Vivências de pais no universo da unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal

Abstract

The experience of parents with babies hospitalized in a Neonatal ICU is marked by an emotional rollercoaster, where fear, helplessness and hope coexist daily. Where the beginning of motherhood and fatherhood, natural at home, is replaced by a place full of equipment, hospital routines and constant uncertainty. The highly technological environment, although essential for care, can seem cold and frightening, requiring parents to find the strength to remain present, emotionally connected to the baby and resilient in the face of each challenge. Therefore, we developed this study, which deals with research with a qualitative approach and aims to understand the feelings and emotions of parents who experience the hospitalization of their newborns in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Thus, the objective of the study is to understand the experiences of parents with newborns hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. To this end, the General Objective is to understand the experiences, emotions and practices of parents with newborns hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The specific Objectives are: to identify the emotions and feelings of parents of newborns hospitalized in the Neonatal ICU and to identify the coping strategies used in this situation. The research setting was a Maternity Hospital located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The methodology was a descriptive qualitative study. The analysis was carried out using the Bardin method, performed by separating the statements of the research participants and separating the statements by colors that represented purple for feelings and yellow for coping strategies. The data exploration was carried out based on the interviews and content analysis. Next, the common statements were condensed for subsequent categorization. And finally, the interpretation of such categories, highlighting the results of the research. Through the open interview, consisting of two questions: What are your feelings and emotions when seeing your newborn in the NICU? Describe your experiences in the NICU, two categories emerged: My feelings and emotions when seeing my newborn in the NICU are fear and despair. My experiences in the NICU are manifested through coping strategies, such as Observation, Communication and Learning with the team and my child. It was concluded that, given the reality of hospitalization, parents express feelings and emotions such as fear and despair and create coping strategies such as communication, observation and learning. Some emotions were more prevalent during the interviews. Therefore, it is necessary for nursing professionals to awaken empathy and active listening. Empathy, when putting oneself in the other's shoes, does not mean assuming the parents' problems, but rather understanding the vulnerability in which they find themselves. As well as active listening, being attentive to the problems of this family, facilitating the exercise of care by nursing professionals with the parents