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A Concept Analysis of Parental Uncertainty in Illness of an Infant

Kathryn Jeanne Malin1, Teresa S Johnson

  • 1Kathryn Jeanne Malin is a PhD Student, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI. The author can be reached via e-mail at kmalin@uwm.edu. Teresa S. Johnson is a Professor, College of Nursing, The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI.

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|July 2, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Parental uncertainty in illness is a cognitive and emotional experience for parents of infants, potentially disrupting their role development. Understanding this experience is key for effective nursing care and parental coping strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Nursing
  • Parental Health
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Uncertainty in illness is a recognized concept across disciplines.
  • Parental uncertainty in infant illness requires updated analysis due to healthcare changes.
  • Existing research lacks comprehensive information on parental uncertainty with infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify antecedents, attributes, and consequences of parental uncertainty in illness.
  • Utilized Rodgers' Evolutionary Concept Analysis method for a thorough examination.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a literature search across PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo.
  • Included articles published in English between 2000 and 2017.
  • Used keywords such as 'parental uncertainty', 'infants', and 'parental uncertainty in illness'.

Main Results:

  • Parental uncertainty in infant illness is a paradoxical, cognitive, and emotional experience.
  • This uncertainty stems from an inability to create meaning.
  • It can disrupt the development of the parental role.

Conclusions:

  • Nursing care must acknowledge and be sensitive to parental uncertainty.
  • Nurses can help normalize this experience for parents.
  • Nurses play a vital role in facilitating healthy coping mechanisms for parents facing infant illness.
Abstract

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