Vulnerable Neonates (and Their Families) Deserve Respectful Care

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Neonatal Health
• Nursing Practice and Healthcare Management

Background:

• Respectful maternity care (RMC) is gaining attention, but patient experiences indicate inconsistent delivery.
• The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) developed a framework and toolkit to guide nursing teams in promoting RMC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share a healthcare organization's experience implementing respectful and equitable maternity care.
• To outline the application of the AWHONN RMC Framework within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) setting.
• To promote RMC for neonates and their families in the NICU.

Main Methods:

• Leveraging components of the AWHONN RMC Framework for NICU implementation.
• Translating respectful care principles across the maternity care continuum, specifically into the NICU.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of respectful, equitable care for women, neonates, and families.
• Highlighted outcomes of the RMC initiative within the NICU.

Conclusions:

• The AWHONN RMC Framework provides a structure for promoting respectful and equitable care in the NICU.
• Sustained efforts are necessary to ensure respectful care is consistently provided throughout the maternity care continuum.