Nurses' experiences and challenges in postnatal stabilisation of newborns: a phenomenological study

Postnatal stabilisation of newborns is a critical phase that directly influences neonatal survival and long-term outcomes. Neonatal nurses play a central role in this process, yet limited research has explored their lived experiences, particularly regarding clinical responsibility, organisational constraints, and emotional demands. This study aimed to explore nurses' lived experiences of stabilising newborns during the immediate postnatal period and to identify the clinical, organisational, relational, and emotional dimensions shaping this practice.

A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 17 neonatal nurses working in delivery room and operating theatre units of a tertiary hospital. Data were collected between August and December 2025. Interviews were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis method to identify themes reflecting nurses' lived experiences.

Five interrelated themes emerged: clinical competence and standardisation; structural and hierarchical barriers; relational dynamics and safety culture; emotional labour and moral distress; and strategic defence and professional development. Nurses experienced postnatal stabilisation as a high-stakes threshold requiring rapid, coordinated, and protocol-based actions to ensure newborn survival. While clinical protocols enhanced confidence and supported decision-making, limited authority, environmental constraints, and communication gaps generated ethical tension and professional frustration. Emotional involvement, empathic identification with newborns, and fear of irreversible error contributed to psychological burden, whereas documentation practices and continuous education were perceived as protective strategies.

Postnatal stabilisation is experienced by nurses as a multidimensional practice rather than a purely technical intervention. Clinical responsibility, organisational context, teamwork dynamics, and emotional labour collectively shape this process. The findings suggest that organisational support, effective communication, and ongoing professional development may help address challenges experienced during postnatal stabilisation and inform improvements in neonatal nursing practice.