Neonatal nurses' views on the barriers to parenting in the intensive care nursery--a national study

A descriptive research study was undertaken at a national level to identify neonatal nurses' views on the barriers to parenting in the intensive care nursery. The objective of the study was to determine nurses' responses to the barriers to parenting identified in the literature. Relevant literature was examined and a questionnaire developed and pilot tested. In all, 794 questionnaires were distributed with neonatal nursing newsletters and in intensive care nurseries throughout NSW, the ACT, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. The Neonatal Nurses Association of Victoria and Tasmania did not respond to the invitation for its members to participate, so no questionnaires were distributed in these states. Neonatal nurses were asked to indicate the extent of their agreement with the issues identified in the literature on a four-point scale, with 1 the lowest score and 4 the highest. Of the 794 questionnaires distributed 298 were returned, representing a 37.5 per cent response rate. The results of the questionnaire indicate nurses' understanding of the environmental and emotional barriers confronting parents; however, there was little acknowledgment of nurse-initiated practices which also prevent parents fulfilling their parenting role. Responses to several questions were evenly divided, indicating inconsistency in neonatal nurses' views on what constitute barriers to parenting. The results of the questionnaire provide a national snapshot of the views of neonatal nurses with respect to the barriers confronting parents as they attempt to fulfil their parenting role and bring nurse-initiated barriers, such as policies and procedures, to the attention of neonatal nurses.