Newborn ethical dilemmas: intensive care and intermediate care nursing attitudes

A self-administered questionnaire concerning various neonatal ethical issues was completed by 39 ICU and 36 intermediate care unit (INT) nurses. Guttman scale analysis indicated that ICU nurses were more reluctant than INT nurses to resuscitate certain high-risk newborn infants. Work experience and a stated religious preference accentuated an INT nurse's disinclination to resuscitate high-risk babies. ICU nurses were more likely than INT nurses to favor passive and active euthanasia. Further, ICU nurses were more likely than INT nurses to view termination of life support for a sick infant as a necessity. ICU nurses were less likely than INT nurses to favor physician intervention in the care of all acutely sick neonates. ICU and INT nurses agreed, however, that the decision to terminate a baby's life support should be made jointly by the child's parents and physicians. Although differences in ICU and INT nursing attitudes may reflect quantitative and qualitative differences in work experience, these findings suggest a common need for emotional support and continuing education programs for nurses who care for high-risk newborns.