Neonatal nurses’ response to a hypothetical premature birth situation: What if it was my baby?

Green, J; Darbyshire, P; Adams, A; Jackson, D

Neonatal nurses’ response to a hypothetical premature birth situation: What if it was my baby?

Green, J

Darbyshire, P Adams, A Jackson, D

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Nursing Ethics, 2018, 25 (7), pp. 880 - 896
Issue Date:: 2018-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Green, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2938-6694	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Darbyshire, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Adams, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Jackson, D https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5252-5325	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:24:00Z
dc.date.issued	2018-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Nursing Ethics, 2018, 25 (7), pp. 880 - 896	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0969-7330	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116814
dc.description.abstract	© The Author(s) 2016. Background: Evolving technology and scientific advancement have increased the chances of survival of the extremely premature baby; however, such survival can be associated with some severe long-term morbidities. Research question: The research investigates the caregiving and ethical dilemmas faced by neonatal nurses when caring for extremely premature babies (defined as ≤24 weeks’ gestation). This article explores the issues arising for neonatal nurses when they considered the philosophical question of ‘what if it was me and my baby’, or what they believed they would do in the hypothetical situation of going into premature labour and delivering an extremely premature baby. Participants: Data were collected via a questionnaire to Australian neonatal nurses and semi-structured interviews with 24 neonatal nurses in New South Wales, Australia. Ethical considerations: Relevant ethical approvals have been obtained by the researchers. Findings: A qualitative approach was used to analyse the data. The theme ‘imagined futures’ was generated which comprised three sub-themes: ‘choice is important’, ‘not subjecting their own baby to treatment’ and ‘nurses and outcome predictions’. The results offer an important and unique understanding into the perceptions of nursing staff who care for extremely premature babies and their family, see them go home and witness their evolving outcomes. The results show that previous clinical and personal experiences led the nurses in the study to choose to have the belief that if in a similar situation, they would choose not to have their own baby resuscitated and subjected to the very treatment that they provide to other babies. Conclusion: The theme ‘imagined futures’ offers an overall understanding of how neonatal nurses imagine what the life of the extremely premature baby and his or her family will be like after discharge from neonatal intensive care. The nurses’ past experience has led them to believe that they would not want this life for themselves and their baby, if they were to deliver at 24 weeks’ gestation or less.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Nursing Ethics	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/0969733016677871	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Applied Ethics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Premature Birth	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude of Health Personnel	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Neonatal Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Newborn	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nursing Staff, Hospital	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Intensive Care Units, Neonatal	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant, Extremely Premature	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nurses, Neonatal	en_US
dc.title	Neonatal nurses’ response to a hypothetical premature birth situation: What if it was my baby?	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	7	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	25	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
utslib.for	2201 Applied Ethics	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Students
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	7	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	25	en_US

Abstract:

© The Author(s) 2016. Background: Evolving technology and scientific advancement have increased the chances of survival of the extremely premature baby; however, such survival can be associated with some severe long-term morbidities. Research question: The research investigates the caregiving and ethical dilemmas faced by neonatal nurses when caring for extremely premature babies (defined as ≤24 weeks’ gestation). This article explores the issues arising for neonatal nurses when they considered the philosophical question of ‘what if it was me and my baby’, or what they believed they would do in the hypothetical situation of going into premature labour and delivering an extremely premature baby. Participants: Data were collected via a questionnaire to Australian neonatal nurses and semi-structured interviews with 24 neonatal nurses in New South Wales, Australia. Ethical considerations: Relevant ethical approvals have been obtained by the researchers. Findings: A qualitative approach was used to analyse the data. The theme ‘imagined futures’ was generated which comprised three sub-themes: ‘choice is important’, ‘not subjecting their own baby to treatment’ and ‘nurses and outcome predictions’. The results offer an important and unique understanding into the perceptions of nursing staff who care for extremely premature babies and their family, see them go home and witness their evolving outcomes. The results show that previous clinical and personal experiences led the nurses in the study to choose to have the belief that if in a similar situation, they would choose not to have their own baby resuscitated and subjected to the very treatment that they provide to other babies. Conclusion: The theme ‘imagined futures’ offers an overall understanding of how neonatal nurses imagine what the life of the extremely premature baby and his or her family will be like after discharge from neonatal intensive care. The nurses’ past experience has led them to believe that they would not want this life for themselves and their baby, if they were to deliver at 24 weeks’ gestation or less.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116800