Connecting With Adolescent Mothers: Perspectives of Hospital-Based Perinatal Nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Maternal-Child Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Adolescent mothers report lower satisfaction with perinatal nursing care compared to adult mothers.
• Understanding the factors influencing care quality for adolescent mothers is crucial for improving health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore hospital-based perinatal nurses' perspectives on providing adolescent-friendly care.
• To identify strategies, facilitators, and barriers in delivering effective perinatal nursing care to adolescent mothers.

Main Methods:

• An interpretive descriptive study design was employed.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 hospital-based perinatal nurses experienced in caring for adolescent mothers.
• Open-ended questions focused on practice adaptation, learning, facilitators, and barriers to adolescent-friendly care.

Main Results:

• Nurses aim to deliver positive experiences and ensure mother-infant safety.
• Key strategies include being nonjudgmental, establishing rapport, and individualizing care.
• Nurses described a 'mother-friendly' approach adaptable to all maternal ages, focusing on therapeutic relationships.

Conclusions:

• Perinatal nurses utilize specific strategies to enhance care for adolescent mothers.
• Fostering a nonjudgmental, connected, and individualized approach is vital for positive maternal and infant outcomes.
• This study enhances understanding of how nurses engage and support adolescent mothers within hospital settings.