While the intensive environment of the NICU can act as a barrier to parents fulfilling the parental occupation, evidence demonstrates that family-centered, developmentally supportive care leads to more successful outcomes for premature newborns and their families. A needs assessment at a Level III NICU in Indiana revealed the need to provide more thorough parent education to assist parents with fulfilling their role in the NICU. As a Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE), the occupational therapy student developed and implemented a program to promote parent education and participation, supporting healthy infant-parent bonding in the NICU. The program included the creation of a NICU Binder and the presentation of Parent Education Courses to provide thorough education regarding principles of developmental care. The results of the post-session parent survey, a measure of parent satisfaction, indicated a positive outcome with a score of 4.5083/5.0. The post-program NICU staff survey, a measure of overall program satisfaction, indicated a positive outcome with a score of 4.725/5.0. The DCE also led to a more collaborative relationship between therapy and nursing in the NICU. The site will sustain the family-centered care program as NICU therapists continue the parent education sessions and add topics as deemed appropriate.

Creator

• Kantor, Doron

Contributors

• Nichols, Alison

Publisher

• University of Indianapolis

Language

• en

Identifier

• Kantor.Doron.pdf

Keyword

• Occupational Therapy

• Health Sciences

Date created

• 2018-05

Rights statement

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/