finland. She can be reached via e-mail at anmaax@utu.fi Sari Ahlqvist-Björkroth, Psychologist, Department of Psychology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. Wiveka Kauppila, Turku University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Turku, Finland. Zack Boukydis, Departments of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Semmelweis Medical School, Budapest, Hungary. Liisa Lehtonen, Head of the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Axelin
authors: Sari
authors: S
authors: Ahlqvist-Björkroth
authors: Wiveka
authors: W
authors: Kauppila
authors: Zack
authors: Z
authors: Boukydis
authors: Liisa
authors: L
authors: Lehtonen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research