Newborn Skin Protection Methods Applied by Neonatal Intensive Care Nurses: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Neonatal nursing
• Dermatology
• Pediatric care

Background:

• Newborn skin is immature and vulnerable, requiring specialized care.
• Skin structure and function continue to develop post-birth.
• Neonatal nurses play a crucial role in protecting and supporting infant skin development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore neonatal nurses' understanding and practices regarding newborn skin protection.
• To identify factors influencing skin integrity in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study involving 12 neonatal intensive care unit nurses.
• Data collected through descriptive information forms, voice recorders, and focus group interviews.
• Content analysis used for qualitative data evaluation, adhering to COREQ Checklist.

Main Results:

• Nine themes emerged: newborn skin protection, awareness, information sharing, outcomes of protection, treatment/care side effects, institutional/medical barriers, experience, and lifelong learning.
• Nurses demonstrated knowledge of factors disrupting skin integrity.
• Nurses implemented practices to safeguard skin integrity.

Conclusions:

• Neonatal intensive care unit nurses possess knowledge of skin integrity disruptors.
• Nurses actively engage in practices to protect newborn skin integrity.
• Understanding and addressing barriers are key to optimizing skin care.