The strategies nurses use to cope while caring for preterm babies
Caring for preterm babies can be emotionally and mentally challenging. It’s a tough job that requires nurses to put their own feelings aside in order to do their job effectively and compassionately.
To give these nurses the support they need to care effectively, hospitals are implementing strategies to keep them happy and healthy through good old-fashioned fun and humor.
Here are the coping strategies that these nurses use when caring for these tiny patients, as well as some tips on how you can help support your colleagues if you’re ever in this situation yourself.
Ask yourself what matters
* What are some of the challenges that come with caring for preterm babies?
– The risks of infection are high. Nurses have to be careful about how often they touch the baby, where they touch them, and how clean their hands are.
– The noise level is always high because most premature babies can’t regulate their breathing, so there’s a constant whoosh sound in the room.
Get support
If you work with children who are born prematurely, it is important to find ways to manage the stress and fatigue. Some general coping strategies include talking about your feelings and taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy enough to take care of others.
There are also resources available from various government organizations such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The National Institute of Health (NIH), and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
Check your self-care levels daily
Nurses are on the front lines when it comes to caring for premature babies, but taking care of themselves is also essential.
Nurses can identify their own self-care needs by asking themselves how they’re feeling both mentally and physically.
Accept that some days will be bad
It’s hard work, but it can be rewarding too. Nurses need to be able to care for themselves too and learn how to cope with difficult days.
Some of the coping strategies include:
-setting personal boundaries with other family members and friends
-taking breaks when needed
-planning ahead so you know what you want or don’t want on your days off
Be kind to yourself
It can be hard to deal with the emotional and physical stress that comes with caring for preterm babies.
As a nurse, you may find yourself feeling guilty if the baby you’re taking care of dies or feels like no matter what you do, it’s not enough. It is important to understand that this is a natural response and you are not at fault.
FAQs
-What happens when you care for a preterm baby?
Newborns that are born before 37 weeks gestation have trouble regulating their body temperature, eating and breathing.
They also may have long-term health problems. Nurses working with these infants need to wear gloves at all times and wash their hands often.
They need to be careful with the infants in order not to injure them or catch any diseases from them.
-How do you deal with not being able to do anything?
There are also resources available from various government organizations such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The National Institute of Health (NIH), and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).
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