Trauma-Informed Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Infants, Families, and Care Teams

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
• Trauma-informed care principles
• Pediatric patient and family support

Background:

• Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are environments where infants, families, and care teams frequently encounter traumatic experiences.
• Infants face separation from parents and painful procedures, while families experience fear, disempowerment, and potential discrimination.
• Care teams witness infant illness and death, and family distress, contributing to a traumatic environment for all.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the prevalence and impact of trauma within the NICU setting.
• To advocate for the adoption of trauma-informed care as a universal practice in NICUs.
• To explore the application of trauma-informed care for optimizing infant and family outcomes and supporting care teams.

Main Methods:

• This study is a conceptual review and synthesis of existing literature on trauma in the NICU.
• It examines the experiences of infants, families, and healthcare providers within the NICU environment.
• It discusses the principles and potential applications of trauma-informed care in this specialized setting.

Main Results:

• Traumatic experiences are common for infants, families, and care teams in the NICU.
• These experiences can have long-term adverse effects on infants and families.
• Trauma-informed care offers a framework to address these challenges.

Conclusions:

• Implementing trauma-informed care in the NICU is crucial for improving patient and family outcomes.
• Trauma-informed care can also support the well-being of NICU care teams.
• Adopting a trauma-informed approach is essential for creating a healing environment in the NICU.