Reconceptualizing the nurse's role in the newborn period as an "attacher"

In the first few days and weeks after a child's birth, attachment is a major task for the mother and her newborn. Success in this long-term psychological process is associated with positive life-long outcomes for both the parenting mother and her child. This article proposes a relational approach to newborn nursing grounded in the principles of attachment theory. Understanding this "attacher" approach can benefit nurses by bringing a gratifying depth to their practice and can benefit families by helping mothers and newborns address the most compelling task before them.